Jul 6, 2019, 9:31 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Update 2017: United p.s. is now called Transcontinental Service. This service is available on flights between EWR<>LAX, EWR<>SFO, and BOS<>SFO.
Cross Country Comfort: Introducing United Airlines’ New Transcontinental Service

Quote:

Originally Posted by United POLARIS FAQ

How does the switch to United Polaris affect United p.s.® Premium Service transcontinental flights?
On December 1, 2016, BusinessFirst service on p.s. transcontinental routes became United Business®, and now features our custom Saks Fifth Avenue pillow and duvet. Previous p.s. features did not change other than the new bedding.

The first PS flights to/from EWR started 25 Oct 2015

Quote:

United offers transcontinental travelers the features and comfort of long-haul international flights. Customers enjoy modern aircraft interiors with all-new seats, inflight Wi-Fi, free personal on-demand entertainment at every seat, in-seat power and USB ports.

United also provides:
* Premier Access check-in, security screening, boarding and baggage handling;
* United Club access;
* up to 6 feet, 4 inches of sleeping space in a 180-degree flat-bed seat; and
* pre-departure beverages, hot towel service, multi-course meals and a pre-arrival snack.

E+ passengers -- hot meals and drinks included

Quote:

Travelers in Economy Plus on our premium transcontinental flights now enjoy more than just extra legroom — they’ll also receive a complimentary hot entrée, fruit and dessert, as well as their choice of free alcoholic beverages, including our featured cocktail and more.

Aircraft 757-200
Original config 28 lieflat BF / 42 E+ / 72 E-
Everything You Want to Know About Where to Sit on a 757-200 (pmUA Domestic and p.s.)

Re-purposed TATL config 16 lieflat BF / 45 E+ / 108 E-
Consolidated "Seats on International 757"

other lie-flat aircraft will be used on the route, such as
Everything You Wanted to Know About Where to Sit on 777-200 HD (28BF,102E+,234E-)
Everything you want to know about where to sit on the 787-10

FAQs
Are all flights on these routes lie-flat, etc?
Yes -- all non-stop flights from SFO/LAX to/from EWR and SFO<>BOS are configured as such regardless of aircraft used. All scheduled aircraft have a lie-flat premium cabin.

Are these CPU-eligible flights?
No -- no CPU on these flights. It will take RPU/GPU/mileage+copays to upgrade. Generally, these are "hard" upgrades.

Are TODs / Cash upgrades offered?
Yes, $298 cash OW upgrades are regularly offered.

Archive: Premium Transcon Service SFO-EWR/BOS, LAX-EWR flights-Questions&Experiences {Archive}

Premium Transcon Service SFO-EWR/BOS, LAX-EWR flights-Questions&Experiences {Archive}

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Mar 20, 2019, 9:46 am

#1276

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,413

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTahCha

Is that staffing for domestic flights as well? I thought they only did FAA minimum for domestic flights.

Yeah I thought we had four on EWR-SFO this week.

Mar 20, 2019, 2:17 pm

#1277

JOSECONLSCREW28

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: EWR, BDL

Posts: 4,471

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTahCha

Is that staffing for domestic flights as well? I thought they only did FAA minimum for domestic flights.

That’s international. Domestically:

787 all series 8 FAs 4 J 4 Y/C
773 10 FAs 5 J 5 Y/C
772 all series 8 FAs 4 J 4 Y/C

Mar 20, 2019, 4:35 pm

#1278

aindfan

Join Date: Feb 2010

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 546

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOSECONLSCREW28

77Y/U 11 FAs (EWR-DEL only) 5 J 6 Y/C

Out of curiosity, what's different about DEL?

Apr 5, 2019, 9:46 am

#1279

Colin

Join Date: Feb 2000

Posts: 6,533

why does United not market J as Polaris Business in the same way AA as Flagship Business & DL as Delta One do?
it is purely to keep customers out of the Polaris Lounges?

Apr 7, 2019, 4:21 pm

#1280

physioprof

Join Date: Apr 2015

Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive

Posts: 4,090

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin

why does United not market J as Polaris Business in the same way AA as Flagship Business & DL as Delta One do?
it is purely to keep customers out of the Polaris Lounges?

