IAD-FRA on 3/17 went Polaris and then back to three class pmUA. Due to a bizarre and persistent UA app bug (see my earlier posts), I was able to select 1H weeks in advance as a gold when the app offered it as a $599 “upgrade” from my existing 6A assignment, and then assigned it for free when I hit “continue”. Companion on a separate PNR got 2D as a Silver.

When the plane went Polaris, I moved us to 3A and 3L respectively. When the plane swapped back, I got the standard SMS from UA and, to my complete surprise, found us assigned 2K and 2H, respectively.

It’s possible UA looks at prior seating assignments when reassigning, but given reports upthread I can’t imagine so. We were on D fares, so probably not high enough for that to matter. The plane had approx 6-8 GS and 20-30 1K, so status wouldn’t seem to be the dominant factor either.