IAD-PEK replaced with IAD-NRT-PEK?
Jul 21, 2009, 5:44 pm
#16
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Even stranger, for the dates I plugged in for Novemeber, the LHR-BRU overnights at BRU and leaves the next morning back to LHR at 605am!
Jul 21, 2009, 6:00 pm
#17
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+1, or just a circular route SIN-NRT-HKG-SIN, but highly unlikely. I don't think there is a plane overnight at either HKG/NRT.
Jul 21, 2009, 6:03 pm
#18
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That's not really a surprise -- I'm sure the fees for parking overnight at BRU are WAY less than those at LHR. Additionally, flying this route is a way for UA to hang onto the takeoff and landing slots at LHR, pretty valuable commodities.
Jul 21, 2009, 6:21 pm
#21
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Jul 21, 2009, 6:21 pm
#22
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It's just differently than in the past, when LHR-AMS and LHR-BRU left LHR at around 8am then returned from AMS and BRU to LHR around 1130 and got into LHR at around the same time, due to the 1-hour time difference. Just wonder why they decided to do the overnight in BRU rather than have no overnight at all!
Jul 21, 2009, 6:52 pm
#23
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Yessssssss!!! 
Jul 21, 2009, 7:45 pm
#24
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Jul 21, 2009, 8:08 pm
#25
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But it takes an extra plane and crew to overnight them at BRU. You need two planes to operate daily r/t flights because it RONs at BRU for some ridiculous number of hours.
Jul 21, 2009, 9:19 pm
#26
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+1 UA's two evening nonstops from SFO to Europe leave at excellent times, far more desirable than mid-day and much easier to sleep. Would be annoying if they kept the earlier one, although I suspect they will re-introduce the second nonstop next spring or summer.
Jul 21, 2009, 10:05 pm
#27
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Jul 22, 2009, 5:04 am
#28
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Jul 22, 2009, 6:59 am
#29
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While I agree with the other poster who argued that BRU overnighting is far cheaper than LHR (as is SIN overnighting vs HKG), it does seem strange to stick a 777 in BRU for 12 hours instead of just sending it back across the pond.
Jul 22, 2009, 11:40 am
#30
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Perhaps the way UA has reorganized and re-timed flights means that it would not be feasible to use a circa 1:20 departure slot and a circa 6:20 am arrival slot if they sent it back TATL to a hub. Plus, we don't know the economics of it, running TATL with low yeild may cost a lot more than minimizing losses by doing a puddle jump to BRU.