This topic may be more appropriate for the Air Travel Forum, but I'm posting here because several of the "regulars" may be affected by this. In the Wall Street Journal today, in an article about the airline's plans to cut costs and increase revenue, United also announced that they would be increasing their transatlantic routes at the expense of routes such as Tokyo to Bangkok and Seattle to Tokyo (sorry, Kathie). Can anyone confirm this and what are the likely alternatives?

The wording in the announcement isn't very clear:

<i>United also will eliminate Tokyo-Bangkok 747 service and down-gauge Tokyo-Seoul flights, reallocating those long-haul aircraft to more profitable routes.</i>

http://ir.unitedcontinentalholdings....175&highlight=

It reads more like its a down gauge, but doesn't use those words as it does re: NRT-ICN in the next part of the sentence. Some of the other announced changes, like the second IAH-NRT flight and the elimination of SEA-NRT, are loaded in the system now, while NRT-BKK is still there into late next year, operated with a 777. But there are some conflicting reports on the long Flyertalk thread about this....

It's not clear. While the SEA-NRT route has clearly been cut, NRT-BKK is still bookable all the way till the end of the booking period in Oct 2014. Aircraft switches from UA 744 to ex-CO 772 on 4/8/14, but later switch back to UA 774 or 772.

American canceled their direct flight to Tokyo. Now the only flight is a code share with JAL - had always been more expensive. The times of the old flight were a bit inconvenient arriving around 10 pm and leaving at 7 am, but it went to HND which is easier to reach....

In my experience NRT-BKK, the plane is always full. This is often the last segment that would clear for upgrade because so many flights are feeding into this one at NRT. The aircraft changes from 777 to 747 and back to 777. I note that the plane was a 747 on Oct 31 when I returned from BKK to ORD via NRT. It was a 777 on the trip TO Bangkok just a week before that. It will be a 747 on my return from Bangkok in January as well.

Perhaps they are saying that the route will remain 777 throughout the year and not switch to 747 for the busier holiday season?? I can't imagine the whole route being eliminated!! It has to be a money maker for UA.

I have read about the SEA-NRT route on flyertalk, and yes it will be gone.

PS.. I hope the transatlantic increase will include a non-stop ORD-ZRH!! I don't like flying on Swiss on that route.

just booked my swiss bkk to bos today for next year...

Bob, there's NO ROOM on Swiss. Take numerous sleeping pills.

"While the SEA-NRT route has clearly been cut" Alas! That is our regular flight. A FA on out outbound flight said that UA was going to switch an old Continental plane and flight crew to the SEA-NRT route. I guess not.

Like you, Carol, we find the NRT-BKK flight always packed. It has sometimes been a 747, sometimes a 777 depending on season. I guess the 747 on that route will soon be a thing of the past.

They want you to fly ANA from SEA. UA and ANA has a joint venture across the Pacific. No point in both flying as they still get your money. But of course, there are issues with FF program and E+. Maybe time to look at DL.

Gone now. Last southbound 3/28.

I just did a search for a round trip in April. The ORD to NRT leg is a 747, and the NRT to BKK leg is on UA7, a 2-class 777. Looks like UA just changing the planes but not eliminating the route. The 2-class 777 has 2-2-2 config that I like.

my ta told his clients that indeed, sea-nrt will be gone sometime next year, and so will ua nrt-bkk. nothing about nrt-sin.

if they do indeed cancel the nrt bkk run, this will affect those who use the global upgrades, and trying to accumulate lifetime miles on ua.

who knows, i may have to go via frankfurt to go have a chang with hanuman.

Ok. Something weird going on. Search for fare NRT to BKK, it ends on 3/28. I guess we'll have to wait to find the truth.

Aloha kuranosuke! I am almost out of popcorn and can't wait to see you again!

I think it would be crazy for UA to eliminate the NRT-BKK flights! I'm unhappy about them eliminating SEA-NRT, but we can always fly to SFO and take that flight... and, as Ray points out, we could fly ANA.

i agree with kathie, and i believe carol also mentioned, that nrt-bkk flts were/are always full. so why quit?

and yes, we could fly ana, but global upgrades are not honored on ana, and you don't accumulate lifetime miles flying non-ua airlines.

hanuman, "I am almost out of popcorn"? surely you jest. lol.

Flyertalk is all about the end of the Narita to Bangkok UA route. I will not fly ANA unless biz because of reports of no leg room. I am too old to put up with scrunched knees!! I can also forget NRT and fly ORD to HKG and then a shorter flight to BKK on Thai. That I could and would do. Glad I have options. I would also consider flying via Europe. NRT may see the last of me on April 17. I already have biz ticket on ANA on that date.

i just did a check on ua, and it seems they are still flying to bangkok after april from hnl, lax and sfo. so, good news for us thainophiles.

the flts from nrt to bkk are on 777, so carol was right.

my search dates were from june to september.

I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that they will keep that NRT-BKK flight.

Before they re-started the SEA-NRT flight in 1998, I always flew to SFO to get to Narita. It's do-able, but a hassle. Before too long, I'll be looking at booking for next November to Bangkok.