Upgrades/Access to Polaris Global First since UA Ended Polaris Global First Sales
Apr 26, 2018, 12:15 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
I know this won't be a popular opinion but I'm okay if the employees get to ride in Polaris First for the remaining time it exists. It was already called "employee class" before this, upgrades were rare unless you wanted to use a GPU on a high enough fare, and intercontinental biz has been pretty full lately so it's harder and harder to get this non-rev benefit.
The fact that United is unwilling to sell the F seat while it remains is no different from how it will be in couple years when they'll be almost nonexistent and won't be able to sell them if they wanted to. They understand that people who really want to pay for F will have to find another carrier, or hope loyalty and an all-aisle access biz will trump that.
The fact that United is unwilling to sell the F seat while it remains is no different from how it will be in couple years when they'll be almost nonexistent and won't be able to sell them if they wanted to. They understand that people who really want to pay for F will have to find another carrier, or hope loyalty and an all-aisle access biz will trump that.
Apr 26, 2018, 1:09 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
See SFOdelayed's response which mirrored my experience. No F for sale, but I called in ahead of time to try to apply an RPU and they said it was not possible, but I should talk to the folks at EWR. On arrival, they informed me I could not be added to the upgrade list or purchase an upgrade as they were allocated "by management". And no I did not appear on the upgrade list.
Edit: I also went back and checked my email on this. I remember being particularly frustrated because I was booked on a full, absurdly high J fare, so I don't think I was "outspent". Noticed because usually we are PP and book into C ewr/sfo vv but our account was dry or something. The only people who did appear on the upgrade list were, I believe, employees (as they appeared on all 3 of the waitlists), though none cleared all the way into F IIRC, and that wasn't really my complaint.
Edit: I also went back and checked my email on this. I remember being particularly frustrated because I was booked on a full, absurdly high J fare, so I don't think I was "outspent". Noticed because usually we are PP and book into C ewr/sfo vv but our account was dry or something. The only people who did appear on the upgrade list were, I believe, employees (as they appeared on all 3 of the waitlists), though none cleared all the way into F IIRC, and that wasn't really my complaint.
Apr 26, 2018, 1:37 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: UA GS, MM
Posts: 165
See SFOdelayed's response which mirrored my experience. No F for sale, but I called in ahead of time to try to apply an RPU and they said it was not possible, but I should talk to the folks at EWR. On arrival, they informed me I could not be added to the upgrade list or purchase an upgrade as they were allocated "by management". And no I did not appear on the upgrade list..
I was on the upgrade list both times of course, because I used the RPUs.
Last edited by liddy0021; Apr 26, 2018 at 1:39 pm Reason: typo
Apr 26, 2018, 1:40 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
FYI they are clearing upgrades ahead of the gate. I just received notification that my upgrade from biz to first for SFO-CDG on a three cabin PMUA 777-200 just cleared. Ticket was booked last week and travel is for end of May; I applied a GPU so it wasn’t a free op-up.
Apr 26, 2018, 1:55 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BWI, PHL, IAD
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; Mileage Plus 1K, 1 MM; Global Entry
Posts: 1,516
Just to add a datapoint; booked business saver ORD-BRU some time ago. 777-200 both ways, so I waitlisted for O. Both cleared about a month ago. Flew outbound on 24 April. At check-in I was still the only person showing on the seat map in F. At 24 hours the same 9 names appeared on the standby list, business upgrade list and first upgrade list. Obviously non-revs. Some time after that, but before gate control, another seat showed assigned on the seat map. At the gate, there were still 6 seats showing available in F and the same 9 names on the upgrade list. F went out full, so I am thinking there was me and another passenger on either an award or revenue ticket, and 6 non-revs.
As of right now, my seat is the only one in F shown as taken on the seat map for the return flight.
As of right now, my seat is the only one in F shown as taken on the seat map for the return flight.
Apr 26, 2018, 3:15 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
I had a discussion a few days ago with the GS manager at ORD about this.
I was (and still am) willing to buy an "A" fare for my upcoming ORD-LHR trip. All three flights are not selling F seats.
He told me I could use a GPU. Told him I don't want to use one.
He said if they do use a three-class 767, nobody will be comped an upgrade. So I asked if non-revs will get those seats.
He said most likely yes. Even though I was (and am) willing to buy F? Yes. If the buy-up is still around $800, I would gladly do it. But as you know, the buy-up can change and it could be in the thousands.
I made it very clear that if non-revs go into F and I am stuck in C, I would cancel my ticket at the gate and fly BA or another carrier with an F cabin.
Of course he didn't want to hear that, but he knows me well enough and knows that I would do that.
He said that he would call WHQ and discuss this with people who have decision-making powers with respect to this issue.
I await the answer.
I was (and still am) willing to buy an "A" fare for my upcoming ORD-LHR trip. All three flights are not selling F seats.
He told me I could use a GPU. Told him I don't want to use one.
