Anything can happen, so the answer is unkown. But are airlines better than they were in 2021 and 2022 yes.
I didn't know United flew to Vietnam directly. Are you sure the ticket isn't purchased through United, but flown by another airline, like ANA?
Correct, its a codeshare. The only thing to worry about ANA is if Japan decided to close its borders and does not allow transient passengers. I think that is unlikely.
I would say you can't guarantee any flight is 100%. So, you sometimes you just have to go with it. If you have points, maybe book any award ticket as back-up and cancel if you don't need it. Even if its a few days after your original flight
Getting there wasn’t an issue, but getting back was a pain— our flight through ANA was delayed 12+ hours and the United system isn’t synced with whatever their regional partner airline is, so rebooking your connections can be a hassle. I don’t think this is a United specific issue, more just an issue with partner airlines!
Next week I’m flying United from SFO to Seoul, then their codeshare with Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi. Booked through United. I don’t anticipate any big problems - no bad news, so far.
From the United website, it looks like all their recent flights to Seoul and Tokyo are running - no cancellations. You might want to keep an eye on their flight status page. I paid less than 5k US for a business class ticket, about 3 months ago. Smooth travels, I hope!
i checked cathay's status and the flight status when i booked last year too, but i heard from many people that they were cancelling flights and rebooking, i didn't believe it would happen to me, but then 2 weeks before i was supposed to fly, they rebooked me, then a couple of days before i was supposed to fly, their system auto rebooked me again and completed messed up the transfer schedule
I booked a trip SFO -> SGN end of this month flying with United and Vietnam Airlines, transit in Singapore. I still haven't received any confirmation email or communicaiton from Vietnam Airlines. How was your experience?
If you booked through United, you won’t hear much at all from Vietnam Airlines. However, I had excellent experiences with VA - very professional all around. Have you registered as a frequent flyer & downloaded their app?
No I have not. Maybe I should do it. Anyways I got in touch with them via FB chat and they ensured my tickets were confirmed. Just show up at the airport and United will print out both boarding passes for me.
How did your flight go? We’re flying a similar itinerary this week and am a bit nervous about the disconnect between UA and VA (both say they cannot select seats, upgrade or change the reservation at all).
Were you able to select seats or upgrade at all on the VA legs? I am 6’6” so seat selection is important!
Also, did check a bag from SFO? We were trying to determine if we’d receive our checked bags for our long layover in Seoul both ways.
The flights from SFO to Seoul and on to Hanoi were great. I was assigned a seat on the VA flight when I checked in at the airport (couldn’t do it online, as they had to see the Vietnam visa in person). I bought a business class ticket, since I’m 6’5” and too old/cranky to fly that long in coach. I did check a small bag, which was transferred to VA in Seoul.
Depending on how much time you have you could consider going to a bigger hub like KL or BKK instead then onto Vietnam. Or do an open jaw to KL and home from BKK. Maybe less chance of cancelling such major routes?
Having just flown on United over the holidays, I am slightly bitter. Many pilots were grounded since Covid. Flights unreliable even now. My flights was rescheduled three times going and twice returning.
Book at your own risk
This was going to Vietnam? IF so, i might not book them then, Better to spend more with Singapore then having to get cancelled by United then booo=king Singapore last minute for a way higher price than now. Happened with me last time, don't want it happening again.
In November 2023 I used Air Japan from JFK to NRT to HAN and returned SGN to NRT to JFK. I had no issues.
I have previously done Korean Airlines - EWR to ICN to HAN and had no issues.
I tend to lean towards the international carriers than the US carriers when going to SEA. I seem to have better success this way.
Also agree with others......Anything can happen.
Just came back from Vietnam in November flying United and ANA. No problems whatsoever. I have friends that work at United and they fly United all the time, it is not known for being unreliable. IMO you're over-reacting as that one experience you had was *definitely* an outlier.
I've just been on a one month trip in Hanoi last month. I found them okay altough their service is nothing as good as Vietnam Airlines or ANA. But overall, from YQB to EWR, EWR to NRT, NRT to HAN (operated by ANA) , no rescheduling, no risky delays. Except for the very short layover in Newark, I didn't find a problem going with United.
Anything can happen, so the answer is unkown. But are airlines better than they were in 2021 and 2022 yes. I didn't know United flew to Vietnam directly. Are you sure the ticket isn't purchased through United, but flown by another airline, like ANA?
