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
#436
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 755
well my seat assignment is still sticking since the announcement, here's to hoping us 1K's can hold onto our previously picked GF seats !!
#437
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
I think UA should and (hopefully) will honor your previously assigned seat.
#438
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,194
The only 'announcement' has been that the seats are no longer selectable by 1Ks. Where are you getting this info that 1Ks can 'swap' to them when the seats release at the gate?
Even if that was correct, hypothetically you have 6 GS and 10 1Ks ORD-FRA. Who gets the seats? The 2 1Ks who are standing at the gate agent desk in lieu of waiting at the Polaris lounge or being on their way to the airport? Hogwash.
Even if that was correct, hypothetically you have 6 GS and 10 1Ks ORD-FRA. Who gets the seats? The 2 1Ks who are standing at the gate agent desk in lieu of waiting at the Polaris lounge or being on their way to the airport? Hogwash.
As far as seats left after GS have been gone through, I would imagine the first ones to talk to a gate agent would be the lucky ones. The other 8 are out nothing because they are still getting the J seats they paid for.
#439
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Mine is as well. Hoping no equipment swap on my March flight HKG->ORD. I really want to sit in the Global First seat one more time...
#440
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
The fact is United said the cabin is J. It's being sold as J. They first said only GS and 1K could pre-select the former GF seats then they pushed a policy change that only GS could PRE-SELECT the seats. Period, end of story.
As far as seats left after GS have been gone through, I would imagine the first ones to talk to a gate agent would be the lucky ones. The other 8 are out nothing because they are still getting the J seats they paid for.
As far as seats left after GS have been gone through, I would imagine the first ones to talk to a gate agent would be the lucky ones. The other 8 are out nothing because they are still getting the J seats they paid for.
Thanks. Sounds like the notion that 1K pax can 'swap' to them is mere speculation.
And yes, it's the policy change you outline that rubs some of us the wrong way.
#441
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,194
No, the idea that they can't change from one J seat to another open J seat at the gate is the speculation. All the information posted has concerned ADVANCE selection of the former GS seats. I have seen no reports of GAs letting those seats go empty rather than change 1Ks (or other J passengers) into them when the flight passed into gate control.
#442
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
No, the idea that they can't change from one J seat to another open J seat at the gate is the speculation. All the information posted has concerned ADVANCE selection of the former GS seats. I have seen no reports of GAs letting those seats go empty rather than change 1Ks (or other J passengers) into them when the flight passed into gate control.
The statement
I would imagine the first ones to talk to a gate agent would be the lucky ones
The other 8 are out nothing because they are still getting the J seats they paid for.
Conversely, some GS members are quite pleased that the seats are now available for their selection when making last minute purchases.
#443
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
#444
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
The problem is that now we are responding to different comments from different people which makes the whole thing a mess. I might have misunderstood jsloan's comment as it was not specified that there should be less than 7 passengers total in Business Class (paid + upgraded) for a non-rev to get a former First Class seat. I tried to specify that fact. (or less than 8 if one is not blocked for the captain).
However, the point of my message was that this is not a return to the older system where they would clear a non-rev passenger into F instead of cleaning a revenue passenger into J and then doing an op-up. Considering the number of complaints about upgrades not clearing, I can't imagine that there are very many flights that are so empty in J that non-revs regularly clear. So I think this part of the conversation is much ado about nothing.
#445
They were, and they were also greyed out at check-in. Then again, there was only one seat free when I originally selected it, so that unfortunately doesn't tell us much.
#446
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Huh. I have an upcoming IAD-FRA leg, and UA is selling upgrades to the old GF cabin for $599 from my existing D class ticket in the phone app. It was showing them as selectable sometimes I checked the seat map and not selectable other times. I went ahead and selected one and tried to purchase to see how the payment screen would look (and how it would be marketed) and it just confirmed the seat with no payment! I am UA Gold so I’m sure not high enough it was supposed to be free...
So I guess we have cash upgrades to old F to look forward to, similar to thrones on LX J.
i wonder what will happen in case of Polaris swap...
So I guess we have cash upgrades to old F to look forward to, similar to thrones on LX J.
i wonder what will happen in case of Polaris swap...
#447
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Huh. I kind of doubt they will actually implement that, if only because the seats are going to be gone before they could make it work. That's very odd though.
#448
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
A co-worker is on the same flight. His reservation behaved the same way late this morning -- declared it would be $599, then didn't actually ask for payment. That indicates it wasn't just an overnight glitch. I thought this morning the price listed might have inadvertently been UA giving the "TOD" price to go from Y to J, but $599 seems too low given D is the cheapest J-class fare for sale. For what it's worth, my upcoming domestic 3-class 777 flight doesn't let me pick old GF seats, but I think that is because those seats are fully occupied.
#449
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
I suppose it's possible.. they are managing to do this with the "preferred seats" in Y.
#450
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
So...I booked a paid business ticket specifically on the pretext that I’d either get a former GF seat, or a new Polaris seat. If they swap the aircraft out for 10 mins, then back to the 3 class, it sounds like I lose the seat with a slight chance I’d get it back, even if it’s open?
Are there any recent real-world experiences how they are filling the front cabin? Any 1Ks have success moving up at check in or at the gate or at the UC/Polaris Lounge?
Are there any recent real-world experiences how they are filling the front cabin? Any 1Ks have success moving up at check in or at the gate or at the UC/Polaris Lounge?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 14, 2019 at 12:41 pm Reason: Using symbols, spaces or other methods to mask vulgarities is not allowed.