I'm trying to use my US miles to book a domestic first class ticket on UA, around Thanksgiving time.

The representative indicated that my requested dates were blackout dates.

However, I thought that blackout dates didn't apply to first class awards.

Also, since a UA award is technically a Star Alliance award, I checked the US Star Alliance award chart. It states: "Blackout dates are defined by each carrier." UA doesn't have any blackout dates. So, even if blackout dates normally do apply to first class awards, it sounds as if they shouldn't apply for an award wholly on UA.

I apologize if this has been covered before. I did a couple of searches and didn't find anything on point.

Thanks for any information.

I think it is status-dependent. On US they have no blackouts if you are a Preferred DM member.

There are no blackout dates, but the awards are still capacity controlled. UA only allocates "X" number of award seats per flight, and once they are taken, that's it. At this late date, your chances of getting an award around Thanksgiving (either coach or first) are virtually nil. And since it's a Star Alliance award, you can't do any waitlisting.

(FWIW, I have an F award booked on UA with UA miles for Thanksgiving, and they could only confirm me in F on the return. I'm still waitlisted for F on the outbound...)

At this late date, your chances of getting an award around Thanksgiving (either coach or first) are virtually nil. And since it's a Star Alliance award, you can't do any waitlisting.

I guess that I'm very lucky then. :D

I called Reservations again. The agent that I got this time knew that there aren't blackout dates.

And I got two first class seats on our preferred dates, returning the Sunday after Thanksgiving!