He said if they do use a three-class 767, nobody will be comped an upgrade. So I asked if non-revs will get those seats.
He said most likely yes. Even though I was (and am) willing to buy F? Yes. If the buy-up is still around $800, I would gladly do it. But as you know, the buy-up can change and it could be in the thousands.
I made it very clear that if non-revs go into F and I am stuck in C, I would cancel my ticket at the gate and fly BA or another carrier with an F cabin.
Of course he didn't want to hear that, but he knows me well enough and knows that I would do that.
He said that he would call WHQ and discuss this with people who have decision-making powers with respect to this issue.
I await the answer.
Who knows, maybe they'll take your money too if you rub it in their face enough. Just takes the right person at WHQ to see the green.
Apr 26, 2018, 3:41 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
I recently traveled paid Z-class SFO-IAD (return), applied RPUs ~2 weeks pre-flight and was upgraded at the gate on the outbound and morning of on the return. On the outbound there were 2 marshals, 1 other GS and 4 1K in the front; on the return there didn't appear to be any marshals up front, it appeared to be all GS.
I was on the upgrade list both times of course, because I used the RPUs.
I was on the upgrade list both times of course, because I used the RPUs.
Apr 27, 2018, 7:27 am
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
I had a discussion a few days ago with the GS manager at ORD about this.
I was (and still am) willing to buy an "A" fare for my upcoming ORD-LHR trip. All three flights are not selling F seats.
He told me I could use a GPU. Told him I don't want to use one.
He said if they do use a three-class 767, nobody will be comped an upgrade. So I asked if non-revs will get those seats.
He said most likely yes. Even though I was (and am) willing to buy F? Yes. If the buy-up is still around $800, I would gladly do it. But as you know, the buy-up can change and it could be in the thousands.
I made it very clear that if non-revs go into F and I am stuck in C, I would cancel my ticket at the gate and fly BA or another carrier with an F cabin.
Of course he didn't want to hear that, but he knows me well enough and knows that I would do that.
He said that he would call WHQ and discuss this with people who have decision-making powers with respect to this issue.
I await the answer.
I was (and still am) willing to buy an "A" fare for my upcoming ORD-LHR trip. All three flights are not selling F seats.
He told me I could use a GPU. Told him I don't want to use one.
He said if they do use a three-class 767, nobody will be comped an upgrade. So I asked if non-revs will get those seats.
He said most likely yes. Even though I was (and am) willing to buy F? Yes. If the buy-up is still around $800, I would gladly do it. But as you know, the buy-up can change and it could be in the thousands.
I made it very clear that if non-revs go into F and I am stuck in C, I would cancel my ticket at the gate and fly BA or another carrier with an F cabin.
Of course he didn't want to hear that, but he knows me well enough and knows that I would do that.
He said that he would call WHQ and discuss this with people who have decision-making powers with respect to this issue.
I await the answer.
Apr 27, 2018, 9:49 am
#39
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Thanks for sharing this experience. What you describe here is exactly what I was concerned would happen. Since my original post I do see some ON class available on routes from US-NRT but would be nice if UA went the extra mile to op-up GS/1Ks and then use those opened biz class to non-revs. Can't imagine it would be that hard.
Apr 27, 2018, 11:09 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
None of this applies to me but I do have an idea for a temporary solution (until F goes away completely).
Based on what I am hearing UA is still making ON space available but people do not want to waste a GPU on it. I think the thing for UA to do here is to eliminate the copay for C->F upgrades, at least for GS. I doubt most GS members would balk at tossing 30k miles at a guaranteed upgrade versus the price difference to buy F.
Based on what I am hearing UA is still making ON space available but people do not want to waste a GPU on it. I think the thing for UA to do here is to eliminate the copay for C->F upgrades, at least for GS. I doubt most GS members would balk at tossing 30k miles at a guaranteed upgrade versus the price difference to buy F.
Apr 27, 2018, 1:47 pm
#41
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
It's a bit of a different story for TPAC where there is far less F that is a fare differential off of business though.
Apr 27, 2018, 2:52 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
None of this applies to me but I do have an idea for a temporary solution (until F goes away completely).
Based on what I am hearing UA is still making ON space available but people do not want to waste a GPU on it. I think the thing for UA to do here is to eliminate the copay for C->F upgrades, at least for GS. I doubt most GS members would balk at tossing 30k miles at a guaranteed upgrade versus the price difference to buy F.
Based on what I am hearing UA is still making ON space available but people do not want to waste a GPU on it. I think the thing for UA to do here is to eliminate the copay for C->F upgrades, at least for GS. I doubt most GS members would balk at tossing 30k miles at a guaranteed upgrade versus the price difference to buy F.
Apr 28, 2018, 10:03 am
#44
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DTW and ORD
Posts: 667
I have it on good authority that automated op-ups will be happening soon.
Apr 30, 2018, 7:01 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
