WineCountryUA

You should be able to request that refund.
Modifying response -- if seated in GF section of the aircraft, there will be no refund. If seated in BF section, then a refund is due.

milesmuncher

Thanks for the advice, will be sure to do so. The trickier one is probably going to be my wife's seat (which was booked into GF using partner miles).

milesmuncher

Looks like this is going to be a fun one...

In trying to request a refund, UA cust svc is insisting that the plane we're on is a 3-class plane (which it is, I'm not disputing that), and that they'd be happy to help in the event that it is swapped for a 2-class plane. I share the relevant post from UA Insider, but that didn't seem to help.

Would be nice if there was some degree of consistency across different customer touchpoints.

RandomBaritone

To be fair, while they don't call the service GF per se, it is UA company policy to charge an extra 10K miles for domestic saver awards allowing access the extra space in the GF cabin. I've done it on a couple of occasions, and it's worth the miles to me, no question.

So while the service isn't technically GF -- you don't get access to the GF lounges, for example -- they're correct in charging the extra miles.

WineCountryUA

Misread this as you were moved to BF section, however if seated in the GF section -- no refund. You received what you booked -- F on a 3-class domestic aircraft. There is no GF on domestic flights. Just 3-class F or 2-class F.

milesmuncher

Thanks for the clarification. Explains why the rep clearly thought I was smoking something - definitely glad I tried to do this via email rather than a phone call

I normally wouldn't have even thought about inquiring, was just thrown by the fact that these flights are now clearly being marketed and sold as 2-class flights (per UA Insider's announcement a month or so ago), meaning it's no longer possible to book directly into the front cabin. My understanding of other flights that happen to have a 3-class configuration domestically is that you could still book direct into F (assuming inventory is available).

In fact, if I look at my dates, you can book on a 772 from SFO-EWR, but the F cabin is blocked out. However, if you fly a 772 from SFO-IAD and then connect up to EWR, you can book direct into the F cabin on the first leg (standard awards, no saver available of course). I guess I'm confused as to why they would they are now - on ps of all routes - blocking all booking into F, but still leaving it open on "regular" routes that happen to have the necessary equipment.

The seat alone is probably enough for me to justify the incremental 10K miles (or 7.5K SQ miles), but still feels like I'm getting shortchanged just a bit.

physioprof

My sense is that since many PS BF flyers are already paying very high fares and they are also presumably some of UA's best customers, they would rather allocate the GF PS seats on the basis of who they would prefer to reward as a customer relations matter than simply first-come-first-served.

cesco.g

Maybe because, IAD as a pmUA hub still operates quite a few 3-class 777s to multiple overseas destinations, whereas EWR is the sCO 2-class hub.

physioprof

I'm still the only assigned seat in BF on this flight. Seems strange.

PsiFighter37

Lucky you! I booked LAX-EWR on the 789 on June 17. Booked into middle section, looking forward to the ride! I really hope there aren't any issues with IRROPS...

riphamilton

per @airlineroute, the 789 will now do LAX-EWR turns 6/9-7/10.

it was previously scheduled through 8/1.

http://airlineroute.net/2016/04/17/u...-jun16update2/

Seby12

Does anyone know what happens to empty seats in BusinessFirst before departure. I assume they are first offered as TODs. After all the miles upgrades and RPUs and there are still empty seats left what do they do with them?

Would they rather have a seat empty and have an elite sit in Economy or do they upgrade the elite(Despite the no CPU on P.S. Policy)?

Kacee

No free upgrades. Seats would go empty. It's pretty rare.

nycityny

I've been in BF on ps routes several times where the seat next to me was empty. They seem to mean what they say about no CPU on ps.

On the other hand if the economy section is oversold then, of course, they would move elites to the front.

Xyzzy

They'd rather have them go out empty than upgrade someone without collecting cash, miles or an upgrade instrument. They are, thugh, available to employees at what I'm told are reasonable rates.