Hipplewm

The same case applies when flying to Canada, Mexico or some places in the Caribbean. "First" class doesn't exist to foreign countries, it is all "Business" class, but it is the same plane and same seats and same service as domestic First Class, the only difference is United club access and a name.

The reverse is true for planes - doesn't matter what seat you are sitting in or whatever slang name we use for the plane, you buy a "First class" or a "Business Class" ticket, you get the amenities associated with that ticket ie no Polaris lounge

OP - be careful that plane isn't one of the HD 772's they use on the SFO-IAD run, it is 8 across and the old seats just reconfigured for domestic use

fumje

To the topic at hand, though, that wouldn't have any consequence for Polaris service or lounges.

drewguy

I think the view is more cynical - they don't have enough competition to force a "premium" transcon service. I'm pretty sure the lengthy upgrade lists that don't move aren't a result of government workers buying up to F.

Kacee

Try not to take it personally

DELee

As the ever omniscient @WineCountryUA noted, fundamentally, UA treats all flights in domestic first as non-Polaris, irrespective of the plane flying the route. The best you can do is fly a t.p.s. designated route (SFO-BOS/EWR or LAX-EWR) and get into an United Club on either end.

To UA, a plane's a plane domestically.

David

Often1

The only carrier granting premium lounge access for its domestic premium service is AA. For JFK-SFO/LAX, F buys you access to the Flagship Lounge as well as to Flagship First Dining. But, not so for those flying J.

Those who want UA to operate a premium IAD-West Coast service ought to think hard about their willingness to pay for it. Those fares are higher and there are no freeloading upgrades.

drewguy

How many upgrades are there now on IAD-SFO? Usually booked full. Maybe a GS gets one.

Often1

I'd love to see the numbers which others apparently have, making the business case for a Polaris service for IAD-SFO/LAX. Typical Polaris runs 20-25% above typical F for EWR-SFO/LAX over IAD-SFO/LAX.

WineCountryUA

The real issue is where will the aircraft to operate 6-7 RTs daily of PS for IAD-SFO come from? (besides the one regular 772)
1) From decreasing SFO/LAX<>EWR or SFO<>BOS -- not likely due to the competitive pressure and what from the outside looks to be successful operation (with strong competition).
or
2) From decreasing international routes earning much higher $/hour fares

a third possibility is taking some of the 772HD off the Hawaii routes

One might say -- what about the 787s being delivered-- again likely UA will do much better using them (or freeing up other aircraft ) for new routes like EWR<>CPT

Presently there are some signals UA is pressed for those premium aircraft to service present routes. Have a few 752s out for irrops and 753s are used on LAX-EWR, the "least" premium demand of the present domestic premium routes.

So, it is not some hate for IAD, there are just not enough appropriate aircraft.

So, what about unmothballing some older 752? -- there is the cost of redoing the interiors, the costs of adding winglets and doing the fuel tank updates, and then running a poor fuel efficiency aircraft -- very hard to see a business case for the ROI.

And finally, there is no competition threatening UA at IAD (as there is for the other routes). And there does not seem to be a business case for another carrier to create that pressure.

No appropriate aircraft, no service

bdw1120

This. Look at all transcontinental premium routes - they are highly competitive with all three major airlines (plus in most cases JetBlue and Alaska) flying at very high frequency. Similarly, even though BOS-LAX is not officially premium, United felt the pressure and added more 757-200s. There is much less competition in IAD+DCA to SFO/LAX.

halls120

WineCountryUA

IAD has some challenging local airport authority issues.

drewguy

By that, do you mean it won't put up a greater share of the cost of a real C/D concourse?

Has there been any meaningful prevention by MWAA of the (non-existent) efforts to build a real concourse?

WineCountryUA

So we don't get OT here, there has been much discussion of that in https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ad-dulles.html -- opinions seem to vary.

halls120