IAD - BRU on 3 class 777 but only 2 class offered for sale ...
Aug 15, 2018, 1:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: ASHBURN,VA,USA
Programs: UA 1K3MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium , Hertz PC
Posts: 405
IAD - BRU on 3 class 777 but only 2 class offered for sale ...
When I booked my round trip IAD/BRU the united website only offered economy and business for sale (and award) , no mention of first class ...
I had read that transatlantic flights were moving to 2 class aircraft so i didnt think more about it ...
Looking at the seat map initially when I booked it showed a 3 class plane but all first class was occupied .. again thought it was some internal trick backing up the idea that first class wasnt available ...
Then a couple of weeks ago the seat map showed all first class seat avail on IAD-BRU and all avail but 2 on BRU-IAD ...
Went back and tried to do a booking but still no first class offered .. just econ and business ...
How should i interpret this ...
-is it a 3 class plane ?
-will they go empty in first class (given that its not for sale)
-are they going to use that space to "upgrade" some business customers ? (what criteria ? will there be a truly different experience in first class besides the seat ?)
-are there some secret business fares that book into the first class seats on 2 class routes flying 3 class planes ?
I had read that transatlantic flights were moving to 2 class aircraft so i didnt think more about it ...
Looking at the seat map initially when I booked it showed a 3 class plane but all first class was occupied .. again thought it was some internal trick backing up the idea that first class wasnt available ...
Then a couple of weeks ago the seat map showed all first class seat avail on IAD-BRU and all avail but 2 on BRU-IAD ...
Went back and tried to do a booking but still no first class offered .. just econ and business ...
How should i interpret this ...
-is it a 3 class plane ?
-will they go empty in first class (given that its not for sale)
-are they going to use that space to "upgrade" some business customers ? (what criteria ? will there be a truly different experience in first class besides the seat ?)
-are there some secret business fares that book into the first class seats on 2 class routes flying 3 class planes ?
Aug 15, 2018, 5:50 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2015
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UA stopped selling international F a couple months ago as the retrofit of sUA 3-class 772s gets underway in earnest. Given there are only a handful of retrofitted 772s right now, I would imagine it’s more likely than not you still end up flying a 2-4-2 J bird. Who gets ‘upgraded’ into first depends on if they oversell the J cabin, nonrevs flying, etc.
Aug 16, 2018, 1:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Just as a datapoint crossing the other ocean... I’m flying ORD-PEK as I type this (connecting on to ULN); at the end of the week I’m coming back. Both are 3-class sUA 772s
For this flight I GPUed and cleared at ticketing. (Y>J) and the website was offering to sell me F for $12,300 and some change. As of this morning it was booked 1/8 but I know there were more people seated when I boarded.
For the return, the GPU is waitlisted, F is still booked 1/8 but it’s not available for sale — and a source has clued me in that revenue management has authorized the cabin to sell to 0, but J is authorized to oversell by a bit. Looks like the economy cabin is basically full (until about a week ago most of the mid level fare buckets were at 9 but as of a few days ago fare buckets have been oscillating between Y9B3M3 and Y9B1M1)
I had heard that GS in rev J were first in line to be op-upped to the F cabin, and after that if J is over op-up in revenue/status order, but I’ve also heard a number of FA friends referring the F cabin as “non rev class”
For this flight I GPUed and cleared at ticketing. (Y>J) and the website was offering to sell me F for $12,300 and some change. As of this morning it was booked 1/8 but I know there were more people seated when I boarded.
For the return, the GPU is waitlisted, F is still booked 1/8 but it’s not available for sale — and a source has clued me in that revenue management has authorized the cabin to sell to 0, but J is authorized to oversell by a bit. Looks like the economy cabin is basically full (until about a week ago most of the mid level fare buckets were at 9 but as of a few days ago fare buckets have been oscillating between Y9B3M3 and Y9B1M1)
I had heard that GS in rev J were first in line to be op-upped to the F cabin, and after that if J is over op-up in revenue/status order, but I’ve also heard a number of FA friends referring the F cabin as “non rev class”
Aug 17, 2018, 3:34 pm
#5
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I GPUed and cleared at ticketing too in both directions IAD-BRU and BRU-IAD but there was no upsell offer to F ..
do you know if with this situation catering in F is the same as catering in J ?
it will be interesting to see what happens .. I am not a paid J and already upgrading from Y to J with GPU ...
J looks about half full .. this is august .. vacation time in Europe ...
I will update with my outcome ...
do you know if with this situation catering in F is the same as catering in J ?
it will be interesting to see what happens .. I am not a paid J and already upgrading from Y to J with GPU ...
J looks about half full .. this is august .. vacation time in Europe ...
I will update with my outcome ...
Aug 17, 2018, 4:01 pm
#6
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