The Polaris Cutbacks Begin .... one less pillow
Apr 20, 2017, 2:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,448
The Polaris Cutbacks Begin .... one less pillow
H/t Brian Sumers:
Is -anyone- surprised by this? Frankly, I am shocked it took this long for United to start chipping away at the product! BOHICA...
Is -anyone- surprised by this? Frankly, I am shocked it took this long for United to start chipping away at the product! BOHICA...
Apr 20, 2017, 2:47 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,448
The mattress pad issue seems to be a self-fulfilling prophesy: if nobody knows they are available, nobody will ask for them, if nobody asks for them, we don't need to stock them...
Apr 20, 2017, 2:59 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Well we are getting 2 pillows, not 3 now. But, sure write 2 to 1.
FWIW I haven't asked for the mattress pad on any flights. The seats are soft enough as it is, I was fine in the 77W which is a bit firmer. In fact I just double up the duvet and sleep on that as the normal blanket is fine for me to cover up with.
FWIW I haven't asked for the mattress pad on any flights. The seats are soft enough as it is, I was fine in the 77W which is a bit firmer. In fact I just double up the duvet and sleep on that as the normal blanket is fine for me to cover up with.
Apr 20, 2017, 3:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Earth
Programs: UA MM Platinum; HH Diamond; Marriott Gold; Starwood Gold; Hyatt Discoverist; Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,527
Ah, a strike to the Polaris Pillow Fort. 
The mattress pads don't see a lot of use, in my experience. I agree that publicizing their availability would change this a bit, but as long as enough remain to satisfy those who request them, I'm OK with this.
The decadence of having two pillows was fun, but in reality, one is probably sufficient. This is especially true if you request the gel pillow. Currently, you end up with three pillows, and it is a bit of an exercise to find a place for all of them.
Hopefully, this isn't a sign of additional cutbacks to come.
The mattress pads don't see a lot of use, in my experience. I agree that publicizing their availability would change this a bit, but as long as enough remain to satisfy those who request them, I'm OK with this.
The decadence of having two pillows was fun, but in reality, one is probably sufficient. This is especially true if you request the gel pillow. Currently, you end up with three pillows, and it is a bit of an exercise to find a place for all of them.
Hopefully, this isn't a sign of additional cutbacks to come.
Apr 20, 2017, 3:02 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
I did comment on my first Polaris soft product flight (787 6D) that there was a lot of crap with no where to put it. The new 77W seat seemed a bit better with the footwell, side ledge on the window, table top, etc.
Apr 20, 2017, 3:15 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: United MileagePlus - Premier Gold, Star Alliance Gold, World of Hyatt Explorist, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 141
H/t Brian Sumers:
https://twitter.com/BrianSumers/stat...97751138320384
Is -anyone- surprised by this? Frankly, I am shocked it took this long for United to start chipping away at the product! BOHICA...
https://twitter.com/BrianSumers/stat...97751138320384
Is -anyone- surprised by this? Frankly, I am shocked it took this long for United to start chipping away at the product! BOHICA...
I personally don't mind doing away with one or two items and if someone feels a need for a second smaller pillow, just have them request it.
Last edited by Manospeed; Apr 20, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Apr 20, 2017, 3:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TUS and any place close to a lav
Programs: UA 1.6MM
Posts: 5,423
I recently flew FRA-SFO in C. (Amazingly GPU cleared).
There is way too much bedding provided. The small pillow is useless. The smaller blanket is useless (and its very scratchy).
The new duvet is sublime however.
I applaud this move. There's literally no where to put all of the bedding they you are provided. Nobody around me asked for the memory foam pillow or the mattress pad.
There is way too much bedding provided. The small pillow is useless. The smaller blanket is useless (and its very scratchy).
The new duvet is sublime however.
I applaud this move. There's literally no where to put all of the bedding they you are provided. Nobody around me asked for the memory foam pillow or the mattress pad.
Apr 20, 2017, 3:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Cost cutting is, and always has been, irresistible to airline management, especially when the business cycle starts heading the wrong way.
The mattress pad issue seems to be a self-fulfilling prophesy: if nobody knows they are available, nobody will ask for them, if nobody asks for them, we don't need to stock them...
The mattress pad issue seems to be a self-fulfilling prophesy: if nobody knows they are available, nobody will ask for them, if nobody asks for them, we don't need to stock them...
Apr 20, 2017, 3:27 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
I recently flew FRA-SFO in C. (Amazingly GPU cleared).
There is way too much bedding provided. The small pillow is useless. The smaller blanket is useless (and its very scratchy).
The new duvet is sublime however.
I applaud this move. There's literally no where to put all of the bedding they you are provided. Nobody around me asked for the memory foam pillow or the mattress pad.
There is way too much bedding provided. The small pillow is useless. The smaller blanket is useless (and its very scratchy).
The new duvet is sublime however.
I applaud this move. There's literally no where to put all of the bedding they you are provided. Nobody around me asked for the memory foam pillow or the mattress pad.
Apr 20, 2017, 4:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 818
The pillows contributed to much better sleep for me. I can see how one can be overwhelmed with the pillows and blankets in the sUA J seat, but it's workable in the sCO J seat. As I've said before I place the big blanket upright in the tower, the smaller blanket in the cubbie right below the television, the smaller pillow as a headrest/lumbar support, and the big pillow to the side. Really don't think it's fair for UA to begin cutting a new product that is not even one year old yet. This is disappointing to me. You're doing this all wrong, UA!
Apr 20, 2017, 4:19 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
After the Polaris lounges get rolled out in EWR and IAD wonder if we'll get feedback that says Pax want a shorter meal service onboard, and cut it to a one tray affair on the overnights to Europe.
Personally would be disappointed - I prefer the choice - but can see how a good number of people would be pleased by it based on comments here and they would spin it as a focus of the product on 'sleep'.
Personally would be disappointed - I prefer the choice - but can see how a good number of people would be pleased by it based on comments here and they would spin it as a focus of the product on 'sleep'.
Apr 20, 2017, 4:45 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Toronto - YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan/Hilton Gold/Marriott Bonvoy Titanium/Accor/Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 5,899
After the Polaris lounges get rolled out in EWR and IAD wonder if we'll get feedback that says Pax want a shorter meal service onboard, and cut it to a one tray affair on the overnights to Europe.
Personally would be disappointed - I prefer the choice - but can see how a good number of people would be pleased by it based on comments here and they would spin it as a focus of the product on 'sleep'.
Personally would be disappointed - I prefer the choice - but can see how a good number of people would be pleased by it based on comments here and they would spin it as a focus of the product on 'sleep'.
>Short Overnight Sectors
>Excessive Waste
Decisions which are sometimes guided by common sense and Customer preference.