Jan 22, 2017, 3:51 pm
Last edit by: wilp888
Sleep-Enticing Amenities
In addition to the sleep-enticing United Polaris personal suites, several other amenities were designed with our customers' sleep in mind.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, United has worked with leading luxury specialty store Saks Fifth Avenue for custom-designed bedding. All designed to provide the best sleep in the sky, the new bedding collection will feature plush duvets, lightweight day-blankets and a large and small pillow for each United Polaris customer. In addition, mattress cushions will be available upon request.
Slippers will be available on all flights, and customized United Polaris pajamas will be available by request on flights longer than 12 hours*. Flyers will also be able to request a gel-cooled pillow. New amenity kits will feature ergonomically designed eye shades, calming lavender pillow mist and additional products from Soho House & Co.'s Cowshed Spa.
With the introduction of United Polaris, the airline intends to donate tens of thousands of pillows, blankets and other inflight service items to Fisher House Foundation, which United and its employees have long supported.
In addition to the sleep-enticing United Polaris personal suites, several other amenities were designed with our customers' sleep in mind.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, United has worked with leading luxury specialty store Saks Fifth Avenue for custom-designed bedding. All designed to provide the best sleep in the sky, the new bedding collection will feature plush duvets, lightweight day-blankets and a large and small pillow for each United Polaris customer. In addition, mattress cushions will be available upon request.
Slippers will be available on all flights, and customized United Polaris pajamas will be available by request on flights longer than 12 hours*. Flyers will also be able to request a gel-cooled pillow. New amenity kits will feature ergonomically designed eye shades, calming lavender pillow mist and additional products from Soho House & Co.'s Cowshed Spa.
With the introduction of United Polaris, the airline intends to donate tens of thousands of pillows, blankets and other inflight service items to Fisher House Foundation, which United and its employees have long supported.
SFO - ICN, PEK, PVG, HGH, XIV, TPE, AKL, HKG, CTU, SYD, TLV, SIN
EWR - NRT, PEK, DEL, BOM, HKG, PVG
ORD - NRT, PEK PVG, HKG
LAX - PVG, SYD, MEL, SIN
IAD - NRT, PEK
IAH - NRT, SYD
(from United Twitter feed https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CyjFHZLW...jpg&name=large
Trip reports with photos:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...l#post27799060
Polaris In-flight Experiences
Dec 1, 2016, 2:47 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Money goes further making the premium pick something new world.
So far, overdelivering on the lounge front, a notch up on the food/drink, and lots and lots of soft things on the seats.
Dec 1, 2016, 2:48 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NY
Programs: AA: ExPlat & 3MM; UA: 1k; KL: Plat 4 Life; Hyatt: Plat; SPG, Marriott, Hilton: Gold
Posts: 2,708
Dec 1, 2016, 2:51 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,448
Dec 1, 2016, 2:57 pm
#34
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Texas
Programs: UA 1K, AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 327
Dec 1, 2016, 3:02 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
What is it that FA's need? - someone onboard who knows how to provide this service correctly, who gives the rest of FA's cues and opportunities to mimic the correct behavior? Is their training just not sufficiently deep or practiced to launch a product like this correctly? Does UA need to put Polaris-dedicated crews on it for a while? Or is it even worse, that the FAs don't want to do the work even when the product offering is better and it makes them appear better?
Dec 1, 2016, 3:04 pm
#36
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Texas
Programs: UA 1K, AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 327
What is it that FA's need? - someone onboard who knows how to provide this service correctly, who gives the rest of FA's cues and opportunities to mimic the correct behavior? Is their training just not sufficiently deep or practiced to launch a product like this correctly? Does UA need to put Polaris-dedicated crews on it for a while? Or is it even worse, that the FAs don't want to do the work even when the product offering is better and it makes them appear better?
Dec 1, 2016, 3:08 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Although I'm a bit meh on the Chardonnay choice, the H3 Cabernet is one of the best QPR wines out there. Even though I can buy it for less than $12 when on sale, it more than holds it own. I poured it at my wedding.
Dec 1, 2016, 3:15 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Westchester NY
Programs: UA GS 4+ MM
Posts: 373
UA also had the Polaris Bear for all BF passengers on my morning PS flight to SFO. Very nice touch and a cute bear the kids will love. 
Dec 1, 2016, 3:18 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
OP thank you for sharing your inaugural Polaris experience with us. It has been great fun following you on your trip! ^
IMO the wine selection is about right for business class -- middle of the road, somewhat edgy, and not insufferably snobby. The write-up for the California blend is unlike any description I've seen on an airline menu.
IMO the wine selection is about right for business class -- middle of the road, somewhat edgy, and not insufferably snobby. The write-up for the California blend is unlike any description I've seen on an airline menu.
Dec 1, 2016, 3:19 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,691
Dec 1, 2016, 3:29 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: United 1K, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 118
The only thing bad so far is the salad dressing, which must be refrigerated because it was solid and separated. A couple minutes in my hand warmer and it was ready to go and very delicious.
Dec 1, 2016, 3:46 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
I think it will be even more interesting to see what this all looks like in a year or so. It seems like there are at least some slight improvements in the short term, which is still good.
Dec 1, 2016, 4:15 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,222
I suppose none of this feedback is overly surprising so far. If you think how difficult it was to persuade the FAs to comp drinks to 1ks in Economy - one simple instruction - it was obviously never going to happen that they would embrace a completely different approach from Day One. However, as none of the planes are ready from Day One either, it seems the reality is that UA have over-inflated people's expectations too early, rather than are necessarily delivering a dud.
As to the food and wine, it's incredibly difficult to appeal to all tastes, and especially so in a plane. For example, I read someone complaining that there was no fruit in their salad, whereas my complaint would be the precise opposite - fruit has no place in a savoury dish in my view. Likewise, someone else was complaining that they shouldn't have French wines at their price point, whereas in my view that's where French wines excel, and New World wines (with the possible exception of NZ) are at their worst.
I do believe that UA may not get all the detail right initially, but it's the direction of travel that matters, so to speak, and I'm sure they've got that right. What concerns me is that they've promoted it so heavily that they will simply disappoint people new to UA.
As to the food and wine, it's incredibly difficult to appeal to all tastes, and especially so in a plane. For example, I read someone complaining that there was no fruit in their salad, whereas my complaint would be the precise opposite - fruit has no place in a savoury dish in my view. Likewise, someone else was complaining that they shouldn't have French wines at their price point, whereas in my view that's where French wines excel, and New World wines (with the possible exception of NZ) are at their worst.
I do believe that UA may not get all the detail right initially, but it's the direction of travel that matters, so to speak, and I'm sure they've got that right. What concerns me is that they've promoted it so heavily that they will simply disappoint people new to UA.
Dec 1, 2016, 4:46 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
Have the expresso machines returned, at least on PMCO aircraft?...That was a blow when they removed from 767's and 777's.
Dec 1, 2016, 4:50 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: United 1K, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 118
Yes, on my flight you could have everything. Cheese course first, then they brought the dessert course. The FA suggested I have a taste of everything. They now have the same dessert on the mid flight snack cart.