Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > United Airlines | MileagePlus
Reload this Page >

Very limited lie-flat business/first from SFO or LAX to IAD

Register
Social Groups
Search
Today's Posts
Mark Forums Read

Very limited lie-flat business/first from SFO or LAX to IAD

   
Old Sep 16, 23, 10:16 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA: 1K. Hilton: Diamond. Marriot: Gold. AA: Gold
Posts: 44
Very limited lie-flat business/first from SFO or LAX to IAD
I was looking at red-eye flights from SFO or LAX to IAD (specifically Sept 29th) and I noticed none of the flights with the exception of the first flight in the morning aroud 8 am have lie-flat seats.What gives? This is a hub to hub cross country..is there just not the business traffic to support it?
stayinalive is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 10:33 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Alexandria, Longboat Key
Programs: Amtrak SE UA 1K Hyatt Explorist Wyndham PLAT IHG PLAT AA Gold Marriott Gold Choice PLAT Avis PC
Posts: 2,190
Originally Posted by stayinalive
I was looking at red-eye flights from SFO or LAX to IAD (specifically Sept 29th) and I noticed none of the flights with the exception of the first flight in the morning aroud 8 am have lie-flat seats.What gives? This is a hub to hub cross country..is there just not the business traffic to support it?
United uses Polaris widebodies between IAD and SFO/LAX primarily as a means of positioning aircraft rather than business demand although it does not hurt to have that level of demand. Of course, the schedules do include a 777 HD at times. However, what United does do is offer late afternoon departures between SFO/LAX and IAD, with departure time between 4:00 and 4:45 and arriving in IAD between midnight and 12:45 AM. I have used these flights on both several times. And United has scheduled all sorts of equipment recently on those flights. I have flown on aircraft as small as A319s between LAX and IAD on the late afternoon flight to as large as 737-9 MAXs.
stayinalive and SPN Lifer like this.
Longboater is online now  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 11:33 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Bronze
Posts: 6,081
Originally Posted by stayinalive
is there just not the business traffic to support it?
Correct.
stayinalive, SPN Lifer and jsloan like this.
seanp7 is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 11:37 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K, Delta Silver, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 9,573
Originally Posted by stayinalive
I was looking at red-eye flights from SFO or LAX to IAD (specifically Sept 29th) and I noticed none of the flights with the exception of the first flight in the morning aroud 8 am have lie-flat seats.What gives? This is a hub to hub cross country..is there just not the business traffic to support it?
United guarantees NO lie flat on domestic routes other than EWR-SFO/LAX; even those routes may get an unfortunate last minute switch to recliners.

As mentioned above, most life flat, especially widebody, is used for positioning, and also cargo.
stayinalive likes this.
Repooc17 is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 11:41 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New to BWI as of 2021; say hi if you're in the area!
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 400
I feel your pain. Schedules are always changing, but the last few times I've flown or booked this for Jul/Aug/Sept there was one 787 turn from IAD-SFO-IAD, and then one 787 turn from LAX-IAD-LAX, on most days . They are scheduled in between TATL and TPAC flights, respectively.

FWIW there are other markets like this too. I have to do a red-eye from LAX-ATL in November, and the only lie-flat seats are on DL and on their 8/9am departures from LAX, using planes that arrived from SYD and other international destinations. Red-eyes are a sea of A321s.
drewguy likes this.
autobahnal is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 11:43 am
  #6  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,380
Originally Posted by Repooc17
United guarantees NO lie flat on domestic routes other than EWR-SFO/LAX; even those routes may get an unfortunate last minute switch to recliners...
Which, oddly, makes IAD/EWR/ORD/IAH-Hawaii the only domestic guaranteed lie-flats, which UA does not explicitly guarantee.
Repooc17 and SPN Lifer like this.
IAH-OIL-TRASH is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 12:56 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,111
Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH
Which, oddly, makes IAD/EWR/ORD/IAH-Hawaii the only domestic guaranteed lie-flats, which UA does not explicitly guarantee.
Do any of UAs aircraft without lie-flats have the range to fly any of those routes?
econ is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 1:35 pm
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,380
Originally Posted by econ
Do any of UAs aircraft without lie-flats have the range to fly any of those routes?
I think Denver service is UA's single aisle reach to/from Hawaii (757). I don't know what the new 321 range will be.
SPN Lifer likes this.
IAH-OIL-TRASH is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 3:01 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K, Delta Silver, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 9,573
Originally Posted by econ
Do any of UAs aircraft without lie-flats have the range to fly any of those routes?
​​​​​​Not between EWR/IAD-HNL. In theory, Max has the range between ORD/IAH and HNL, but it's not commercially viable.
Repooc17 is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 3:38 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 3,842
Originally Posted by Repooc17
​​​​​​Not between EWR/IAD-HNL. In theory, Max has the range between ORD/IAH and HNL, but it's not commercially viable.
The Max 7 has a range of 4400 miles which is less than for a 752 and they cant fly ORD-HNL which is 4250 miles.
JimInOhio is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 4:11 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K, Delta Silver, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 9,573
Originally Posted by JimInOhio
The Max 7 has a range of 4400 miles which is less than for a 752 and they cant fly ORD-HNL which is 4250 miles.
Did you read what I wrote?
Repooc17 is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 4:49 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 3,842
Originally Posted by Repooc17
Did you read what I wrote?
Yes I did. Its not only not commercially viable but not technically viable, either.
JimInOhio is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 8:45 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K, Delta Silver, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 9,573
Originally Posted by JimInOhio
Yes I did. Its not only not commercially viable but not technically viable, either.
Maybe help me understand? Max variant has a range of 4,400 miles, ORD-HNL comes in under, not by much. We are talking theoretical here, without any pax and luggage. Why would it not be viable? I understand UA does not have this variant.
Repooc17 is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 10:02 pm
  #14  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,380
Originally Posted by Repooc17
Maybe help me understand? Max variant has a range of 4,400 miles, ORD-HNL comes in under, not by much. We are talking theoretical here, without any pax and luggage. Why would it not be viable? I understand UA does not have this variant.
I think alternate airport comes into the equation on "usable" range of an a/c for a particular route. Denver to Hawaii on 757 has the range and alternate airport taken into account. I'm not sure the MAX ORD-Hawaii would.
SPN Lifer likes this.
IAH-OIL-TRASH is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 16, 23, 10:32 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 3,842
Originally Posted by Repooc17
Maybe help me understand? Max variant has a range of 4,400 miles, ORD-HNL comes in under, not by much. We are talking theoretical here, without any pax and luggage. Why would it not be viable? I understand UA does not have this variant.
You could fly the route eastbound but youd probably never even attempt it westbound. Its about 4250 miles (ORD-HNL).
SPN Lifer likes this.
JimInOhio is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.