United Airlines launches Adelaide-USA flights
The City of Churches finally has another option for international travellers.
By David Flynn, April 3 2025
United Airlines will begin direct flights between Adelaide and San Francisco in December 2025, with a seasonal service expected to run through to late March 2026.
With three direct flights per week, it means US-bound travellers from the South Australian capital can now skip the time, trouble and expense of making a stopover in Sydney or Melbourne.
And from United’s San Francisco hub there are onwards flights to over 75 US destinations.
The 15-hour trek will take place on united’s modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which sports 48 Polaris business class berths and 21 premium economy recliners.
United's Polaris business class.
Flight UA208 will depart Adelaide at 2.55pm every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, reaching San Francisco at 11.15am; bringing you home will be UA207, which leaves San Fran at 11.05pm for a touchdown in Adelaide at 9.30am.
The flights, which went on sale this morning, will have added appeal for Virgin Australia loyalists given the partnership between Virgin and United.
This includes earning Velocity Points and Status Credits while also delivering perks such as lounge access and additional checked luggage for Velocity Gold and Platinum frequent flyers.
United is also pitching this as a one-stop connection for travellers from Perth, who are currently not served by any US direct route.
United's Polaris business class.
The addition of Adelaide to its network gives United bragging rights as the only airline with a non-stop US service to four Australian capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and now Adelaide) as well as more Australia-US routes than Qantas.
“For many years, the ambition of a direct route between South Australia and the US has been out of reach,” says SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, citing the AUKUS defense agreement as “set to drive unprecedented investment into South Australia.”
The United States is also a key tourism market for South Australia, with more than 44,000 visitors to the state in 2024 contributing $77 million to the SA economy.
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 443
Never in my lifetime did I think a U.S. airline would fly to Adelaide
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 870
As AUKUS gets under way, likely to be more.
23 Oct 2014
Total posts 245
Wow between United and Qatar VAA FF’s can go direct east and west and onwards one stop to almost anywhere from all the major Oz cities - that’s a great option.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 409
Foreign carriers showing Qantas how it’s done yet again.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Sep 2015
Total posts 39
This is a good thing for Adelaide but I think one would have to ask the question as to the profitability of this route. I am sure that United have done their sums and good luck to them but I am sure there are a few head scratchers out there wondering how this would be a profitable operation for them
31 Mar 2014
Total posts 405
I'm curious to know how much the SA gov is pitching in to help the service to make it viable.
13 Apr 2020
Total posts 19
Qantas, Delta, United and American each currently have over 80 per cent seat utilisation on their Australia to USA flights. While Adelaide is a small city and new routes can take some time to ramp-up, I’d be surprised if they can’t achieve at least 60 per cent seat utilisation with (perhaps) state government cash funding the shortfall. It might also be a good cargo market for SA companies. With significantly reduced US flights to Europe during the period of the new Adelaide seasonal route and the need to do something with those aircraft, United must feel the punt is worthwhile. I think Delta is doing similar with their new Melbourne service that starts around the same time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Dec 2012
Total posts 26
From Perth it makes a lot more sense to connect thru Singapore, with four SQ flights per day.
QFF
19 Sep 2013
Total posts 224
Cathay also make it a one-stop flight to the U.S. via HK, or middle-east airlines going the other way to the U.S. east coast.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Feb 2017
Total posts 22
People who don't think this will work have clearly never had to fly from Adelaide to a US city, and do the god awful bus transfer in Sydney, and again in LAX. United aren't going to throw a 787 at a new route without doing their sums.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1617
Do not complain - even Melburnians from time to time have to use ugly bus transfer in Sydney. Frankly it is not that bad when you flying out, but indeed horrible when you return.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2014
Total posts 184
I expect there will be a big dial back from QF and UA regarding Aus to USA flights with the current dollar conversion rates, the current geo-political climate, markets instability, and likely Australians changing views on the USA. I could be (and hope I am) wrong, but let's see. Delta and American will be less affected due to their minimal exposure here.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2011
Total posts 189
I already know people in the US looking at this as a way home rather than SYD, MEL. Plus its gotta be a good way to get to Canada and Mexico from ADL. I know wine industry people who loathe the need to get to the USA via SYD, I dont think this will be a bad thing. And who knows how many expat will head home soon.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
12 May 2022
Total posts 33
I give this service 3 months before they announce it doesn't have the anticipated demand.
That and the huge drop in pax flying to the USA right now :/
24 Sep 2021
Total posts 13
Accor reporting 25% lower bookings for the US summer. That was before the tariffs as well.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 360
It's possible this seasonal service is subsidised by the SA Government and ADL Airport under the purpose of inbound Tourism (i.e USA Tourists coming to SA). It'll last as long as the subsidy if that's the case.
05 Dec 2017
Total posts 23
Yeah this will never happen. Expect a significant curtailment of US routes very shortly. This will be first to go.
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 64
I just wonder how long this flight will last given the demand and also Trump's immigration officers stopping tourists at the border for the smallest of reasons.
27 Oct 2017
Total posts 4
Cargo would be an important factor. Seafood to the USA. Submarine parts from USA to Adelaide.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1617
Meanwhile our so called "Flag Carrier" does not fly overseas from Adelaide AT ALL because it is "economically unfeasible". It is hard to imagine that Adelaideans have massive loyalty toward Qantas.
21 Apr 2017
Total posts 22
The sums where done years ago, that adelaide passengers flying on all airlines to LA, could more than fill a plane per day. Now with long range planes, why have Qantas not taken up the challenge????
They think a new CL, Businss & QC will keep us all happy. As a Plat I to am sick of the Sydney transfer
21 Apr 2017
Total posts 22
The numbers were crunched years ago, that if all Adelaidean's flying to the US on various airlines, they would more than fill a flight to the US. Now that planes can fly non-stop from AD to LA or CAl, why would this not be a profitable route. I say all the best to United, because Syd centric Qantas doesn't care a hoot about flying Int from Adelaide. As A plat, I to am sick of the Syd bus.
The only good thing that Qantas has done is build a new lounge complex in Adelaide, including business at long last. Maybe they will think this will keep us all happy!!!!!!!!!
20 Sep 2017
Total posts 13
United has excess capacity in the northern winter and would rather fly the planes than have them mothballed. The test will be in 26 to 27 to see if United returns.
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