Upgrades/Access to Polaris Global First since UA Ended Polaris Global First Sales
#106
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: 2,527
You are asking for freebies that no airline would ever give. And why should they? Unlimited CPUs from C to international 3-cabin F? Talk about a blogger/FlyerTalk pipe-dream ! These seats can still be yours as long as you apply $/instrument.
Logistically, from an NRSA/NRPS angle, well, there are exhaustively complex already established processes for waitlist F/C/Y travel. They arent going to throw a wrench into their systems (literally) with some bizarre intl. CPU strategy just so you can sit there for free...give it up and pay it up if you want to sit in United First (which is a product I thought FlyerTalk pounded on for decades as being nothing short of redundant - Curious how many seemingly cant wait to sit there now!).
Logistically, from an NRSA/NRPS angle, well, there are exhaustively complex already established processes for waitlist F/C/Y travel. They arent going to throw a wrench into their systems (literally) with some bizarre intl. CPU strategy just so you can sit there for free...give it up and pay it up if you want to sit in United First (which is a product I thought FlyerTalk pounded on for decades as being nothing short of redundant - Curious how many seemingly cant wait to sit there now!).
#107
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,332
GPU C -> F just cleared for me on a TATL 6/25.
#108
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,324
You are completely misunderstanding what I was asking and suggesting in the first place. I'm not asking for a freebie at all. United is giving freebies to it's non-revs. I was simply suggesting that Z/P should be eligible to use GPUs. That would seem to be a smart move to reduce the companies liability by letting folks use more of their GPUs on select routes.
I don't agree with reducing the fare class restrictions, especially when United will still be making money with instruments/$. Note that United First is still on, or has been transferred to, mainly legacy sUA high-margin routes that can actually support it.
I don't see what the incentive to drop the barriers to allow Z/P to use GPU, beyond asking for what I do define as a freebie.
And NRSA/NRPS is not a freebie to the company, United essentially bought those seats from themselves in exchange for lower comp in the contracts. Just inaccurate.
#109
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ord,ewr
Programs: Lifetime UA GS 22 million,AA 1m ,Hilton Li fetime diamond,marriott lifetime platinum hyatt diamond
Posts: 1,000
*MODs - please modify or merge as necessary.
Curious what experiences people have had upgrading to Polaris Global First on non-converted pmUA 777s and 767s since UA ended sales of Polaris Global First earlier this month. Sometimes I see ON class available on select flights but I have NOT seen any O class available. Are they doing upgrades based on any set criteria? Would like to see what folks are experiencing since the change.
Curious what experiences people have had upgrading to Polaris Global First on non-converted pmUA 777s and 767s since UA ended sales of Polaris Global First earlier this month. Sometimes I see ON class available on select flights but I have NOT seen any O class available. Are they doing upgrades based on any set criteria? Would like to see what folks are experiencing since the change.
#110
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SEA, WAS, PEK
Programs: UA 3K UGS 3MM
Posts: 2,176
Sorry to single you out, but it has been noted here that some expect op up upgrades C>F, of if they are sitting Y, from Y>C. Not to preclude the company from upgrading select GS to the F cabin, but there will be no automation which assigns seats in intl. F like CPU.
I don't agree with reducing the fare class restrictions, especially when United will still be making money with instruments/$. Note that United First is still on, or has been transferred to, mainly legacy sUA high-margin routes that can actually support it.
I don't see what the incentive to drop the barriers to allow Z/P to use GPU, beyond asking for what I do define as a freebie.
And NRSA/NRPS is not a freebie to the company, United essentially bought those seats from themselves in exchange for lower comp in the contracts. Just inaccurate.
I don't agree with reducing the fare class restrictions, especially when United will still be making money with instruments/$. Note that United First is still on, or has been transferred to, mainly legacy sUA high-margin routes that can actually support it.
I don't see what the incentive to drop the barriers to allow Z/P to use GPU, beyond asking for what I do define as a freebie.
And NRSA/NRPS is not a freebie to the company, United essentially bought those seats from themselves in exchange for lower comp in the contracts. Just inaccurate.
#111
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
That has not been my experience. They have left the gate with non-revs and empty seats in First. I have to see what happens on my trip to PVG next month. It's not like I'm looking for an (undeserved) upgrade as I have my preferred Business seat and if I had wanted to fly in First the price when I booked my flight was very cheap.
#112
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
Interestingly enough, UA is now offering United Polaris first for sale on the TATL segments that I was upgraded on this morning.
F5 FN5 A4 ON0 with currently 1 seat reserved by me in ON and the 2 middle seats in row 2 blocked.
Note the 2 TATL segments that I booked are scheduled after June 19, what was supposed to be the last day of flights that would offer INTL First Class for sale. Except if I misunderstood this and it actually means June 19 will be the last day the inventory will be sold for future flights? But that's not what the post on OMAAT says.
F5 FN5 A4 ON0 with currently 1 seat reserved by me in ON and the 2 middle seats in row 2 blocked.
Note the 2 TATL segments that I booked are scheduled after June 19, what was supposed to be the last day of flights that would offer INTL First Class for sale. Except if I misunderstood this and it actually means June 19 will be the last day the inventory will be sold for future flights? But that's not what the post on OMAAT says.
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,278
They are selling it on ORD-PEK as well. F8, A8 on a number of days.
#114
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 709
I wonder if they are opening up for sale once the tail number is assigned?
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,325
Could be the 772 mods are behind schedule?
#117
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 513
Deleted: question answered upstream
Last edited by chicago747; Jun 19, 2018 at 10:42 am Reason: moved to focused thread
#118
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
With all of these changes, i just hope they don't limit our ability to book Partner airline F rewards on the website.
#119
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL SM/MM, AA Gold, HH Dia, PC Plat, ALL Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 4,547
I'm flying ORD-CDG next week and available fare classes show as F8 FN8 A8 ON2 O0 J9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P9 PN9 R7 RN7 IN6 I5. So, lots of premium cabin availability. What's frustrating is there is no O class (saver first award). Has anyone had experience recently with this bucket opening on UA metal?
Answering my own question several days later:
ON increased to 3 or 4, and then 3 days before departure, O1 opened and then O2. This is consistent with a few other dates I checked, even when J<5.
Answering my own question several days later:
ON increased to 3 or 4, and then 3 days before departure, O1 opened and then O2. This is consistent with a few other dates I checked, even when J<5.
Last edited by FlytheTail; Jul 1, 2018 at 10:46 am
#120
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YEG
Programs: UA 1K, AC SE, WJ Gold
Posts: 352
Just boarded ORD-LHR on a Z fare ... couldnt apply a GPU ... five non-revs filled the first cabin about 10 minutes prior to boarding (all the same names were on the business standby list too). A GS boarded before me and he wasnt upgraded to first either. Seems a bit odd on optics imho to put staff up front over high value customers ... just my observation. Would have happily burned a GPU on an upgrade as I have 12. Not willing to pay for a C fare just for the chance tho in case I get swapped to a 3-cabin bird.