A week ago we learned that United would launch Los Angeles – Singapore non-stop flights in October.
The flight will feature United’s typical six-across business class on a Boeing 787-9 (eventually there should be a retrofit to Polaris business class seats) and slimline seats in economy – less padding so they can squeeze in more seats.
United Airlines Boeing 787
Here’s the schedule:
- Los Angeles – Singapore, 8:55pm – 6:50am+2, United flight UA37
Singapore – Los Angeles, 11:00am – 10:15am, United flight UA38
At 8770 miles it is slightly shorter than Dubai – Auckland (Emirates, 8824 miles) and Doha – Auckland (Qatar, 9032 miles). But it will be the longest non-stop flight from the U.S. until Singapore Airlines re-launches New York – Singapore as the longest flight in the world.
The westbound flight to Singapore will clock in at 17 hours 55 minutes versus ‘just’ 15 hours 15 minutes eastbound. But it’s actually the ‘shorter’ Singapore – Los Angeles flight that I fear the most, and will be my candidate for ‘worst flight in the world’.
I find United’s slimline seats uncomfortable for Houston – Austin. It’s bearable, sure. Most readers I’ve corresponded with start to find the seats extremely uncomfortable after about three hours. I’d highly recommend approaching economy long haul on United like a teenage girl: bring your own pillow to sit on (United does give you a postage stamp-sized pillow to facilitate sleeping).
The reason flying the shorter departure out of Singapore is worse, though, than the flight from the U.S. is because of something I usually prefer: Singapore’s Changi airport performs security screening separately at each gate rather than having a central security checkpoint.
Since the U.S. continues to prosecute the War on Water, airports that screen at the gate confiscate water at the gate — even water purchased at the airport.
So not only are you flying United economy for 15 hours, you’re flying entirely reliant on United Airlines catering and flight attendants for hydration.
The same is true for airports in countries which are not fighting alongside the U.S. for hydro-supremacy: since water bottles aren’t confiscated at central security, there’s additional screening in search of liquids at the gate for U.S.-bound flights. You cannot simply buy water at the airport and take it on the plane.
One such airport is Hong Kong, so for flights from Hong Kong to the U.S. and to Australia, a secondary screening is done before you board the plane.
Often I’ve departed from a cordoned-off gate, where you’re searched as you enter the gate area. Probably the gate I’ve departed Hong Kong for the US from the most is gate 1 which is done this way.
Since Singapore – Los Angeles is longer than Hong Kong – Newark (United) and longer than Hong Kong – Dallas (American) so it’s my ‘worst flight in the world’.
You’ll have the same issue on other flights out of Singapore to the U.S. Singapore Airlines flies non-stop to San Francisco. However Singapore offers a far better economy seat which even features a foot bar and cup holder.
And more crucially I’d be far more comfortable relying on Singapore Airlines and its flight attendants to take care of my needs like a steady supply of water to drink.
Meanwhile when Singapore Airlines launches its own non-stop Los Angeles flight next year they’re expected to offer premium economy as their lowest cabin on the aircraft.
Even 4 across in biz/first on AA 787 is tight. UA squeezes 6 across in the same plane. This would be the flight from hell. You’ll need 2 weeks just to recover from it. Happy flying.
I nominate the term “Backbreakers” for those damned slim line seats. If you don’t bring an inflatable cushion with you, they can cause much pain and suffering. I flew a DL EWR – CDG using those in “Comfort Plus” (torture) because the award was so cheap….n e v e r a g a i n. That was my only mistake with points ever.
It could be worse, you could be flying Air India (anywhere); or RyanAir; or Spirit; or SAS; or LOT. Hardly the world’s worst flight!
The “no water beyond this point” is insane!
The water (sold at airports) is screened by the security staff when the supplies arrive at the airport (and the vendors delivering the supplies are also screened) & the purchased water is screened again as the passengers go through security.
The airports and everyone involved need to come up with some kind of “security tape” that goes over the bottle cap/neck of bottle to prevent it from being opened until the passenger is onboard the plane.
If it’s a clear water bottle that’s been sold by an airport vendor, has the “airport security tape” on the cap/neck of bottle & has been screened by security several times – what’s wrong with carrying that on the plane?
On the other hand – if you or I were to bring a water purchased (off airport – with no security tape) then that would have to be disposed of at the security checkpoint.
