Feb 5, 2019, 6:20 am
Last edit by: Ari
As of Feb. 5, only Global Services are able to select FC seats. The ability for 1K to reserve seats was removed. Existing 1K seat selections appear to be kept. In June 2019, the advance access for 1Ks on J/C/D fares was restored. [It appears this is not the case.]
Ex-GlobalFirst seats are selectable for all confirmed business class passengers at check in, even if >24 hrs from flight with GF seats (in the case of positioning flights).
Everything You Wanted to Know About Where to Sit on a pmUA 3-Cabin 777 Version 2
Ex-GlobalFirst seats are selectable for all confirmed business class passengers at check in, even if >24 hrs from flight with GF seats (in the case of positioning flights).
Everything You Wanted to Know About Where to Sit on a pmUA 3-Cabin 777 Version 2
3-class F seat now sold as Domestic F/Polaris Bus,GS or J/C/D 1K? may select pre-OLCI
Oct 18, 2018, 3:07 pm
#1
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3-class F seat now sold as Domestic F/Polaris Bus,GS or J/C/D 1K? may select pre-OLCI
Just got the following from United Sales ... I don't see this reported elsewhere:
Starting the evening of Friday, October 19, into the early hours of Saturday, October 20, we are realigning some premium booking codes and discontinuing the use of others to prepare for the launch of United® Premium Plus. This will impact flight schedules, availability and PNRs for travel on/after Monday, October 22.
As part of this change, we will also officially stop offering United Polaris® first class as a separate cabin from United Polaris business class
As part of this change, we will also officially stop offering United Polaris® first class as a separate cabin from United Polaris business class
Oct 18, 2018, 3:49 pm
#2
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Just got the following from United Sales ... I don't see this reported elsewhere:
Starting the evening of Friday, October 19, into the early hours of Saturday, October 20, we are realigning some premium booking codes and discontinuing the use of others to prepare for the launch of United® Premium Plus. This will impact flight schedules, availability and PNRs for travel on/after Monday, October 22.
As a result, between October 19 at 5:00 p.m. CT and 1:00 a.m. CT on October 20, for travel on/after October 22, seat maps will be unavailable and seats cannot be assigned by agencies or United (reservations airports, united.com, etc.). Similar to a schedule change, a GDS response message will indicate that seat maps are unavailable. Times are subject to change.
We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that you view seat maps and assign seats after the times listed above.
As part of this change, we will also officially stop offering United Polaris® first class as a separate cabin from United Polaris business class.
Premium cabin booking codes for United domestic and international flights will be as follows:
Revenue: J, C, D, Z, P
Award: JN, ZN, IN, I
Upgrade: PN, PZ
As a result, between October 19 at 5:00 p.m. CT and 1:00 a.m. CT on October 20, for travel on/after October 22, seat maps will be unavailable and seats cannot be assigned by agencies or United (reservations airports, united.com, etc.). Similar to a schedule change, a GDS response message will indicate that seat maps are unavailable. Times are subject to change.
We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that you view seat maps and assign seats after the times listed above.
As part of this change, we will also officially stop offering United Polaris® first class as a separate cabin from United Polaris business class.
Premium cabin booking codes for United domestic and international flights will be as follows:
Revenue: J, C, D, Z, P
Award: JN, ZN, IN, I
Upgrade: PN, PZ
Here's hoping my existing R segments get migrated to PZ with no issues
I'm honestly really surprised they're going to so much trouble to remap R. The First codes are already seamlessly disappearing after they sunset domestic A fares a month or two back, but I suspect this one is going to be rough.
Oct 18, 2018, 3:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2016
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This was going to be my question as well. It's going to be a real interesting answer. Whoever books earliest gets first instead of 2-4-2 business? Or will they not allowed assigned seats but now process upgrades from business to first to let people upgrade from business. This way revenue economy customers don't die on the waitlist with global first empty.
Oct 19, 2018, 7:39 am
#4
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Some new info from a GS phone agent last evening. As always, it's just one agent but she said she had a memo on this subject.
