Upgrades/Access to Polaris Global First since UA Ended Polaris Global First Sales
May 2, 2018, 4:19 am
#47
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 99
UA award upgrade to Polaris business / seat assignment
I upgraded a paid full fare economy ticket to “Polaris” business to CDG which departs later today. I was confirmed but not given a seat assignment, so I called the Mileage Plus desk.
The agent said he could assign the seat for me, and said rows 1-2 were open. These show as first class on the seat map and look more desireable, so I requested 1A and he said no problem. I asked if it was an issue since it says First, but he said no and both classes book the same for his aircraft.
I went back and looked at business vs first ticket pricing, and it was the same.
Yesterday I checked into the flight to find I was assigned seat 8K. I called back and they tried to assign 1A, but said they couldn’t do it and I could do it at the airport. When I try myself on the app/website, it lets me select the seat at a cost of $1,000+.
Anyone know if the first agent was just misinformed, or if I can indeed book something in rows 1 or 2 being on a business class ticket? This is UA 777-200, 3 class cabin so it looks like the old layout/seats.
The agent said he could assign the seat for me, and said rows 1-2 were open. These show as first class on the seat map and look more desireable, so I requested 1A and he said no problem. I asked if it was an issue since it says First, but he said no and both classes book the same for his aircraft.
I went back and looked at business vs first ticket pricing, and it was the same.
Yesterday I checked into the flight to find I was assigned seat 8K. I called back and they tried to assign 1A, but said they couldn’t do it and I could do it at the airport. When I try myself on the app/website, it lets me select the seat at a cost of $1,000+.
Anyone know if the first agent was just misinformed, or if I can indeed book something in rows 1 or 2 being on a business class ticket? This is UA 777-200, 3 class cabin so it looks like the old layout/seats.
May 2, 2018, 6:29 am
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
You had a confirmed upgraded Y ticket to (Polaris) Business ... you didn't have a C > F upgrade.
So the first agent was incorrect and it seems the system caught the error and moved you.
As to getting into (Polaris) First seats while they are still available, read here https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...rst-sales.html
So the first agent was incorrect and it seems the system caught the error and moved you.
As to getting into (Polaris) First seats while they are still available, read here https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...rst-sales.html
Last edited by UAPremExecflyer; May 2, 2018 at 6:33 am Reason: added 'no C> F"
May 2, 2018, 6:47 am
#49
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.
May 2, 2018, 8:14 am
#50
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
The handling of F seats on the three cabin aircraft is kind of a mess right now because UA is transitioning them out of the fleet.
May 2, 2018, 9:01 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DTW and ORD
Posts: 667
Yes, First Class is not being sold for 777-200 flights starting 6/20. 767-300 is already not selling.
So the only way to get into those seats is to request a GPU/MUA upgrade but you will be waitlisted until day of departure and clear then.
If business class is oversold, UA will perform op-ups from business class before clearing NRSAs.
So the only way to get into those seats is to request a GPU/MUA upgrade but you will be waitlisted until day of departure and clear then.
If business class is oversold, UA will perform op-ups from business class before clearing NRSAs.
May 2, 2018, 9:12 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 99
Yes, First Class is not being sold for 777-200 flights starting 6/20. 767-300 is already not selling.
So the only way to get into those seats is to request a GPU/MUA upgrade but you will be waitlisted until day of departure and clear then.
If business class is oversold, UA will perform op-ups from business class before clearing NRSAs.
So the only way to get into those seats is to request a GPU/MUA upgrade but you will be waitlisted until day of departure and clear then.
If business class is oversold, UA will perform op-ups from business class before clearing NRSAs.
May 2, 2018, 11:00 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Also, it's not clear what your current fare class is, either. Your buy-up could have put you into an award fare class, in which case you likely wouldn't have been able to use an MUA anyway.
May 2, 2018, 11:27 am
#54
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 99
Yes, it's against policy to allow new upgrade requests within T-24, so they remove the option from the website, and agents are supposed to decline your request if you call (unless there happens to be space available in the upgrade fare bucket, ON).
Also, it's not clear what your current fare class is, either. Your buy-up could have put you into an award fare class, in which case you likely wouldn't have been able to use an MUA anyway.
