United Airlines to launch Melbourne-San Francisco flights

By David Flynn, December 13 2018

United Airlines will begin direct flights between Melbourne and San Francisco in October 2019, mirroring the Star Alliance's popular Sydney-San Francisco service.

The move will pit United's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner against that of Qantas on the same route, with the United Dreamliners expected to soon be upgraded with the airline's Polaris business class seat – taking the inflight experience on the 14 hour journey from this...

... to this.

Melbourne-San Francisco flights will begin October 29, 2019 and run three days each week.

Flight UA61 will depart Melbourne at 11.40am every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, to reach San Francisco at 6.50am that same day.

On the return leg – after business class passengers have enjoyed a spell in the Polaris San Francisco lounge (below) – flight UA60 will be wheels-up at 10.50pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving into Melbourne two days later at 9.40am.

In related news, United will also extend its current seasonal 777-200ER service between Auckland and San Francisco to operate all year round as of March 30, 2019.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

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United Airlines Melbourne San Francisco Boeing 787 Dreamliner

22 Comments

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Lmc

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Lmc

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Nov 2018

Total posts 58

Bring on the compilation, if you can call it that! UA v QF...... easy choice. At least the fares will be go dow

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 06:24:12 am

Lmc

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Lmc

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Nov 2018

Total posts 58

Competition ........

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 06:25:12 am

MRYJDrake

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MRYJDrake

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

31 Oct 2016

Total posts 70

Yeah I definitely wouldn't be calling it that.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 08:54:12 am

kimshep

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kimshep

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

11 Oct 2014

Total posts 492

I'm a little bit surprised that UA didn't launch the MEL-SFO new service on the 3 days that QF don't operate the route (MON, TUE, FRI), which would have provided MEL a daily service on this route. As it stands, UA will have the route to themselves on MON, but will go up directly against QF on THU and SAT.

I can understand the desire to compete with QF on SAT where both companies try to secure both corporate and leisure travel out of MEL but THU seems a bit contentious to me. One would have to think that demand on a FRI - with no competition) would have been preferable? Perhaps UA has factored in feed from BNE on these days?

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 07:42:12 am

melbtraveler

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melbtraveler

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

02 Jan 2015

Total posts 56

I'll stick with Qantas or Air New Zealand till the actual Polaris seats arrive.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 07:48:12 am

DrSK

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DrSK

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

08 Jul 2014

Total posts 51

When it will become quite an attractive proposition - unless further cuts to the in-flight Polaris soft product eventuate. UA connections from SFO are excellent, as is the Polaris lounge there.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 10:39:12 am

emd

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emd

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

17 Oct 2014

Total posts 2

kimshep,its no doubt due to aircraft rotation/availability

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 08:26:12 am

kimshep

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kimshep

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

11 Oct 2014

Total posts 492

Yep, I guess so, emd - given Oscar Munoz's announcement of 7 new international routes last night, ex SFO. However, it will be interesting to see if UA change this proposed schedule, given that they have almost 12 months before 'launch'. There has been a bit of discussion already about whether the B787-9 schedules on EWR-LAX/SFO and vv will stay, post norther summer 2019, so it may well be that some 'adjustments' may be seen.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 09:50:12 am

mo

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mo

22 Dec 2012

Total posts 37

Any shots of the back of the plane? Hows their cattle class?

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 08:48:12 am

sid

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sid

07 Jan 2011

Total posts 39

We generally don't cover economy.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 09:32:12 am

Eli

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Eli

30 Jul 2015

Total posts 90

3x3x3 like all other 787 carriers, with the exception of JL.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 09:41:12 am

mbc1960

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mbc1960

13 Dec 2018

Total posts 2

There "Cattle Class" is the same as QF and the majority of other carriers 787's 32inch pitch and 17.3inch seat width :)

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 11:24:12 am

TZB88

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TZB88

QFF

16 May 2016

Total posts 44

UAs 787-9s are pretty good down the back. Minimum 35" on EconomyPlus seats, minimum 32" normal Economy.

Friday, 14 Dec 2018, 04:18:12 pm

MEL Traveller

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MEL Traveller

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 Dec 2014

Total posts 55

I wonder if MEL-IAH is next. That would capture the oil company market from Perth currently using Air NZ’s AKL-IAH service, and pick up those from Melbourne who currently have to transit through LAX, SFO, AKL or SYD.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 08:53:12 am

sgb

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sgb

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

30 Nov 2015

Total posts 745

At this stage, what lounge will Business travelers use in Melbourne?

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 09:47:12 am

nix584

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nix584

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

10 Jan 2012

Total posts 253

Probably the same that the MEL-LAX flight uses (NZ or SQ).

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 10:36:12 am

Chris Chamberlin

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Chris Chamberlin

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2951

I've flown United from Melbourne to LA, and the staff were directing people to the Singapore Airlines lounge in Melbourne.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 10:37:12 am

msport2012

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msport2012

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

14 Apr 2013

Total posts 316

surprise that they diddent go daily.

Also the Auckland service is a B777-300er with the new seats

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 10:57:12 am

msport2012

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msport2012

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

14 Apr 2013

Total posts 316

Furthermore, interesting that UA haven’t announced a LAX/SFO - BNE route?

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 11:06:12 am

DanV

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DanV

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

04 Nov 2017

Total posts 128

BNE-LAX is already congested with 10x weekly from QF and 6x weekly from VA/DL, and would push yields further down if UA were to enter that route.

Also to add UA would have no connections on the BNE end unless if UA is able to sort out an interline deal with QF (like they do at SYD/MEL).

I would guess that UA entering the BNE-LAX route would be very well down the list of 'priorities'.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 12:50:12 pm

Mjkcan

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Mjkcan

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

14 Jun 2017

Total posts 32

I wonder if it’ll be fitted with their “premium plus” product? I’d probably fly that if the price was right!

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 11:51:12 am

djtech

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djtech

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

02 Sep 2018

Total posts 108

As far as i know, I don't think they currently have any plans to retrofit the existing dreamliners with the new Polaris seat. Only the new 787-10s will have the new seat and its really confusing because the old 2-2-2 config right now is also called polaris.

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 12:44:12 pm

David

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David

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2337

United has always planned to upgrade the Boeing 787-8s and 787-9s with the new Polaris seat, it's just that these are sitting towards the back of the queue because they are relatively new compared to many older aircraft in its fleet. But yes, the fact that 'Polaris' is not just the new business class seat but the business class brand is very confusing, especially if you enter that into Google to see what seat you can expect, and then you step onto the aircraft and get something quite different!

Thursday, 13 Dec 2018, 01:00:12 pm

TZB88

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TZB88

QFF

16 May 2016

Total posts 44

Agreed. Can be confusing. FFs and corporates know what they're getting though. New seat is on a lot of the Asia and Atlantic routes, as well as AKL. The soft product is on all longhaul routes/aircraft. More of the Polaris Lounges opening too which are great.

Friday, 14 Dec 2018, 04:23:12 pm

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