As noted on another thread, tomorrow night the system will go down for a number of hours as fare buckets are changed (R changes to PZ for upgrades so that R can be sued for Premium Economy). At the same time, three class fare buckets (F, A, ON) will disappear. It will no longer be possible to waitlist for the front cabin on a three-cabin aircraft using GPUs or miles+$. I asked how those seats will be assigned, and she said they will go to GS (first) and 1K (second) based upon fare paid, assigned only on day of departure (to protect against aircraft swaps). She also said that for those of us with waitlists for F with instruments (wxguy raises hand), a "special desk" will be in touch to return the instruments. We'll see in about 24 hours how this goes...
As noted on another thread, tomorrow night the system will go down for a number of hours as fare buckets are changed (R changes to PZ for upgrades so that R can be sued for Premium Economy). At the same time, three class fare buckets (F, A, ON) will disappear. It will no longer be possible to waitlist for the front cabin on a three-cabin aircraft using GPUs or miles+$. I asked how those seats will be assigned, and she said they will go to GS (first) and 1K (second) based upon fare paid, assigned only on day of departure (to protect against aircraft swaps). She also said that for those of us with waitlists for F with instruments (wxguy raises hand), a "special desk" will be in touch to return the instruments. We'll see in about 24 hours how this goes...
Oct 19, 2018, 10:51 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
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Posts: 4,388
I asked a GS agent on the phone about this last evening. She seemed knowledgeable, and said that tonight the system will go down for a number of hours as fare buckets are changed (R changes to PZ for upgrades so that R can be sued for Premium Economy). At the same time, three class fare buckets (F, A, O, ON) will disappear. It will no longer be possible to waitlist for the front cabin on a three-cabin aircraft using GPUs or miles+$. I asked how those seats will be assigned, and she said they will go to GS (first) and 1K (second) based upon fare paid, assigned only on day of departure (to protect against aircraft swaps). She also said that for those of us with waitlists for F with instruments, a "special desk" will be in touch to return the instruments. We'll see tomorrow morning how all this has worked out...
Last edited by wxguy; Oct 19, 2018 at 11:53 am
Oct 19, 2018, 10:55 am
#6
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It will no longer be possible to waitlist for the front cabin on a three-cabin aircraft using GPUs or miles+$. I asked how those seats will be assigned, and she said they will go to GS (first) and 1K (second) based upon fare paid, assigned only on day of departure (to protect against aircraft swaps).
Oct 19, 2018, 1:12 pm
#7
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Sounds identical to the process used for 3-class p.s. in 2016-17 then.
Oct 19, 2018, 6:39 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, AS 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 302
Was looking at an IAD-NRT flight and ability to buy up when purchasing J ticket to F for $169 (when selecting seats on seat map)
Oct 19, 2018, 9:18 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 721
Checking my upcoming ORD-NRT reservation. It cleared into Polaris Business at booking a while ago. Still shows upgrade confirmed but I’m being offered an upgrade to ‘United First ‘ for $3336.
Oct 19, 2018, 11:46 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
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I can access seat map on my app at this moment, moved myself to 1A on a demostic 3 class flight. 
Oct 20, 2018, 12:14 am
#11
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 312
I'm able to access first seats in the 777-200 but my partner is on the reservation and when I click for his seat it asks for usd126 (west coast TATL) but then fails to secure the seat before collecting payment.
Oct 20, 2018, 12:32 am
#12
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,370
I still don't see PZ in Expert Mode. I won't lose hope for a while, although it seems if they could take old fare classes out, they could put new fare classes in just as easily...
Oct 20, 2018, 5:11 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, MR Titanium
Posts: 457
I was also able to access GF seat on 777-200 (TATL) after my fare class changed from R to PZ as a 1K. If it sticks, this is a change I LIKE!
Oct 20, 2018, 5:30 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
I’m able to select seats in former GF during booking. No extra charge and that’s even for a non-status passenger.
Oct 20, 2018, 5:42 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 693