United Airlines is returning to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, but not in the way you may have imagined. United is also launching nonstop service to Adelaide, Australia and doubling service to Manila. Let’s unpack this big news.
United Airlines Adds Bangkok + Ho Chi Minh City Flights Via Hong Kong
Years ago, United served Bangkok (BKK) from its Tokyo Narita (BRT) hub and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) from Hong Kong (HKG). United will return to both cities this year, though not nonstop from its San Francisco (SFO) as many expected.
Instead, United will serve both Southeast Asian destinations from Hong Kong. Service will begin on October 26, 2025 and will operate daily using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The flights will be timed to connect with United’s double-daily Hong Kong service from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco.
United plans to re-open its United Club lounge in Hong Kong later this year, which has been closed since 2020.
New United Airlines Service From San Francisco To Adelaide, Australia
Starting December 11, 2025, United will launch the first nonstop flights between the US and Adelaide, Australia (ADL), the capital and most populous city in the state of South Australia. The service will operate 3x weekly and utilize a Boeing 787-9.
United also serves Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL), and Sydney (SYD) from the West Coast.
A Second Daily Manila Flight
United is also adding a second daily flight between San Francisco and Manila (MNL). Starting on October 25, 2025, both a daytime and evening flight will be offered from San Francisco. United is the only U.S. airline to serve the Philippines, with service to both Manila and Cebu (CEB) via Tokyo Narita.
More Fifth Freedom Flying From United Airlines: Back To The Future?
I may take this up in a separate post, but I’m struck that what’s old is new and what’s new is old.
When I was a kid, I remember getting stuck in Hong Kong (after oversleeping and missing an Air New Zealand flight). Approaching the United ticket counter to check on other options, I remember 1.) the Ho Chi Minh City flight was preparing to depart and 2.) United still had paper tickets with the classic tulip logo at the ticketing desk.
During a phone call yesterday with Live And Let’s Fly revealing the new routes, Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President, Global Network Planning and Alliances, explained the economics of this route, pointing out that the choice to route these new flights via Hong Kong allows for both US and local traffic.
He also confirmed that United will be selling these Fifth Freedom flights on a stand-alone basis.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines is launching service to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Adelaide, with the two new Asian flights operating via Hong Kong.
Tickets for the Adelaide and the new Manila flights are on sale now on United.com and on the United app. Tickets for Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City flights will be available for sale at a later date.
I am continually impressed by United’s willingness under Quayle’s leadership to try new routes and push the boundaries of the hub-and-spoke system. Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok are both great cities that I look forward to returning to on United.
What do you think about the new routes?
No wonder bank cards have been opening lounges in HKG.
Not sure I understand the purpose of Adelaide. Is there really enough demand for that?
And fifth freedom flights from HKG? Eh.
How about resuming EWR to HKG? And how about lower redemption rates on flights to Asia? That would be true exciting news.
Adelaide is the hub of Australian wine tourism so I would guess can justify the direct flights (Singapore and Qatar already do). Also, after flying inbound to Adelaide, you can fly onto east coast capitals for more site seeing then fly out with UA again. US tourists tend to try see a lot of the country in one trip because it’s already such a long way to fly just to get there.
One small thing: Manila is served via SFO, Guam, and Koror but not via Narita on United. Narita does see service to Cebu.
Ladyboy fans and Peds everywhere are celebrating!
The DOJ should be investigating every person from the US that makes this trip. We owe it to the kids!
Attempt to stay on topic. If you’re unable, attempt to be less of a creepy weirdo.
How incredibly inappropriate. This is an airline blog not some MAGA rant page for perverts who see any travel to Ho Chi Mihn or BKK as sex tourism; get a life and preferably one that isn’t in the gutter.
If the shoe fits…..
Is there or is there not Sex Tourism in these places? And why is it public knowledge with next to nothing being done to stop it.
Anyone visiting these sh#tholes for any reason is contributing to it, PERIOD.
No place is perfect and deviants are everywhere, but SE Asia is ground central for the creeps. Lining up and shooting anyone involved in these businesses as a customer or operator is needed.
But Elon is the “bad guy” to you freaks.
No need to go al the way to BKK…. Plenty of human trafficking right here in our own
‘shit-hole”…..
lol.. and our own commander in chief boasts about his ability to grab women’s crotches… Such a great role model.
You need help.
The deviant creep is the person raising this issue out of nowhere. Your attempts to be provocative or edgy are just lame and weak.
When United Airlines purchased PAN AM trans-pacific route network, it included HKG-BKK fifth freedom route. Thus UAL is merely re-activate a 40 year old dormant route.
If the two new HKG routes are profitable, I hope UAL will reopen HKG crew base.
As for BKK and SGN, it simply means that HKG isn’t doing as well as many think. You don’t stick a tag behind a flight that is already doing well.
As for Adelaide, we have seen a host of new service to Australia on a seasonal, less than weekly subsidized basis. Is this one of the same thing? Good for UA – just as for AA and DL – if UA can get some of the subsidies? Even if not, Adelaide is a pretty small market esp. if the world gets all upset about the US and doesn’t want to come to the US and mistreats American visitors which is what many convince is going to happen.
long and short is that the net UA is adding a new seasonal less than daily service to Adelaide and a couple tags to boost the underperformance of its flights to HKG.
Tim Dunn, I found the same comment in another blog. You are everywhere.
HKG airport provides financial incentives to airlines starting new routes. UAL’s new 5th freedom flights likely qualified.
This summer UA add a second daily non-stop flight between LAX and HKG. This suggest that the route earn money for UA amid competition from Cathay Pacific.
I wonder if the ADL route is subsidized? It would make more sense then. I have been to ADL many times. I flew out internationally a number of years ago. Very easy. I flew into ADL internationally for the first time last December. Super easy. It would make for easy connections. But, since you can connect in BNE, SYD, and MEL (the best of the 3 for connections) to Aussie cities, ADL as a connecting city makes little sense except for a few low population regional destinations.
changes nothing from me. so many quality asian carriers to get me to thailand. united fumbled not doing a nonstop
I suppose they looked at it and (wisely) determined a nonstop could not be supported?
I’m excited to hear about ADL. I fly from SFO, so perfect. I’ve been planning a trip there, so now I can go non-stop. I don’t care if it is subsidized or not. Why is that a problem? I want to go there. I’ll use this service. Thanks to UA for this.
I love Adelaide and some of my best friends in the world live there. Though I just didn’t realize there was enough demand in either direction for that to work.
Does Quayle really think any local traffic is going to choose UA over CX, TG, VN, or the multitude of LCCs? They won’t be able to compete on price, schedule, or quality.
Given the opportunity to choose between Emirates first class or United between HKG and BKK, I think I’d make the splurge.
only brain dead idiots splurge for a 2 hour flight in first class.
Poor people ranting at the rich are so exhausting.
Been to Oz thirty times but never to Adelaide…maybe I should reconsider.
I always figured you like going to Cairns.
Good on UAL. They’re starting to rule once again. But please fix the food.
BTW Matthew my wife and I do prefer Cairns/Queensland but there’s a lot more. The West and Southern coasts are stunning.