UA6872 and UA6872 - delays

[Ash W]

Just checked my booking for my flight to LAX tomorrow on UA840 and for some reason it shows the SYD-LAX leg as being cancelled. Not sure why as both the LAX and SFO a/c are en-route to Australia and it is showing the MEL-SYD leg of UA840 as operating.

Hopefully it is a glitch in the system and the flight does actually operate.

[Ben W]

I don't think 839 left LAX last night. I would call the airline and try to get onto the SFO flight or just wait the extra day. There will likely be 3 UA birds headed that way Sat morning.

[Sarah C]

SyD Airport board is showing that it is indeed cancelled. LOoks like you will have to call them if they haven't contacted you by now.

[Ash W]

Right you are 839 is showing cancelled, though last night it was showing as in the air. Wonder if it turned back? Anyway called my travel agent last night, who called United and am now on QF11 at Uniteds expense.

[Ben W]

3 United 744's will be landing within 30 min of each other Sat morning if anyone is headed out spotting.

[Steve Crook]

Looking like United flight UA6872 to Los Angeles isn't going to go far today. It flew over our house about 4.30pm with a lot of vapour/exhaust trail spewing from the outer portside engine (don"t know what number that is). On flightradar24 now it appears to be circling at 10000feet off the northern beaches, no doubt dumping fuel for a return to SYD (rego N105UA)

[Hendra Barnes]

I went spotting yesterday.
Saw a United plane parked with many men surrounding the plane. This was about 18.00.
Is this the same plane as the one you're speaking of? Will confirm rego when I pick up my wife from work - she has better memory.

If it's a different plane/rego, then that is just pure bad luck for UA.

[Sarah C]

Flightware says it has just landed

[Andrew Coggan]

Hasn't landed yet Sarah still circling.

[Sarah C]

Channel 10 news just mentioned the aircraft

[Matthew Horne]

Ch 10 just said it landed safely and had no passengers on board.

[James S.]

It is the plane that was delayed (for three or so days) Hendra, N105UA. Saw it off the coast with what appeared to be lots of black smoke trailing from the aircraft, then white (dumping fuel), proceeded to land normally with no emergency declared. At least it provided some nice light to shoot a UA 747 landing in! :)

[Hendra Barnes]

James,

Just to confirm/clarify, the UA B744 we (me & wife) saw last night when we left The Beach was N171UA. I realised this bird flew back to the US as UAL840 this afternoon.

So N171UA must had been the extra UA flight/aircraft that was sent down to cover for N105UA that went tech?

Cheers,
HB

[James S.]

Ah OK, might have been, can't confirm that for sure though, I'll leave that to someone else. :o

[Greg Hyde]

Reportedly engine failure and circled to burnoff fuel

[Carl H.]

Clearly showing a trail of vapour (fuel?) from engine 1!

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/carlhendriks/img_3109-border.jpg

[Sarah C]

Nice pic Carl!;)

[Kurt A]

N105UA went out today as UAL6872.

[Mike Scott]

Just fyi...our crew's love the overnight maintenance delays. Extra night in Sydney which is probably THE most favored/sought after trip on the roster. There is ALWAYS heaps of praise for everything/anything connected with Sydney....dont think pax mind too much if they get put up at companies expense for that extra night (other than inconvenience)...we even have a couple of folks who commute from Sydney to SFO to go to work !!!

Nice to hear so many continuous positive comments about experiences in Oz !!!

(apologies to all for ongoing maintenance delays etc):o

MS

[Ash W]

I noticed in another forum that there have been several cancellations over the past few weeks.

I managed to get to LAX (and then onto POS via IAH) and return without much drams due to the cancellation of my flight on the 12th. Also managed to get the United 747 coming back home, no cancellation. Though wish to god there was as it wasn't a pleasant flight. 10K is not a good seat at all, far too much noise and commotion to even attempt sleep and service, well not good but what I expected unfortunately.

So now I can tick United of my list off airlines to try and put it on my list of airlines to avoid, though with the pricing they have at present I fear any future trips to the US will be with them. (sorry Mike)