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United Details Major Expansion From San Francisco, Including New Routes and Added Frequencies

Emily McNutt
Emily McNutt
Contributor
Dec. 12, 2018
•
4 min read
UAL_787-10_#2_006
United Details Major Expansion From San Francisco, Including New Routes and Added Frequencies
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In a media call on Wednesday, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz and Vice President International Network Patrick Quayle detailed plans for the airline to launch several new international routes. It is the largest-ever international expansion out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and United heralded the additions as the carrier's "premier gateway to the Pacific."

The following routes or frequencies will be added from SFO in 2019:

San Francisco (SFO) - Melbourne (MEL) — Year-round nonstop service beginning Oct. 29, 2019. Operated by a Boeing 787-9 on the following schedule:

  • UA60 San Francisco (SFO) 10:50pm Departure ⇒ Melbourne (MEL) 9:40am (+2) Arrival — Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays
  • UA61 Melbourne (MEL) 11:40am Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 6:50am Arrival — Mondays/Thursdays/Saturdays

San Francisco (SFO) - New Delhi (DEL) — Seasonal nonstop service beginning Dec. 5, 2019. Operated by a Boeing 787-9 on the following schedule:

  • UA104 San Francisco (SFO) 7:15pm Departure ⇒ New Delhi (DEL) 12:45am (+2) Arrival
  • UA105 New Delhi (DEL) 4am Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 6:10am Arrival

San Francisco (SFO) - Toronto (YYZ) — Twice-daily nonstop year-round service beginning March 31, 2019. Operated by a Boeing 737-800 on the following schedules.

  • UA565 San Francisco (SFO) 10:25am Departure ⇒ Toronto (YYZ) 6:30pm Arrival
  • UA565 San Francisco (SFO) 11pm Departure ⇒ Toronto (YYZ) 7am (+1) Arrival
  • UA459 Toronto (YYZ) 7:15am Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 9:54am Arrival
  • UZ459 Toronto (YYZ) 7:21pm Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 9:55pm Arrival

San Francisco (SFO) - Amsterdam (AMS) — Year-round nonstop service beginning March 30, 2019. Operated by a Boeing 787-9 on the following schedule:

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  • UA968 San Francisco (SFO) 2:55pm Departure ⇒ Amsterdam (AMS) 10:20am (+1) Arrival
  • UA969 Amsterdam (AMS) 2:50pm Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 4:50pm Arrival

San Francisco (SFO) - Seoul (ICN) — A second flight, flown four times per week beginning April 1, 2019. Operated by a Boeing 777-200ER on the following schedule:

  • UA805 San Francisco (SFO) 4:55pm Departure ⇒ Seoul (ICN) 9:35pm (+1) Arrival — Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays
  • UA806 Seoul (ICN) 11:25am Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 6:10am Arrival — Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays

San Francisco (SFO) - Auckland (AKL) — Extended route, becoming year-round nonstop service 3x weekly beginning March 30, 2019. Operated by a Boeing 777-200ER on the following schedule:

  • UA917 San Francisco (SFO) 11:10pm Departure ⇒ Auckland (AKL) 7:20am (+2) Arrival — Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays
  • UA916 Auckland (AKL) 2:30pm Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 6:40am Arrival — Mondays/Thursdays/Saturdays

San Francisco (SFO) - Tahiti (PPT) — Extended route, becoming year-round nonstop service 3x weekly beginning March 30, 2019. Operated by a 787-8 on the following schedule:

  • UA115 San Francisco (SFO) 1:15pm Departure ⇒ Pape'ete (PPT) 6:55pm Arrival — Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays
  • UA114 Pape'ete (PPT) 9:15pm Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 8:25am (+1) Arrival

All of the route expansions are pending government approvals.

"This route expansion solidifies United's position at San Francisco as the gateway airline serving destinations across the Pacific, the continental United States, as well as to Europe and beyond," Munoz said. "It serves as a fitting capstone to all our efforts that made 2018 a breakthrough year for United, from delivering strong financial performance to currently leading in on-time departures for the second year in a row."

With the addition of these new routes, United will serve 29 international destinations from SFO, including eight cities in Europe, India and the Middle East, seven in North America and 14 in Asia and Oceania. In total, United operates more than 300 daily flights out of SFO.

But United's not only looking at growing in the Bay Area. Quayle and Munoz also detailed that the carrier is planning to grow its presence at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — specifically in Terminal 9. It plans to grow T9 with the same way in which it did at Chicago O'Hare (ORD), by teaming with its international Star Alliance partners also in the same terminal.

The two also detailed that the long-awaited Polaris Lounge in LAX will open in January 2019. In addition, a new United Club will be coming to LAX. They did stress, however, that LAX is on the tighter side as far as available slots and there's not enough room left to grow.

Munoz also announced a new mobile app coming in early 2019. Making it easier book flights, as well as the day of travel easier. The new app will be launching at some point in January.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • 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.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • 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.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $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.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.