United Airlines operates a limited number of Fifth Freedom Routes around the world, including:
- Manila to Koror
- Koror to Yap
- Kwajalein to Kosrae
- Kuwait to Bahrain
- Tokyo to Seoul
- Tokyo to Singapore
- Hong Kong to Singapore
- Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City
On my way to the A350 inaugural festivities in Doha, I flew United Airlines from Washington Dulles to Manama, Bahrain via Kuwait City. The ground stop in Kuwait City is about 90 minutes and most passengers do not continue on to Bahrain.
All continuing passengers are required to exit the aircraft and are herded into a waiting area where it is not necessary to re-clear security. If you choose to leave the secure gate area (to use the lounge or toilet), you must undergo security screening again, which is outside each gate area but not all that intrusive.
The flight was lightly filled, so I hope United makes more money on the cargo — business class was only about 15% filled, first class was at 50% and economy class was about 20%.
Though delayed in takeoff, the 1hr scheduled flight only took 40 min. A new crew boards in Kuwait City and flies the tag flight to Bahrain and back before remaining one more night in Kuwait City then returning to Washington. Prior to takeoff the crew took drink orders and asked whether I wanted the snack — a chicken sandwich and a cheese sandwich. I had just had a hearty breakfast before landing in KWI and also visited the lounge (it has not changed from 2013), but I certainly wanted to partake in the novelty of a meal on a 1hr UA flight.
About 10 minutes after takeoff the meal came out, plated on a tray with a Kit Kat bar. The sandwiches were perfectly average — I ate the cheese sandwich but the chicken sandwich did not look at all appealing. A hot cookie would have hit the spot.
It was not too long after that we began our descent into Manama. Nice that UA offers a snack on this short flight even if it was just a small sandwich! A small suggestion — warmed mixed nuts would have been even better.
A good flight for an ugprade but hardly worth a SWU if you are starting in KWI!
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I never knew about all of those random United 5th freedom flights. I think the only one I ever realized was Tokyo-Seoul/Singapore. Very interesting. Thanks!
Have flown a number of them now, including the KWI-BAH. Its kinda fun to do a 40 minute flight in a widebody plane, and you are correct at how empty it is. Honestly I am surprised that UAL is still even offering the IAD-KWI-BAH route how empty it has been the times I have flown it. Must be making the money for it off of cargo.