Hi QL. SEA's 1K line out front STILL says "1K/Full Fare First Class", and they do use a rover during busy times to chase away upgrades. There is a big problem of lack of consistency across the UA system with this signage. SFO signs also say "full fare", but IAD definitely do not. It creates all kinds of problems for all but the most experienced UA travelers; for example, I have more than once heard sincere but puzzled Premier travelers say "what does full fare first class mean?". In SEA the agent once replied: "it means you paid $4,000 for your ticket." That does put it into perspective, I guess.

There is, as you point out, also an issue of the consistency of the product. Are there to be two levels of first class? Does the lower level not get a second drink, etc.? Without commenting on how dumb this is, I'd point out there is already UA precedent for "double tiered" products in the same cabin. On international legs, full fare C and free XC pax get invitations to Arrivals service; upgraded NC pax do not, even though everyone is sitting in the same cabin, supposedly getting the same service. This rule is so incomprehensible that few CSRs understand it, and usually by playing dumb ("why didn't my Arrivals invitation print with the boarding pass? Your machine must have jammed") the CSR will generate a new one for you even if you are an upgrade. Indeed, even if they know the rule, they are sometimes too embarrassed by the craziness of it to deny your request.