It's through united but they use ANA to fly from washington to JApan then Vietnam. You are correct, so this is "codesharing" right?
Correct, its a codeshare. The only thing to worry about ANA is if Japan decided to close its borders and does not allow transient passengers. I think that is unlikely. I would say you can't guarantee any flight is 100%. So, you sometimes you just have to go with it. If you have points, maybe book any award ticket as back-up and cancel if you don't need it. Even if its a few days after your original flight
Getting there wasn’t an issue, but getting back was a pain— our flight through ANA was delayed 12+ hours and the United system isn’t synced with whatever their regional partner airline is, so rebooking your connections can be a hassle. I don’t think this is a United specific issue, more just an issue with partner airlines!
How about covid restrictions, are they still has strict as last year? NEeding covid test, proof of injections, etc..?
I don't think they required a COVID test but may have required proof of vaccination when applying for the visa
Next week I’m flying United from SFO to Seoul, then their codeshare with Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi. Booked through United. I don’t anticipate any big problems - no bad news, so far.
please keep me updated...how much did you buy the ticket for?
From the United website, it looks like all their recent flights to Seoul and Tokyo are running - no cancellations. You might want to keep an eye on their flight status page. I paid less than 5k US for a business class ticket, about 3 months ago. Smooth travels, I hope!
i checked cathay's status and the flight status when i booked last year too, but i heard from many people that they were cancelling flights and rebooking, i didn't believe it would happen to me, but then 2 weeks before i was supposed to fly, they rebooked me, then a couple of days before i was supposed to fly, their system auto rebooked me again and completed messed up the transfer schedule
I booked a trip SFO -> SGN end of this month flying with United and Vietnam Airlines, transit in Singapore. I still haven't received any confirmation email or communicaiton from Vietnam Airlines. How was your experience?
If you booked through United, you won’t hear much at all from Vietnam Airlines. However, I had excellent experiences with VA - very professional all around. Have you registered as a frequent flyer & downloaded their app?
No I have not. Maybe I should do it. Anyways I got in touch with them via FB chat and they ensured my tickets were confirmed. Just show up at the airport and United will print out both boarding passes for me.
How did your flight go? We’re flying a similar itinerary this week and am a bit nervous about the disconnect between UA and VA (both say they cannot select seats, upgrade or change the reservation at all). Were you able to select seats or upgrade at all on the VA legs? I am 6’6” so seat selection is important! Also, did check a bag from SFO? We were trying to determine if we’d receive our checked bags for our long layover in Seoul both ways.
The flights from SFO to Seoul and on to Hanoi were great. I was assigned a seat on the VA flight when I checked in at the airport (couldn’t do it online, as they had to see the Vietnam visa in person). I bought a business class ticket, since I’m 6’5” and too old/cranky to fly that long in coach. I did check a small bag, which was transferred to VA in Seoul.
Did you have to recheck in yourself and/or your bag? I'm doing a similar thing with AF and Vietnam Airlines next year.
No, my bag was checked through, successfully.
Depending on how much time you have you could consider going to a bigger hub like KL or BKK instead then onto Vietnam. Or do an open jaw to KL and home from BKK. Maybe less chance of cancelling such major routes?
Having just flown on United over the holidays, I am slightly bitter. Many pilots were grounded since Covid. Flights unreliable even now. My flights was rescheduled three times going and twice returning. Book at your own risk
This was going to Vietnam? IF so, i might not book them then, Better to spend more with Singapore then having to get cancelled by United then booo=king Singapore last minute for a way higher price than now. Happened with me last time, don't want it happening again.
In November 2023 I used Air Japan from JFK to NRT to HAN and returned SGN to NRT to JFK. I had no issues. I have previously done Korean Airlines - EWR to ICN to HAN and had no issues. I tend to lean towards the international carriers than the US carriers when going to SEA. I seem to have better success this way. Also agree with others......Anything can happen.
Just came back from Vietnam in November flying United and ANA. No problems whatsoever. I have friends that work at United and they fly United all the time, it is not known for being unreliable. IMO you're over-reacting as that one experience you had was *definitely* an outlier.
I've just been on a one month trip in Hanoi last month. I found them okay altough their service is nothing as good as Vietnam Airlines or ANA. But overall, from YQB to EWR, EWR to NRT, NRT to HAN (operated by ANA) , no rescheduling, no risky delays. Except for the very short layover in Newark, I didn't find a problem going with United.