The Polaris Cutbacks Begin .... one less pillow
May 12, 2017, 2:48 pm
#76
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
May 12, 2017, 4:34 pm
#77
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor Area
Programs: UA Million Miler, BonVoyLifetime Platinum, UA Platinum, President's Club,
Posts: 1,494
I paid extra to get Polaris for my EWR-ATH trip in September. Already, I'm not getting use of the Lounge, the pjs or the seats. I hope to see a stack of bedding with as many blankets & pillows as I need. I use a pillow for my lower back, so having one for my head will be nice. Polaris has been marketed and in my face now since last fall. I got to use the blanket & pillow on my SFO-ORD flight in December. But I paid for Polaris not knowing that I wouldn't get the club experience, pjs, or seats, so there had better be everything else they've advertised. Sadly, I don't drink so wine & champagne mean nothing to me. But an extra pillow will make a difference. (The bear would be nice, too.)
May 12, 2017, 6:04 pm
#78
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: UA/CO GS, PP, MM
Posts: 360
I paid extra to get Polaris for my EWR-ATH trip in September. Already, I'm not getting use of the Lounge, the pjs or the seats. I hope to see a stack of bedding with as many blankets & pillows as I need. I use a pillow for my lower back, so having one for my head will be nice. Polaris has been marketed and in my face now since last fall. I got to use the blanket & pillow on my SFO-ORD flight in December. But I paid for Polaris not knowing that I wouldn't get the club experience, pjs, or seats, so there had better be everything else they've advertised. Sadly, I don't drink so wine & champagne mean nothing to me. But an extra pillow will make a difference. (The bear would be nice, too.)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 12, 2017 at 6:06 pm Reason: removed overly personal comments
May 12, 2017, 8:08 pm
#79
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
So, I do hope that ThaliaJen gets lucky and United wanting to celebrate the introduction of a new plane or new route puts bears in Polaris on the September flights
.
May 12, 2017, 9:07 pm
#80
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
Agree with the poster who mentioned the blankets. I've taken 5 Polaris flights now, and I've seen the regular blanket rarely used, usually by people who used the duvet as a mattress pad. Otherwise I see them still in their bags at the end of the flight, mine included. To be fair, although I'm the poor man's Mr Pillows, I saw most people ignoring the second pillow as well.
Personally - two big pillows, the gel pillow, mattress pad, and duvet makes for one of the best beds in the sky.
Personally - two big pillows, the gel pillow, mattress pad, and duvet makes for one of the best beds in the sky.
May 12, 2017, 10:30 pm
#81
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,293
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fewer_vs._less
May 13, 2017, 10:06 am
#82
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,505
I got the business amenity kit in GF ORD-HKG on 10 May. Was told it was a miscater but that seems odd out of ORD. Like how hard could it be to get some? Now I wonder if something bigger is afoot.
May 13, 2017, 10:20 am
#83
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
UA869 ORD-HKG in F last week NO amenity kits were loaded; we got a proactive "appreciation" of 10K miles or $200ETC. Then yesterday NRT-SFO, J kits given out in F.
May 14, 2017, 1:29 am
#84
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
May 14, 2017, 2:46 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,334
Really missed the small pillow today on PEK-ORD.
I made a random observation of row 6 and 7 of the 772, and probably only saw 6 out of the 16 passengers used the soft blanket.
My row of 4 and the two across of the aisle from me did not open the soft blanket plastic bags.
I actually prefer the small soft pillow over the gel pillow. I agree making the small pillows available up on request.
I made a random observation of row 6 and 7 of the 772, and probably only saw 6 out of the 16 passengers used the soft blanket.
My row of 4 and the two across of the aisle from me did not open the soft blanket plastic bags.
I actually prefer the small soft pillow over the gel pillow. I agree making the small pillows available up on request.
May 14, 2017, 7:18 am
#87
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: UA/CO GS, PP, MM
Posts: 360
They announced as part of Polaris that Global First is being phased out. So how is implementing an announced phase out a "cutback"???
May 14, 2017, 11:58 am
#88
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,324
Are you positing that if those two were removed that it wouldn't constitute a cutback?
Until the company begins selling 3-class intl. as a 2-class, this is very valid.
May 15, 2017, 10:35 am
#89
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Honors Diamond, Starwood Platinum Preferred
Posts: 292
SIN to HKG in F
I was really surprised on a recent SIN to HKG in F flight that passengers received an economy pillow and the thin see through economy blanket. I know this flight is not Polaris, but in International First I did expect one big pillow and the Polaris blanket. The flight attendant seemed embarrassed by the pillow and blanket when he saw my face as I opened the bag containing the blanket.
May 15, 2017, 7:56 pm
#90
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Our nation's capital
Programs: UA 1K & 0.6 MM
Posts: 781
Last week's IAD-PEK and NRT-IAD had both the large and small pillows on the seats, waiting for me to build a cozy nest. Those plus a gel pillow means I can have the fluff I want with the firmness I want by my head, and one of the pillows goes in between my knees (started out with small but then switched to large).
Ah. Maybe that's why I slept through breakfast service on both flights.
Or perhaps, it was the Buffalo Trace, wine, and ambien.
^
No pillow cutbacks on my 6 polaris transpacs this year. Each time got the gel pillows and pajamas I requested, too.
Ah. Maybe that's why I slept through breakfast service on both flights.
Or perhaps, it was the Buffalo Trace, wine, and ambien.
^No pillow cutbacks on my 6 polaris transpacs this year. Each time got the gel pillows and pajamas I requested, too.