It’s as simple as that!! This is one of the reasons why everyone is so P-O’d about traveling these days…
On the other hand I like flying UA long haul because of the number of miles I can accrue when crediting to Krisflyer (100% of miles flown for most fare classes). As long as they don’t introduce basic economy on international legs like this.
Of all people, I thought you’d have enough padding in your bottom to offset the thin cushion in the UA’s slimline seats.
Basic economy will come to all United routes in time.
It is a way to bribe and cajole you into paying more for those “comforts” that were previously included.
Imagine a time when United basic economy confines you to a separate section of the aircraft, that requires you to pay for mini cups of water and being confined for this length of time with a sullen crew.
Indeed a flight from hell for economy passengers. How do we identify which UA flights (or even other airlines too) have slimline seats installed? Done it once, will not fly them again. Cheers.
I think you’re spot on with this. One of the worst domestic carriers decides to add one of the longest flights in the world…what could go wrong? Economy would be a special kind of hell on this flight. There’s not a fare cheap enough to entice me to fly UA internationally.
Is NRT an exception? when we’ve flown NRT-US, there was no extra liquid screening at the gate
Same for TPE to U.S. airports – no water screening after the main security checkpoint. I don’t know what the deal is with Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has been doing secondary liquid screenings/gate screenings for quite some time. I once bought something at the Watson’s inside the terminal only to have it confiscated at the gate 15 minutes later.
There is always a water fountain inside the seating area after the security screenings for all gates in Singapore Changi Airport. You can bring ur own (empty) water bottle through the screening and fill it up for the flight ahead.
Your water point is way overblown. HKG, ICN, TLV, and a few other airports continue to absurdly confiscate all liquids at the gate – but it’s not the norm. I’ve never had a problem bringing water on board a US flight from HND, NRT or any European airport for instance
And why in the world do you prefer security at the gate? It’s inefficient and introduces a variable in between you and the lounge, reducing lounge time, and increasing sit at the gate time.
@Bob… Who said they prefer security screening at the gate? In HKG it tends to be only direct US flights with the additional gate screening. I don’t recall any of my flights to the mainland having the additional screening or other flights within Asia.
@Mark, at SIN the security at the gate is not additional screening; it is the actual security check. So instead of featuring the cattle maze like at most airports, they can get the right number of agents to the right gate at the right time and it tends to go quickly. I agree the war on water is ridiculous.
The one size fits all philosophy United has with their seats, especially ecomy is plain backward. I’m fine with uncomfortable slimline for an hour to two hour flight. 16 hours really needs a whole different seat though.
Bring an empty water bottle and fill it up at the gate, after the security check. Every gate at Changi has a water fountain.
At least some of the gates at Changi sell water post-screening. So it might not be quite so bad.
Oh quit being so negative. We don’t need those fancy Singapore cup holders if we have nothing to but in them for 16+ hours 🙂
I’ve done the AA HKG-DFW flight before. They really fooled me the last time since they waited until you got in the jetbridge to make everyone dump the water bottles. Oh and it’s a LONG way even in AA flagship first. I can’t image the UA flight in econ.
I will rather fly Asian airlines over the Pacific. Except Air India.
i dont get it? why is the east bound worse when its shorter and you are allowed to take your H20 right up to the gate?
UA does not use slimline seats in its international aircraft, just domestic aircraft. Please try not to be so sensational.
I have over 200k in UA miles I was wanting to ad to to get myself, wife and little round trip tickets from DAY – MNL and back in a couple of years. I guess I will have to have someone show me how to book those miles with one of UA’s part we airlines.
UA is going to pay bad overtime for crapping all over the flying public
@Nick – You are right but Ill bet they sell those seats to people looking for the cheap fares.
Who said United wasn’t adding slimline seats to it’s international fleet? You couldn’t pay me to sit in slimline seats for 16+ hours.
United has been replacing its traditional economy seats with so-called slimline seats that have thinner back cushions, making it easier to squeeze more passengers per cabin. The carrier is about halfway through retrofitting its 737 planes with the slimline seats. The entire airline will be fitted with the seats in 2018 once crews install them on the smaller fleet of 757-300 planes.
As some had already pointed out, just bring an empty water bottle and fill it up at the seating area past the gate security.
Lima airport (flying AA) also confiscates airport-purchased water at the gate when boarding planes to USA.
Alex Lim said: “There is always a water fountain inside the seating area after the security screenings for all gates in Singapore Changi Airport. You can bring ur own (empty) water bottle through the screening and fill it up for the flight ahead.”
^ This.