United does have a generally comfortable Polaris seat and operational reliability is pretty good IMHO. Newer flyers should be glad they haven't experienced the far more attentive service and much better food available in the past - it's the curse of flying for decades. Reference points matter when the same service is called "exceptional", "good", or "minimal" by different flyers. A lot of the service decline is due to a reduction in FA to passenger ratio, but also to the loss of "glamor" status that used to be enjoyed by FAs. It is what it is - UA still gets me where I need to go and generally on time.

Polaris seat promise has come true. Many would argue service and food is not what was promised - not even close.