why won't united sell me a global first seat EWR-LHR?
Apr 29, 2017, 9:38 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2015
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In the end, I got upgraded 1 hour before departure. I really don't see why it couldn't have happened at least 12 hours in advance so that I could've spent the time in GFL. It just seems like an incredible waste of a really great lounge - and UA is wasting a revenue opportunity on a premium route.
Apr 29, 2017, 9:51 am
#19
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Apr 29, 2017, 9:58 am
#20
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Apr 29, 2017, 10:34 am
#21
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Apr 29, 2017, 7:08 pm
#22
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Does anyone know why UA does not sell Polaris First when they fly 3-class 763s on this route? It seems like they are missing a chance to monetize these seats while they are still around. Always shows F0 from the onset, and then they get filled only by non-revs and people who bother (and don't appear to even try) to apply an upgrade. UA940 is empty in F, and on my flight back on the same bird, I think I will end up as the only person in that class (unless they put all the non-revs there instead of in empty J seats - not sure if they automatically default to highest available class). They also don't upgrade anyone early except at the gate - which is really irritating as well, particularly given that 1K is going to be the best seat available.
I think it's also because the route is a mix of 2- and 3-class 767s and they want the freedom to swap them around at will.
Jun 22, 2017, 5:55 am
#23
Join Date: May 2008
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Polaris First Not For Sale - Upgrades Cleared at Airport
I didn't see an applicable existing thread.
I am flying Saturday, June 24th EWR-LHR. 3-class aircraft. Applied a GPU certificate at time of booking and I was waitlisted. GS agent said to call 72 hours prior to the flight to try to clear it. This I did yesterday and had an interesting discussion with the GS agent.
She said that with the pending demise of GF, those seats are no longer sold. She said the aircraft is showing 6 seats available, 0 for sale and 0 for upgrade. She called EWR GS and was told upgrades are cleared at the airport, but I could try to call at T-24 hours and try again.
I didn't ask a lot of questions, but it seems odd that seats would not be for sale. She did say that GF is almost always upgraded and rarely purchased.
Can anyone verify if this is correct? Any recent experiences in upgrading from business to first in Polaris - success ahead of the flight, or at the airport? My only other data point (and probably not relevant) is another EWR-LHR flight last October. There was an aircraft swap to a 3-class plane. I didn't realize this until boarding and it took some effort to get a GS agent on the phone to get me upgraded to GF (using a cert).
Thank you.
I am flying Saturday, June 24th EWR-LHR. 3-class aircraft. Applied a GPU certificate at time of booking and I was waitlisted. GS agent said to call 72 hours prior to the flight to try to clear it. This I did yesterday and had an interesting discussion with the GS agent.
She said that with the pending demise of GF, those seats are no longer sold. She said the aircraft is showing 6 seats available, 0 for sale and 0 for upgrade. She called EWR GS and was told upgrades are cleared at the airport, but I could try to call at T-24 hours and try again.
I didn't ask a lot of questions, but it seems odd that seats would not be for sale. She did say that GF is almost always upgraded and rarely purchased.
Can anyone verify if this is correct? Any recent experiences in upgrading from business to first in Polaris - success ahead of the flight, or at the airport? My only other data point (and probably not relevant) is another EWR-LHR flight last October. There was an aircraft swap to a 3-class plane. I didn't realize this until boarding and it took some effort to get a GS agent on the phone to get me upgraded to GF (using a cert).
Thank you.
Jun 22, 2017, 6:25 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Two possibilities:
1. UA believes it may have to swap to a 2-class aircraft, so doesn't want to assign anyone to F that it may subsequently have to downgrade.
2. Because F is on its way out at UA, it wants to allow non-revs a greater opportunity to enjoy it before its final demise.
(Yes, I am being sarcastic here.)
1. UA believes it may have to swap to a 2-class aircraft, so doesn't want to assign anyone to F that it may subsequently have to downgrade.
2. Because F is on its way out at UA, it wants to allow non-revs a greater opportunity to enjoy it before its final demise.
(Yes, I am being sarcastic here.)
Jun 22, 2017, 7:54 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Something doesn't seem right with that call with the GS agent. I would HUACA. However, I would also agree with CopperSteve that they may be planning for a swap to a 2-class 777s and have cut back on the GF seats. I would call again.
UA is definitely selling GF on other routes. I think this is a case of a possible aircraft swap
UA is definitely selling GF on other routes. I think this is a case of a possible aircraft swap
Jun 22, 2017, 8:09 am
#26
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DTW and ORD
Posts: 667
Two possibilities:
1. UA believes it may have to swap to a 2-class aircraft, so doesn't want to assign anyone to F that it may subsequently have to downgrade.
2. Because F is on its way out at UA, it wants to allow non-revs a greater opportunity to enjoy it before its final demise. (Yes, I am being sarcastic here.)
1. UA believes it may have to swap to a 2-class aircraft, so doesn't want to assign anyone to F that it may subsequently have to downgrade.
2. Because F is on its way out at UA, it wants to allow non-revs a greater opportunity to enjoy it before its final demise.
(Yes, I am being sarcastic here.)
Jun 22, 2017, 10:11 am
#27
Jun 22, 2017, 10:15 am
#28
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Jun 22, 2017, 11:03 am
#29
Join Date: May 2008
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Yes, I'm on UA940. How can tell where I am on the UG list? Forgive my ignorance, but I do not see the upgrade list populated on the UA app. Thank you.
Last edited by CopperSteve; Jun 22, 2017 at 11:06 am Reason: Typo
Jun 22, 2017, 12:21 pm
#30
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The gate agent was incorrect to say that F is no longer sold due phase out of GF. @seenitall was correct; the availability is protected for swap protection from 3-class to 2-class.