On 10/6/2025 at 10:34 AM, webfact said:

the flights will transit through Hong Kong

That is not direct. 🤦‍♀️

On 10/6/2025 at 10:34 AM, webfact said:

Thai Airways International has not resumed direct flights to the US, citing intense competition on the trans-Pacific routes as a major factor

How is there competition if literally no one offers direct US-Thailand flights? There's plenty of people who'd pay a little more to avoid connections and save time. 🤦‍♀️

3 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

That is not direct. 🤦‍♀️

How is there competition if literally no one offers direct US-Thailand flights? There's plenty of people who'd pay a little more to avoid connections and save time. 🤦‍♀️

It wasn't just a little more. Back when Thai airlines offered non-stop flights from lax-Bkk it was double the price of a 1 stop ticket, just to save 2 or 3 hours. 

5 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I'm pretty srre UA will use the B787-9 on one or both legs.

 

It's one flight (UA820) so if it's on one leg (and it is) it'll be on the other leg too.

 

 

5 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

United Airlines is the largest operator of the B787 series. 

 

ANA currently have more.

22 hours in a plane.

 

Seems too long.

22 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

22 hours in a plane.

 

Seems too long.

Thai air from NY JFK to BKK  back in 2008  was a true  direct  no stops layovers  // went north over Canada and the N Pole  then down straight to Thailand

 and it was just over 17 hours

10 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

Thai air from NY JFK to BKK  back in 2008  was a true  direct  no stops layovers  // went north over Canada and the N Pole  then down straight to Thailand

 and it was just over 17 hours

Thai did BKK-LAX-BKK also in the A340-500. It was nonstop and the premium economy seats were really nice. 14 to 16 hours nonstop. 

Years ago, I flew Thai Air when they had a non-stop route between BKK and LAX for a relatively brief period of years...

 

So speaking from personal experience, the non-stop trip between BKK and LAX is a VERY LONG air trip to have interrupted, especially in economy class, and especially on the longer, flying against the wind direction of the trip.

 

Given a choice between the two, I'd much rather a brief and pleasant stopover in Taipei, a chance to get some decent food, have a visit to regular bathrooms, and relax prior to the remaining 10 hours or so portion of the transpacific flight.

 

 

Is there much appetite to visit the US at the moment? Seems a funny time to start a route to and from Asia.

I’m old enough to remember the Thai BKK- Tokyo - Seattle- DFW flights.  

4 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

That is not direct. 🤦‍♀️

How is there competition if literally no one offers direct US-Thailand flights? There's plenty of people who'd pay a little more to avoid connections and save time. 🤦‍♀️

 

Defintion of direct flight, as opposed to non-stop flight, in the world of commercial pasenger aviation:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_flight

 

 

For my family and me, we will continue flying from Bangkok to Singapore, relax a bit, or stay over and enjoy Singaporean hospitality, then board a direct non-stop flight from Singapore to New York, and that’s it!.  Easy Peezy, in the New York, New Jersey area, after that, “up to you.”

On 10/6/2025 at 5:44 AM, TheAppletons said:

 

  Politely disagree.  Unless you want to fly through Manila, the UA flight BKK-HKG-LAX is significantly less expensive than the "better" airlines.  

 

  I concur with your opinion that the "soft product" (meaning service and dining) on UA (like with most US based airlines) is of lesser quality than that of Asian based airlines.  The "hard product" - as in the Polaris business class seats - is every bit as good as that on EVA or Japan Air.  (ANA might be a bit better.)

 

I can only comment on the cost of business class fares on that LAX-BKK as I watch them constantly.  ANA and JAL are the winners regarding price.   Having never flown United long haul I have no opinion on the quality of their product.  

 

BTW I limit what I consider business class to the following:

 

Lie flat seats

1-2-1 seating (or some form where no one climbs over another to get up)

Lounge access

reasonable layover times aka no 10 hour or more stops

 

This eliminates some airlines like Philippines etc.

 

15 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I'm pretty srre UA will use the B787-9 on one or both legs.  United Airlines is the largest operator of the B787 series. 

Nope, they are not. ANA has the most with currently 84 of them

2 hours ago, Huisnblasi said:

Nope, they are not. ANA has the most with currently 84 of them

Ok. I stand corrected. UA has 79 but has placed a large order and will pass ANA in the future.

14 hours ago, bobonzo said:

I’m old enough to remember the Thai BKK- Tokyo - Seattle- DFW flights.  

You're not alone!  I flew that route many times.

20 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Flew an Airbus 380 (Aseana Airlines) from Seoul to New York JFK last month. Sat in the upper deck, cost an extra 50 bucks. Well worth it!  The window seats get extra storage space by the windo (a deep pocket) and the seat pitch/space seem very wide for economy class. Plus good food etc.   I avoid North American carriers like the plague. 

I tried the Aseana 380 service business class a couple times, and it was okay, if a bit spartan. 

 

Singapore had a nonstop to Las Vegas I tried once, that was a long flight. 

How is this really a "direct flight" if United is flying via Hong Kong to the West Coast of the US? 

 

Stop-overs negate the use of the expression direct. 

1 hour ago, Cat Boy said:

How is this really a "direct flight" if United is flying via Hong Kong to the West Coast of the US? 

 

Stop-overs negate the use of the expression direct. 