Also, it's not clear what your current fare class is, either. Your buy-up could have put you into an award fare class, in which case you likely wouldn't have been able to use an MUA anyway.
May 2, 2018, 11:53 am
#55
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DTW and ORD
Posts: 667
Within 24 hours of departure, you can request MUA/GPU/RPU at the airport and they will confirm you or put you on the standby list and take your upgrade instrument.
May 3, 2018, 4:15 am
#56
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: EWR
Programs: Latam Pass Black; UA 1K, 1MM; Marriott LT
Posts: 300
I am on the 6/11 UA106 IAD to MUC, and a few days ago called trying to use a GPU to upgrade from D class to first on the three class 777-200.
The agent told me that I would be waitlisted for the upgrade and that they were no longer selling first class: ok, consistent with what I am seeing here.
At the time I spoke to the agent, there were two seats that appeared to be assigned, and I thought nothing of it.
I went back a few minutes ago, and now three seats appear to be assigned, so I went through to try and make a booking in first and it seems to let me...
Anyone any inspiration on this?
The agent told me that I would be waitlisted for the upgrade and that they were no longer selling first class: ok, consistent with what I am seeing here.
At the time I spoke to the agent, there were two seats that appeared to be assigned, and I thought nothing of it.
I went back a few minutes ago, and now three seats appear to be assigned, so I went through to try and make a booking in first and it seems to let me...
Anyone any inspiration on this?
May 3, 2018, 6:00 am
#57
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,393
I wrote to GS customer care and asked what the policy is. Here's the reply:
I'm not sure what the second-to-last sentence means -- I'm not seeing an increase in PN or IN on 77W flights that I monitor.
Dear wxguy,
Thank you for contacting Global Service Customer care. Please see below for information regarding the suspension the sale of United Polaris first class.
Beginning March 28, we will begin suspending the sale of United Polaris first class on three-cabin aircraft in phases by aircraft type as we continue to retrofit our fleet with our new United Polaris business class cabins. This action avoids potential downgrades associated due to aircraft swaps.
• Travel on/after March 28
o United Polaris first class is not sold on flights operated by three-class B767s
• Travel on/after June 20
o United Polaris first class is not sold on flights operated by three-class B777s
To offset the reduction of United Polaris first class inventory, revenue management will increase authorization levels in United Polaris business class on three-cabin aircraft.
Customers can still submit upgrade requests for Polaris first class, and we will retain their waitlist request until departure instead of clearing those upgrades in advance.
Thank you for contacting Global Service Customer care. Please see below for information regarding the suspension the sale of United Polaris first class.
Beginning March 28, we will begin suspending the sale of United Polaris first class on three-cabin aircraft in phases by aircraft type as we continue to retrofit our fleet with our new United Polaris business class cabins. This action avoids potential downgrades associated due to aircraft swaps.
• Travel on/after March 28
o United Polaris first class is not sold on flights operated by three-class B767s
• Travel on/after June 20
o United Polaris first class is not sold on flights operated by three-class B777s
To offset the reduction of United Polaris first class inventory, revenue management will increase authorization levels in United Polaris business class on three-cabin aircraft.
Customers can still submit upgrade requests for Polaris first class, and we will retain their waitlist request until departure instead of clearing those upgrades in advance.
May 3, 2018, 6:31 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
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verselling business by the number of seats in first. They will only sort out who actually sits in the F seats at the gate. How many seats are made available for upgrades is still subject to the whims of the folks in revenue management.
May 3, 2018, 8:24 am
#59
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DTW and ORD
Posts: 667
Yes, that is how I read that too.
May 3, 2018, 12:31 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Yes - "increase authorization levels" means more J space, and only in lower buckets if RM so determines. Sounds like certificates will guarantee a gate upgrade, and after that it's still a bit opaque. There was a rather disappointing story a while back on a 763 running EWR-LHR which was solder under this policy (over by 2 in Business and J4 at the gate). They op-upped two people from J to F, sat 4 NRSAs in the other seats, and refused to clear any Y->J upgrades. Don't know how I feel about that.