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United Airlines is about to resume its longest flight — for now

Nov. 17, 2021
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3 min read
United Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner New Livery Zach Griff - 5
United Airlines is about to resume its longest flight — for now
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Editor's Note

This post has been updated to reflect where United's Singapore-San Francisco route compares to two other long-haul United routes that are not currently operating.

United's longest route is making a comeback in the new year.

The carrier's flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN) is set to resume four times a week effective Jan. 5. The 8,500-mile journey will be operated using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring the airline's latest Polaris business class seat and its premium economy product, Premium Plus.

United's 787-9 features the airline's latest Polaris business class seat. (Photo by Zach Honig/The Points Guy)

The westbound flight, United Flight 1, will depart SFO at 10:30 p.m. and arrive two days later in Singapore at 7:40 a.m., a 17-hour and 25-minute trip across the Pacific Ocean. The eastbound return flight, United Flight 2, departs Singapore at 10:10 a.m. and arrives in San Francisco at 8:50 a.m., a significantly faster 14 hours and 35 minutes — due to tailwinds.

The route debuted in 2016, and was included in an early wave of COVID-19-related route suspensions that United announced at the beginning of March 2020.

For now, it’ll take the spot as the longest in all of United’s network – taking back the title from the Houston-Sydney route that the carrier launched just in 2018. However, that route was pulled down at the beginning of the pandemic – and the prospects for its return are thought to be shaky, at best. But even that could be short-lived. United's planned San Francisco-Bangalore route will be even longer if it begins as currently planned on May 26. That route was originally slated to begin in the summer of 2021, but has been postponed because of the pandemic.

As for the relaunched Singapore service, these flights will operate in accordance with the Singapore government's Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) program, which allows travelers to avoid quarantine upon arrival. Before booking, know that these VTL requirements are quite stringent.

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More: When will international travel return? A country-by-country guide to coronavirus recovery

Proof of vaccination is required, and not just a CDC vaccination record card. Americans must produce either a digital SMART Health Card linked to their vaccination record, a digital vaccination record retrieved through a state or local public health database or the physical vaccination records and a letter from the vaccination provider attesting to vaccination status. A series of PCR tests are also required: one taken with two days of departure, and another taken on arrival at Singapore. Finally, travelers must present proof of a health insurance policy that is valid for the duration of their stay in Singapore and covers a minimum of SGD $30,000.

Redeeming MileagePlus miles for a Polaris seat on this route will run you 180,000 miles and $5.60 in taxes and fees, round trip. TPG currently values MileagePlus miles at 1.3 cents/mile, and with the equivalent cash fares as high as $5,000, this represents an excellent redemption. A Polaris ticket also gains you access to the Polaris Lounge in San Francisco, which is set to reopen early in 2022.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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  • Annual Fee is $325.
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