Oct 29, 2018, 2:14 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA has started installing Premium Plus / Premium Economy seats in 772s and 773s. Other long haul aircraft will also be receiving these new seats.
For 77x it is a 2-4-2 (vs economy 3-4-3) with 3 rows - 24 seats
For 76x it is believe it will be 2-2-2 (vs 2-3-2) with 3 rows ( and maybe a partial row) - 22 seats
For 78x it is believed it will be 2-3-2 (vs 3-3-3) with 3 rows - 21 seats
UA has not yet started selling this new cabin but has restructured its fare class -- which appears to be in preparation of selling the new cabin (and removed 3-class F)
In the meantime, the Premium Plus cabin is being treated as an extension of E+ and those with E+ access can select the new seats.
In many cases UA is initially using an interim seat maps, such as https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1926142-interim-772-seat-map-polaris-potentially-premium-economy-2018-a.html
Things start to firm up about 2 days prior but last minute changes can happen
For 77x it is a 2-4-2 (vs economy 3-4-3) with 3 rows - 24 seats
For 76x it is believe it will be 2-2-2 (vs 2-3-2) with 3 rows ( and maybe a partial row) - 22 seats
For 78x it is believed it will be 2-3-2 (vs 3-3-3) with 3 rows - 21 seats
UA has not yet started selling this new cabin but has restructured its fare class -- which appears to be in preparation of selling the new cabin (and removed 3-class F)
In the meantime, the Premium Plus cabin is being treated as an extension of E+ and those with E+ access can select the new seats.
In many cases UA is initially using an interim seat maps, such as https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1926142-interim-772-seat-map-polaris-potentially-premium-economy-2018-a.html
Things start to firm up about 2 days prior but last minute changes can happen
Real Premium Economy is Coming [Update: UA studying "Real" Prem Y in domestic market]
Jan 18, 2018, 12:46 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
That's a really good comment. That is what happened with business class- since tickets were often paid by third parties, the way you made money was to make business class a lot like first and charge a lot of money for it. But that left a hole for people who wanted a middle ground. So now airlines are reintroducing the product that was originally called business class to fill that middle ground.
Jan 18, 2018, 12:47 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,768
I wonder if this has been the reason for the delay getting the 777-200 Polaris retrofit line up and running.
Jan 18, 2018, 12:48 pm
#18
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,137
Jan 18, 2018, 12:49 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,419
People have been hoping for this for years, I for one, am a bit worried about how this will roll out and how GPU's will be used. I'm guessing Economy to PE? Will 1K's have access at booking?
Jan 18, 2018, 12:52 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
I have no inside knowledge, but my bets would be (1) CPU's will upgrade into PE and (2) 1K''s won't have any free access to PE- they will need to pay or use an instrument.
Jan 18, 2018, 12:54 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Kaiserslautern
Programs: UA G 1.9MM, HH Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 439
Hope that, if this is true, they follow LH where your GPU from Y goes into C, not PE.
Jan 18, 2018, 12:56 pm
#22
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Diamond, Marriot Gold
Posts: 292
I also hope they let United MileagePlus redemptions into Premium Economy on other airlines. The seat looks similar to the one from SingaporeAirlines. Got an email from United too.
Jan 18, 2018, 1:00 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
Jan 18, 2018, 1:02 pm
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,597
^^ to UA if this really happens - and soon. I don’t really need a lie flat on a short TATL, and since I no longer have GPUs to use, no worries on that front.
Jan 18, 2018, 1:09 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,084
Do you guys think that status automatic E+ economy will translate to this at all?
if not then there’s no point of requakidying for silver (for me at least)
if not then there’s no point of requakidying for silver (for me at least)
Jan 18, 2018, 1:10 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Does this replace E+ ? Or in addition to E+?
Jan 18, 2018, 1:14 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Bad News for UA Frequent Flyers
The lack of PE was one of the few remaining benefits of flying UA long haul for a couple reasons. First having a Y/J or Y/J/F cabin made upgrades straight forward the buy up offers were actually for something you wanted. Similar argument for using points or certificates for doing upgrades. Sure PE might make upgrades more plentiful but IMHO PE isn’t that much better than Y. You already get a meal and booze on international flights in Y. Second what will happen to E+ seating for elites? One of the nice things about being Gold with UA was I could be sure to find a bulkhead or emergency row with space similar or better to PE at no extra cost. Third what will this mean for mileage earning with UA? Will people who buy s fares see a reduction in PQM or BIS? Fourth how will this change priority boarding? As a Gold I get some 2 boarding ensuring I will have overhead bin space. I could easily see ya Golds being pushed into zone 3 boarding with PE boarding in zone 2.
overall many questions left unanswered for us elites.
lets hope this doesn’t arrive for domestic/trans-border itineraries!
- James
overall many questions left unanswered for us elites.
lets hope this doesn’t arrive for domestic/trans-border itineraries!
- James
Jan 18, 2018, 1:15 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
No, absolutely not. It's unlikely that anyone will be given P+ for free unless E is sold out. However, there will likely still be some E+ seats on the plane -- just not as many as before. Also, keeping in mind the pace of United's rollouts, I'd wager that this won't be widely available for many months, if not years.
Jan 18, 2018, 1:20 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
Unfortunately I expect a loss of J and E+ seats and J upgrade availability with this if AA's and DL's configurations are any clue. It's part of why I'm not a big PE fan. I'm not in the niche that wants it, and instead I'm part of the group that has loses out on the J/Y side.