Thanks in part to huge levels of diaspora, geographic positions, and airline hubs, Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport they are the USA's leading gateways to Asia-Pacific (excluding the Middle East). When destination city-level point-to-point booking data for the 12 months to July 2024 is examined, which combined those who flew non-stop, one-stop, and changed planes en route, the results show which is the larger market: Los Angeles's top 30 Asia-Pacific cities had ~4.6 million roundtrip passengers San Francisco's top 30 cities had ~three million passengers United is to add another Asian destination, which will be announced in early October.

This is described as a "different and high-volume” place based partly on the success of San Francisco-Manila, a high-volume, long, and historically low-yielding market. Manila also spurred Cebu, with United flights starting later this month from Tokyo.Gossip suggests that Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City may materialize.

Vietnam Airlines already serves San Francisco, while Air Canada has Vancouver-Bangkok. Thai Airways had non-stop Bangkok-Los Angeles flights until 2012 and JFK until 2008, both on the gas-guzzling A340-500. The carrier also had a one-stop Los Angeles service until 2015.

United has flown to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh before: the Thai capital from Tokyo until 2014 and the Vietnamese city from Hong Kong until 2016. Other US operators also served them.While uncertain, the destination to be announ.