Poll: Hobo first class vs Polaris
Oct 20, 2017, 10:24 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: OZ Diamond, Jiffypark Manhattan Gold
Posts: 4,485
Yea, I'll take the hobo style, I'll even take 1 E- seat with the middle seat open. I've got the SFO-SIN-LAX in Y in March and all I want is for that middle seat to be open.
Every so often the offers are tempting. But I almost never pull the trigger. I was at LAX yesterday and the guy checking in next to me, going either to PVG or NRT got an offer of $900 to business class. He couldn't have reached for his CC faster. He had (what appeared to be) his adult daughters with him and was trying to get all 3 of them up there, not sure if he was successful but still. I thought it was a good offer, but I would never have done it. Odds are I probably paid 1/4 of that for the return price and spending like $1200 CAD just isn't gonna happen.
Every so often the offers are tempting. But I almost never pull the trigger. I was at LAX yesterday and the guy checking in next to me, going either to PVG or NRT got an offer of $900 to business class. He couldn't have reached for his CC faster. He had (what appeared to be) his adult daughters with him and was trying to get all 3 of them up there, not sure if he was successful but still. I thought it was a good offer, but I would never have done it. Odds are I probably paid 1/4 of that for the return price and spending like $1200 CAD just isn't gonna happen.
Oct 20, 2017, 10:27 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
Separately though, four across on the 747 was always the best.
Oct 20, 2017, 11:36 pm
#34
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 76
The United lounge at SFO at Gate 71 (the Singapore lounge was closed) had pretty good food but no shower.
Your right they don't compare to the Turkish lounge or LH lounge at IAD. People were saying the showers at the Turkish lounge were kind of just okay. All I can say is people must have fancy homes on this board! I have to admit the LH lounge at IAD had great food. When was the last time you had decent Salmon in a lounge!
Your right they don't compare to the Turkish lounge or LH lounge at IAD. People were saying the showers at the Turkish lounge were kind of just okay. All I can say is people must have fancy homes on this board! I have to admit the LH lounge at IAD had great food. When was the last time you had decent Salmon in a lounge!
Oct 21, 2017, 12:21 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,451
Oct 21, 2017, 12:55 am
#36
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: MVP100K, A-list, Marriott/IHG Plat, CHP525 Ticket Plat, CHP Solo Carpool 100K, Costco EXP, Tinder 1K
Posts: 819
Last month I tried the island hopper (PVG-GUM-UA155-HNL-LAX). Since the island hopper was delayed, UA offered me a chance to change my itinerary for free. I didn't miss my connecting flight to LAX, but I still asked the agent if she could change my ticket to HNL-EWR-SNA, and she agreed! I had not status by that time, but she was so nice that she blocked a seat for me to stretch out when I told her I came by island hopper. 2 seats for myself were not that comfortable comparing with an empty row by the window on 77W. Next month I'm gonna do a LAX-SIN same day return. Only 2 empty window rows for the outbound and 5 empty window rows for the inbound. Booked in E-. Don't wanna pay for extra for the E+. I'll try to get an empty row or at least an E+ seat for free with my SQ*G. Fingers crossed.
Oct 21, 2017, 1:10 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,451
Last month I tried the island hopper (PVG-GUM-UA155-HNL-LAX). Since the island hopper was delayed, UA offered me a chance to change my itinerary for free. I didn't miss my connecting flight to LAX, but I still asked the agent if she could change my ticket to HNL-EWR-SNA, and she agreed! I had not status by that time, but she was so nice that she blocked a seat for me to stretch out when I told her I came by island hopper. 2 seats for myself were not that comfortable comparing with an empty row by the window on 77W. Next month I'm gonna do a LAX-SIN same day return. Only 2 empty window rows for the outbound and 5 empty window rows for the inbound. Booked in E-. Don't wanna pay for extra for the E+. I'll try to get an empty row or at least an E+ seat for free with my SQ*G. Fingers crossed.
Oct 21, 2017, 2:46 am
#39
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: 10 months VLC, 2 months everywhere else
Programs: *A
Posts: 3,770
FRA-ORD and back is great for that in the winter. Have done it twice and slept better than in J, at least on UA.
Oct 21, 2017, 7:14 am
#41
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SZX/HKG/BWI
Programs: UA 1K 1.1MM, CX Diam 1.0MM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC, MGM Pearl
Posts: 2,637
So why is everyone opting for hobo first class getting tickets or ending up in Polaris?
Just buy an economy ticket and leave the Polaris seats for the people who enjoy them.
Hobo first class, you guys are hilarious. This gave me quite the chuckle for the day
Just buy an economy ticket and leave the Polaris seats for the people who enjoy them.
Hobo first class, you guys are hilarious. This gave me quite the chuckle for the day
Oct 21, 2017, 7:38 am
#42
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,943
Oct 21, 2017, 9:56 am
#43
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,917
"Ghetto lie flat", "Hobo Class" expressions that I have only been exposed to today.
Brilliant terms that say so much. Best laugh based upon reality in a long time. Thanks.
Brilliant terms that say so much. Best laugh based upon reality in a long time. Thanks.
Oct 21, 2017, 11:11 am
#44
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,147
Oct 21, 2017, 11:58 am
#45
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,660
Up until the infant arrived, I was starting to get REALLY good at ghetto lie flat. There are all kinds of tricks.
Scan the seat map relentlessly before boarding, refresh it constantly, stake out your location on empty seats with a coat/bag in an open set of 3 4 or 5 seats, etc., etc. Figure out how to safely wear a seatbelt while asleep. Jury-rig the pillows so you can lie down comfortably. Choose between left/middle/right in a 3-3-3 config (there are pros and cons). There's a lot you can do to get a reasonably comfy sleep (I get almost as much sleep in ghetto lie-flat Y as in UA J).
Scan the seat map relentlessly before boarding, refresh it constantly, stake out your location on empty seats with a coat/bag in an open set of 3 4 or 5 seats, etc., etc. Figure out how to safely wear a seatbelt while asleep. Jury-rig the pillows so you can lie down comfortably. Choose between left/middle/right in a 3-3-3 config (there are pros and cons). There's a lot you can do to get a reasonably comfy sleep (I get almost as much sleep in ghetto lie-flat Y as in UA J).
Last edited by timfountain; Oct 21, 2017 at 9:13 pm