After a pause of 11 years, United Airlines finally resumed service to Bangkok (BKK), Thailand on October 26, 2025.

United previous ran the Narita (NRT) – Bangkok route with a 747-400, but that service ended on March 30, 2014.

With the return to Bangkok, United is extending the Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) UA820 flight to serve Bangkok as well. This means a Boeing 787-9 is used on the roughly 2 hour and 30 minutes flight. The plane is equipped with Polaris and Premium Economy cabins, and are sold as such.

There was also an inaugural Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) UA152 flight later that evening (as a continuation of LAX-HKG UA152 on a Boeing 787-9 as well)  and some dedicated inaugural chasers (yes, that is a real thing) immediately flew back to HKG to reposition for that flight. Of course, flying to Vietnam requires more logistical planning as a e-visa is required for far more nationalities including US and Canadian passport holders, while they are granted visa-free entry into Thailand (but still required to fill in the TDAC arrival card).

I had the rare opportunity to fly the inaugural HKG-BKK flight, where United hosted special celebrations. Here are some photos from the day.