 

Technically it is a correct use of the term.

 

Direct = same flight number and jet end to end

Non-stop = plane leaves one airport and arrives at end point to stops

 

IMO announcing this "direct flight" as if it means anything important is a joke.  

On 10/7/2025 at 5:16 AM, Luuk Chaai said:

Thai air from NY JFK to BKK  back in 2008  was a true  direct  no stops layovers  // went north over Canada and the N Pole  then down straight to Thailand

 and it was just over 17 hours

Direct is same plane with stops while non-stop is one leg. Air Canada recently had a non-stop Vancouver-BKK but no longer. In 2008 I took the Thai Air Los Angles-BKK non-stop which was 18 hours. Plane had issues and was cancelled. Next flight 24 hours later.

On 10/7/2025 at 5:37 PM, phetphet said:

Is there much appetite to visit the US at the moment? Seems a funny time to start a route to and from Asia.

 

probably geared more towards the smart one's that want to get out  

I am a United frequent flyer and have been flying the airline for well over 60 years, and I can say it is one of the best (despite a couple of failings).  It has the most destinations of any other airline.  And the first American airline to fly back into Bangkok in years is huge.  I understand that the flights will be daily from Hong Kong.  I fly a lot i.e. more than 30 flights per year at a minimum and United has always treated me fairly and well.  

1 hour ago, Baanudon said:

I fly a lot i.e. more than 30 flights per year at a minimum and United has always treated me fairly and well.  

 

With that many flights each year, can I surmise that you don't fly in cattle class?  Because my experience with UA back in the cheap seats was pretty spotty.  Some of the FAs were gems, but they had too many old crones that were really too tired and crabby for a long haul flight.

 

Admittedly, that was between 1999 and 2011 so things may be better now.  Back then, I was glad when my annual mileage didn't steer me toward UA and Air Canada any more.  And that coincided with a vast improvement in the Chinese carriers.

 

Edit:  I'd propose a rule that people extolling on the wonderfulness of business class should be required to reveal who's paying their fare.  I was on my own dime from about 2004 and couldn't see my way clear to pay $50-$100-$200 an hour for a marginally better meal and nicer seat. (I don't think lay flat was thing in most business classes back then...)  I did miss the showers in the lounge.

 

9 hours ago, pegman said:

Air Canada recently had a non-stop Vancouver-BKK but no longer

 

It's seasonal and will resume in a few weeks time.

10 hours ago, treetops said:

 

It's seasonal and will resume in a few weeks time.

 

This.  I flew it when they first started it.  It is a modern 789 (some number new Boeing jet).  Very happy with it albeit the last couple hours seem long.  No idea how people in coach manage it but then when I was younger I could also take more.

 

I would still fly it but the cost delta is too large.  I can fly ANA or JAL biz class from LAX with one stop for between $4500-$5000.  Seems the YVR nonstop never drops below $6000.  Hey, I got money but just to save as few hours and a stop isn't worth $1000-$1500.

 

On 10/6/2025 at 3:49 AM, johng said:

So directly  via Hong Kong ??   I thought direct meant non stop direct to the destination.

 

Maybe you don't have to get off the plane? That's slightly more convenient, but the total travel time the same as any other airline, with a 2+ hour layover, presumably to pick up passengers and refuel.

 

 

 

On 10/8/2025 at 12:57 AM, Cat Boy said:

How is this really a "direct flight" if United is flying via Hong Kong to the West Coast of the US? 

 

Stop-overs negate the use of the expression direct. 

 

Nope, and  why people use direct flight and non-stop interchangeably. Airline marketing departments have perverted the English language because decades ago planes had to make multiple stops to get accross a country or ocean.

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_flight

The new United direct with a stop in HKG, while an inconvenience, is probably better for US travelers than the BKK to Vancouver non-stop with a connection to US cities. My understanding is that travelers connecting on to US flights from Vancouver would need to collect their bags - transfer them to a connection drop point, then go through US immigration and customs at that airport (YVR - there is some agreement that allows US Customs and Immigration to pre-clear travelers to the US at YVR, making the US onward flight a 'domestic' arrival). Some might still find that better than arriving at LAX immigration and the huge lines there (the Vancouver lines would be quick), but it still might be faster to go direct to US (if they would need to clear Canadian immigration first, then get baggage, then US pre clearance..)

6 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

The new United direct with a stop in HKG, while an inconvenience, is probably better for US travelers than the BKK to Vancouver non-stop with a connection to US cities. My understanding is that travelers connecting on to US flights from Vancouver would need to collect their bags - transfer them to a connection drop point, then go through US immigration and customs at that airport (YVR - there is some agreement that allows US Customs and Immigration to pre-clear travelers to the US at YVR, making the US onward flight a 'domestic' arrival). Some might still find that better than arriving at LAX immigration and the huge lines there (the Vancouver lines would be quick), but it still might be faster to go direct to US (if they would need to clear Canadian immigration first, then get baggage, then US pre clearance..)

 

I flew the YVR-BKK non-stop the first year they had it which is I think 2022.  I flew AC PHX-YVR-BKK.  Now I confess I am old and memory sucks but I do not recall any hassle with luggage or immigration in YVR.  Seem to recall similar to normal transit airports around the world.

 

Also I may not have had luggage as I frequently make the trip without it.