So, my wife is ex-GS and had some plus points left from last year. She is PP now. We are waitlisted for an upgrade on Dec 31st, CDG to EWR. They told us that we are 6,7,8 on the list with about 15 seats remaining. I think there is a 25% chance that we’ll get it. However, unless we get two seats together (the ones in the middle with a divider), we will have to decline the upgrade. We want at least 1 parent to be sitting next to our toddler (3 years old). Can we request this if our upgrade clears or should we board and ask our fellow passengers if anyone would like to switch? Our worst case scenario is if we get the upgrade but can’t get 2 seats together and we also lose out on the 3 seats in economy which we have together. Thoughts?

Upgrade chances are hard to gauge. If you do upgrade the FAs will likely do nothing but chances of someone willing to switch are pretty good - especially if starting outside of the US. Nobody wants to sit next to a 3 yr old.

People have been very kind to us when my daughter was little and we would get last minute upgrades, I would def take the upgrade !

I'm assuming you're on UA56, which appears to have a lot of Polaris availability still (as compared to the later flight). IME the last seats to be taken typically will be 10DF and 12DF or possibly the "window" 10/12AL - at least 10/12DF meet your requirements ...

In terms of upgrades, if you're 6/7/8 if there's still 10+ seats available, you'll potentially clear before T-24, and hopefully you'll have some chance to grab seats you want. If you don't clear at that point, you'll be able to see the seat map and where you are on the list vs. seats available (actually you could do this around T-48). Then you can take off the upgrades, or take off two or one, if you don't want the risk of being seated separately.

One thing I've found is that if you are getting cleared at gate with a lot of open seats is that the gate agents do seem to make an effort to assign families with nearby seats (as opposed to just filling front to back in alpha order, which wouldn't always get that result if there are a few single seats).

As long as you ask to swap for a less desirable seat, I'd anticipate someone to swap with you.

Worse case, I would think you could offer your upgrade to whomever was seated in the Economy seats you had booked together and they would gladly take your offer to switch seats. I think a lot of people in Polaris would be willing to change seats to be seated next to your child, even if they viewed your seat as less desirable than the one they have.

Just explain your situation at check in and I’m sure the Paris team will work their magic to make it work, they are very good and helpful in this kind of situation.

There is a long-running existing thread which will provide all the permutations of this problem and resolutions.

Isn't there an option for all-or-nothing when you checkin. If so you can simply decline the upgrade waitlist and you'll all keep your seats. In the alternative you can split the GS into a new record and she can take her shot at the PP upgrade while you and child stay joined at the hip.

What is the worst case scenario? All 3 get upgraded to different Polaris seats? In that case I expect somebody will agree to switch with one of you, though it is not guaranteed. I suppose 2 of 3 could get upgraded in which case one parent could sit in back and one up front with the child (again maybe somebody will switch).

If you need all 3 to be together then keep your current seats and decline the upgrade. Don't foist your problems on others to fix, particularly when you can prevent them (as opposed to IRROPS).

I love kids and I would be fine next to a 3yr esp. if they have an ipad or phone (which most do now). I would be loathe to give up my E+ or C aisle because somebody's upgrade cleared and that gives them license to inconvenience me.

I have never found any GAs to be the least bit helpful in re-assigning seats on a full flight. However if there are open seats they will certainly do their best. I would expect Dec. 31 to be packed + standbys.

Bingo.

I should end by saying that I was once asked by a couple with a baby to switch to another biz class seat. My initial reaction was "f- no" because they planted themselves in my seat before even asking. However I relented after I cooled off and discovered that the new seat was like-for-like aisle seat in biz class.

As of now there are 4 seats unselected in forward cabin and all seats in rear cabin except row 9 and 11D. The worst outcome if two or three upgrades clear (if only one, then they have 2 seats together in coach and can easily play with that) would be something like 10L and 12A (+maybe 10A) - i.e. scattered. Chances are decent you could work out some swap with either 12D/G or maybe 11 or 15A if they're kind and get pretty close.

It’s not « any GA » it’s Paris Premium Services Team and they will do whatever it takes to accomodate them starting from check in.
I have seen them operate several times and they are amazing.

I would ask the gate agent for seats together if you clear last minute. If they can’t help, I would ask the purser for help. It will work out. Kindness will go a long way. I suppose if you encounter an unhelpful purser, you could politely point out that you need to be seated close enough to your toddler that you can put their oxygen mask on if the masks drop.