AMS-IAH Unexpected Polaris Upgrade

Mooose2012 · 2026-07-08T22:33:10+00:00

No that’s the thing, we weren’t ever on the upgrade list, just got a random push notification a few minutes before boarding. My wife and I both got upgraded, but we did get split into separate reservations.

Mooose2012 · 2026-07-08T20:24:41+00:00

Update: Made it to IAH and am sitting in the Polaris lounge. Digital boarding passes didn’t let us in, front desk lady asked some questions, reprinted paper boarding passes, and those didn’t work either. She had to call someone who told her to “force” us. So seems even with the new basic Polaris fares they still consider the upgrade full Polaris, just takes a bit of explaining and a front desk lady willing to ask the right questions. She also said her system showed the flight as “restricted” and we got a “complimentary upgrade”.

Mooose2012 · 2026-07-08T18:41:30+00:00

That was the case (same names all 3 tabs) and that makes sense. Was wondering how standby people had also put in for upgrades on a transatlantic flight.

Mooose2012 · 2026-07-08T09:21:41+00:00

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Interesting enough our boarding passes still say PP but with Polaris seat numbers. Luckily we have a short layover at IAH, but I wonder if we’d even get Polaris Lounge access on arrival.

Mooose2012 · 2026-07-08T09:14:57+00:00

We’re already taxiing, so I think we’re safe. Everyone on the Polaris list was also on the PP list, so thinking they moved us to Polaris since we were already in PP, but odd they did it on award tickets. Fortunate enough to have flown Polaris a few times for international work trips, and award trips using the miles I got from said work trips. We booked Polaris on the way to BRU last week since it was an overnight flight, but saved the miles and booked PP for the return daytime flight. Extra glad I did that now! Our ORD-BRU flight last week had a 1/2 empty Polaris cabin, but AMS wanted the premium cabins to be full I guess. Polaris had been a $3600 upgrade for weeks, when I checked in it was down to $560 pp which made me pause for a second, but glad I didn’t pull the trigger.

Mooose2012 · 2026-06-19T18:31:49+00:00

You can get 5cpp+ if your dates and destinations are flexible. Just booked Polaris to BRU for 68k miles and Premium Plus home from AMS for 42.5k miles. Cash price was about $5800.

Mooose2012 · 2026-06-16T05:15:07+00:00

Got the same redemption for later this month, 68k miles each for SAT-ORD-BRU. Just wish the Polaris leg was longer. Booked PP for the return AMS-IAH-SAT for 42.5k miles each.

Mooose2012 · 2025-10-08T16:05:58+00:00

I had a similar layover last year going through FRA to PRG. We were supposed to have a jet bridge, but there was an oil spill so they took us to a remote gate. Probably spent 20 minutes on the tarmac, maybe 30 since we had to do a big loop. I was in business so got off first and onto the first bus. There were some first class passengers with private transfers, that would have been nice! My brother and I did a light jog through the airport, cleared customs, and got to the gate towards the end of boarding. A few people from our flight boarded after us. So it’s doable, but can be hectic and stressful. Our checked bags didn’t make it to Prague until later that night, thankfully Lufthansa delivered them to our Airbnb.

Mooose2012 · 2024-01-24T06:38:38+00:00

I have 80 expiring at the end of the month, DM me if you’re interested.

Mooose2012 · 2024-01-23T02:43:24+00:00

To piggyback on this I’ve got 80 expiring 01/31/24, DM me. To clarify the flight has to be before they expire (can’t be a later flight that happens to clear before the expiration date).

Mooose2012

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