YES: United Adds Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Adelaide

Intro

Yesterday, United leaked a couple of new routes on social media with hints at some upcoming big destinations that United travelers have been seeking to see added. Well, as it would turn out, the two main long-haul destinations that people wanted to be added, have been added, just with a small twist.

San Francisco To Adelaide

United announced three new routes in this new expansion, but the only new route that will be operated out of the US is a brand new route from San Francisco to Adelaide.

As of December 11th, this route will be operated 3x weekly (seasonally) using a 787-9, featuring 48 business class seats (Polaris), 21 premium economy seats, and 188 economy seats. The route is blocked in at 15 hours and 55 minutes westbound, and 14 hours and 50 minutes eastbound with the following schedule:

UA207: San Francisco-Adelaide departing 11:05 PM arriving 9:30 AM (+2 days)

UA208: Adelaide-San Francisco departing 2:55 PM arriving 11:15 AM

United will use the 787-9 for all three of the new routes.

This route to Adelaide will be the fourth destination that United will serve in Australia, and it will become the only direct flight connecting Adelaide and the United States.

Hong Kong-Bangkok

Being an active member of the United Reddit forum, there has long been discussion surrounding United adding flights to Bangkok. While United hasn't quite gone as far as to make these direct, as of October 26th, 2025, United will be adding daily frequencies between the two cities using a 787-9 (or maybe the 777-300?).

United will be going up against Thai Airways and many other carriers on this route.

While none of the details have been published, and unlike the Adelaide flight, these flights aren't on sale, the thinking is that the 787-9 will land from Los Angeles, run the Bangkok leg, and then head back to Hong Kong and onward to Los Angeles.

Hong Kong- Ho Chi Minh

Aside from Bangkok, the next requested destination in the APAC market happens to be Ho Chi Minh. United seems to be listening to its consumers since as of October 26th, United will be launching daily service between the two cities.

Just like with the Bangkok run, the jets coming in from LAX/HKG should be doing a quick change in Hong Kong before embarking on their roundtrip runs to Saigon, and then returning back to Hong Kong before onward to the US. Once again, these flights are NOT on sale yet.

My Thoughts

Let me start by saying, that United is in a league of its own when it comes to adding new routes (for US carriers that is). Considering we have recently seen Mongolia, Greenland and now this, it's a great time to be a United flyer.

I'll begin with Adelaide. United has plenty of widebodies sitting around during the winter season, and this allows the airline to use them in places with higher demand. Obviously, when it is winter in the US, it is summer in Australia. So I see United's thinking here, might as well try out a brand new route instead of having widebodies sit on the ground...

Now for Bangkok and Ho Chin Minh: this is exciting! SE Asia has a big place in my heart, and it's amazing that as a United flyer, I now have the option to access both cities on UA Metal. However, I am slightly confused in two different ways:

1. How is United going to operate double daily flights from LAX/SFO-HKG moving forward? What I presume would happen is that the flights that land in the morning would make the trip to BKK/SGN and then make it back in time to operate the evening departure back East. But then how would the morning flight back East operate? Unless they allocate yet another plane for this frequency to sit on the ground in Hong Kong.

2. Which brings me to my next point. If United were to allocate another plane, which seemingly makes sense, why not just launch these routes 3x weekly non-stop? My working theory, which holds zero weight whatsoever, is that this is due to permits and such. Rumour has it that these routes will also be sold as fifth freedom routes, hence why I think so. What do I know though (nothing)?

Final Thoughts

A new announcement came out this morning from United Airlines announcing to consumers that the airline is adding three new destinations. As of December, expect to be able to fly United 3x weekly, direct on a seasonal basis from San Francisco to Adelaide. As of October 26th, passengers will be able to fly from Hong Kong to Bangkok and Saigon on a daily basis, funneling connecting traffic on United Metal.

All in all exciting stuff, and I would expect to see direct flights to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh sooner rather than later! Honestly, I believe once Thai Airways is allowed to operate to the US again, United will offer flights to Bangkok but that is just my theory.