United re-launches LAX-MEL route 787-9 from October

[gwilli1]

United is set to launch a direct LAX- MEL service 6 x weekly from the 26th October 2014 using a new Boeing 787-9 . This will be United's first 787-9 international route

SYD-MEL-SYD tag flights to be discontinued.

United’s First 787-9 Route Announcement | Airchive

 

[RooFlyer]

Must say I was dubious about this direct service when it was speculated on previously. And this might be a plus:

It is also being reported that the new flights will be operated by former Continental flight attendants that are based in Los Angeles.

 

[docjames]

Wow, that's awesome.

Take that QF.

Any pics of the fitout in Y/J?

 

[gwilli1]

The question I'm curious to answer on is whether there is sufficient pax ex MEL to maintain QF x Daily A380 , VA x 3 weekly 777 & UA x 6 weekly 789

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The question I'm curious to answer on is whether there is sufficient pax ex MEL to maintain QF x Daily A380 , VA x 3 weekly 777 & UA x 6 weekly 789

yeah there is, UA has been flying a daily 747 here and now a 777 for a long time

 

[markis10]

yeah there is, UA has been flying a daily 747 here and now a 777 for a long time

Fed by SFO and LAX as opposed to LAX only which will now be the case.

 

[docjames]

Except they can feed into LAX instead of SFO for some destinations (albeit not as many options into LAX on UA as into their SFO hub).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Fed by SFO and LAX as opposed to LAX only which will now be the case.

It's still one stop to SFO and now one stop to most of the USA instead of two which will increase patronage if anything.

will be popular with the amount of LAS bound aussies

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Interesting Development. Be interesting to see how QF & VA respond.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

When you consider total capacity to the USA, by adding this 787-9 service (approx 250 seats) to the two 777-200 services UA will offer ex-SYD, then you get approx the same number of seats as what was on offer to the USA by UA with it's two 747-400's. around 750 odd seats give or take overall

 

[Mwenenzi]

SFO departure has suited many and avoids LAX

A quick read of The Bilateral System—how international air services work has unlimited seats on Aust-USA routes.

 

[eastwest101]

Maybe I misunderstood the loos of SFO for MEL pax only, but eems to be a classic case of shooting themslves in the foot, why fly MEL-LAX when you have a perfectly good hub in SFO that gives you a natural advantage? So with UA's (sometimes unjustifyied) poor reputation they have finally got a better aircraft but and are now flying to a places that is more congested, less appealing and with less connections and more competitiors than ever before.

As for the actual B787-8 aircraft in UA configuration, its not so bad but Y is 3-3-3 abreast unfornately. The J seats at 78" lie flat and 22" width, Y+ (called economy extra) have 35" pitch and 17.3" width and normal Y is 32" pitch and 17.3" width. Will be interesting to see how their fares match up to the competition.

 

[dajop]

SFO departure has suited many and avoids LAX

For some reason, SFO must not have sufficient attraction, as you would naturally think that UA would fly non-stop to one of their major hubs, instead of a what must be a much lesser hub for them.

 

[TomVexille]

This is good news. hopefully it can keep fares down.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

More aussies interested in Hollywood Disney land and vegas than sfo.

 

[TomVexille]

I've heard that UA has corporate contracts for travel to MEL, which is why they maintain a United Club in MEL long after they closed their SYD lounge

 

[drron]

LAX does seem to attract the average Aussie tourist more so than SFO.QF did fly into SFO in the past.I took this flight on my first visit to the US.But I am talking of the early 80's.

 

[Isochronous]

I spoke to a UA FA in Shanghai last year and she said the routes to Australia were very popular among crew - they get to choose based on seniority, so she said she chooses PVG and SYD/MEL the most. She was nice and was outraged by the presence of obese FAs in the airline, but it does raise the risk of gruff older cabin crew who are beyond caring running the services.

So for MEL pax who want to go to SFO now, will UA put pax on a QF MEL-SYD connection or UA LAX-SFO?

 

[TomVexille]

I spoke to a UA FA in Shanghai last year and she said the routes to Australia were very popular among crew - they get to choose based on seniority, so she said she chooses PVG and SYD/MEL the most. She was nice and was outraged by the presence of obese FAs in the airline, but it does raise the risk of gruff older cabin crew who are beyond caring running the services.

So for MEL pax who want to go to SFO now, will UA put pax on a QF MEL-SYD connection or UA LAX-SFO?

I'd think it would be LAX-SFO

 

[soorox]

Yes this is true, believe it or not UA is pretty premium heavy out of MEL - hence why they have been keeping MEL for so long.

Hopefully they do refurbish the United Club at MEL, its pretty dated in there!