bomberman92

Hi, I've been trying to figure out lie-flat options for an upcoming trip to Hawaii. We will be departing from SFO to Kauai and Maui. UA MP Platinum member. Current options:

SFO-LIH -- 757 2-2 Business Config
OGG-SFO -- 777 1-2-1 Business Config (New Polaris)

1. Are these the best options out there to Hawaii for UA members?
2. Is it safe to assume the 757 seats are the old Polaris product given their configurations? Is there a better way to verify this?
3. Since this is a domestic flight, even though its a business ticket, I will not be permitted into the SFO Polaris Lounge correct?
4. Would Platinum get CPU for both legs? Or is it safer to use cash or points to upgrade?

Thank you in advance for your responses!

ual744777sta

1. Probably for now depending on when your trip is.
2. Yes. The 757s are not slated to get upgraded.
3. No lounge access.
4. SFO-Hawaii are CPU eligible routes. Chances depend on when your trip is.

kevflyer

For OGG-SFO definitely - since it's new Polaris on a 777 - you can't do better with that.
For SFO-LIH also yes - I'm assuming you're referring to the 752 - it is the ONLY (not just UA, but any airline, I think) lie flat you will get on the LIH route. If it's a 753, then it's not lie flat. Airlines usually don't fly wide body into LIH.

I would however be on the look out for equipment swaps.

garykung

Yes. And it can only get worse.

Using the word "old" is incorrect, but should be "pre" instead. Before the Polaris was introduced, there are 2 kinds of BF seats - pmUA and pmCO, which both seats are still in service. And ironically, they can still be classified as "Polaris" seats when applicable.

UA's B752 uses pmCO lie-flat, as they are primarily used for p.s. and TATL routes.


Before COVID-19, Cash or PP upgrade was the safe bet. Now, you may be lucky.

bomberman92

Amazing, thank you all for the help!

WineCountryUA

Moved the Polaris Lounge access discussion to Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread, as it got far afield from a simple trip to Hawaii, which would not be eligible for PLs if they were open

WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

bomberman92

Is there a set cadence as to when equipment swaps occur (i.e max14 days before departure)?

I'm seeing SFO-OGG 777 flights in March that have the new Polaris product vs. April with the previous 777 2-4-2 configs. I'm curious if March was an equipment swap (which would mean that April could potentially get swapped to these planes as well).

WineCountryUA

The most cardinal time is 48060 hours prior to departure but changes change later especially if there are irrops / mechanical issues. As you get closure, what is typically used is a good indicator BUT not a guarantee
There is no price premium nor guarantee on aircraft used for Hawaii

dkc192

April is still on a placeholder schedule, so I would largely disregard aircraft type in April for now, and wait until they load the real schedule sometime in late February/early March to book if you care about equipment type. While closer-in and last-minute swaps can still occur after the real schedule is loaded, the odds of that happening are somewhat lower than a swap from the placeholder to the real schedule, which is almost guaranteed.

FWIW, SFO-OGG has had three daily flights since about Thanksgiving, and the 11am ex-SFO and 10am ex-OGG have been on a Polaris 777 for the months of December, February, and March. January was 3x 738. If I had to make an educated guess, I would not expect the Polaris 777 to continue past March, as post-spring break is traditionally a low season for Hawaii tourism, and the large J (or Y) cabin will not be needed.

BlueZebra

With Covid, there is little to be predicted on what plane is going to take you. Yes, they have been running 77w and and 1-2-1 777s, but they could easily go back to the older 777s that have more jammed, 8 across Business. The demand is growing on the SFO-OGG route...they have 3 flights a day (4 previously) in March...2 777s and one 738. That could change as demand builds elsewhere and the 77w go back to their international routes.

Its only a 5 hour flight...

wcj1

Because of this thread, I realized they have been running Polaris 777's on LAX-HNL recently. Any thoughts on that? (I know crap shoot, but I'm planning an April trip and I'd even be happy with the premium economy seat.)

evol

So they were running Polaris 772s to OGG even before the engine incident on Saturday??

What gives!? does Maui pull in more premium passengers than O‘ahu??

Anyway, i for one really enjoyed my Polaris seat HNL-SFO on the 788 today, I won’t mind if they take their sweet time inspecting all these engines.

Kacee

Yep. Compared hotel prices on the two islands lately?

evol

I have not! Still surprised that premium merits a Polaris product. A quick comparison of the 2 city pairs shows the fares in Z about the same.

Kacee

The Polaris aircraft have larger J cabins, and I'm guessing they're selling more J seats to OGG (my 3/6 flight is booked full already). But aircraft assignment can involve a bunch of different factors.