That would be a very good reason!

Apr 7, 2019, 4:31 pm

#1281

IAH-OIL-TRASH

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Honolulu Harbor

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 14,992

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin

why does United not market J as Polaris Business in the same way AA as Flagship Business & DL as Delta One do?
it is purely to keep customers out of the Polaris Lounges?

Probably. A round-trip can be had for not much north of $1200 at times. A real Polaris destination is (at cheapest) easily double that. Last thing LAX and SFO Polaris lounges need is the potential crowd generated by high-frequency transcontinental route customers.

Apr 13, 2019, 2:38 pm

#1282

j8s8er

Join Date: Dec 2011

Posts: 69

I've a first class ticket on a SFO-IAH-EWR flight in booking class P. Anyone know if I might be able to do a same day change to a direct SFO-EWR flight, given there is no First class in transcontinental PS, just Business class?

Apr 13, 2019, 2:39 pm

#1283

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,413

Quote:

Originally Posted by j8s8er

The App will typically offer it if available, yes.

Apr 20, 2019, 3:22 pm

#1284

ianlin

Join Date: Mar 2010

Posts: 55

Does United transcon passengers have access to Polaris Lounge?

Last time I was at United Club at EWR, my experience can be described as dismal at best. I am not anxious to repeat the experience. I am flying transcon out of EWR again next month. I am looking for alternatives. Does United transcon passengers have access to the new Polaris Lounge?

Apr 20, 2019, 3:22 pm

#1285

dmurphynj

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Morris County, NJ

Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat

Posts: 2,305

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianlin

In a word, no.

Apr 20, 2019, 3:39 pm

#1286

bdw1120

Join Date: Feb 2017

Programs: United GS; AA EXP; Marriott Ambassador

Posts: 174

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianlin

No, unless you arrive from or have an onward connecting long-haul international flight.

Apr 20, 2019, 3:53 pm

#1287

FlyerTalker70

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 3,359

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianlin

Absolutely not. Polaris Lounge access requires flying either UA in Polaris across an ocean (i.e. EWR > LHR) or departing from a *A airline in J/F going across the ocean (i.e. SFO>NRT on NH). However, if you are a UA Gold or above member you have access to several non-UA lounges at EWR, namely the LH and SK lounge at Terminal B. The former has an excellent selection of food but tends to be crowded. The latter has meh food (albeit slightly better than UC EWR IMHO) but has tons more space due to it not being crowded. You can access Terminal B either by taking the United shuttle bus to Terminal B or by walking to Terminal B landside and clearing security there. If you do the latter, skip the line and keep walking towards security on the right hand side. You'll eventually see a sign that say Business/First. Use that line (since you're a *Gold) and you'll be in the terminal within 30 minutes or so. Keep in mind, you'll need to add time to get back to Terminal C since there is no bus airside to bring you back there. In that case use the Premier Access and/or TSA pre line (supposing you have the latter), whichever is shorter. From my experience it takes no more than 10 minutes to clear security using either lane.

Safe Travels,

James

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 20, 2019 at 4:14 pm Reason: OT; extranous

Apr 20, 2019, 4:00 pm

#1288

seanp7

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: NYC, FLL

Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold

Posts: 6,300

Nope. Probably good that way (to prevent overcrowding).

Apr 20, 2019, 4:04 pm

#1289

FlyerTalker70

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 3,359

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmurphynj

In a word, no.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdw1120

No, unless you arrive from or have an onward connecting long-haul international flight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanp7

Nope. Probably good that way (to prevent overcrowding).

Could someone pray tell explain for us the access rules to United domestic clubs when travelling on a p.s. service route, namely:

Does p.s. J get you access to a United Club?
Does UA Gold or above get you access whilst travelling in any class of p.s.?

It's important to note that not every transcontinental route is deemed p.s. service. IIRC flights between Newark and Los Angeles/San Francisco are the only ones. Also important to note is that meal service is offered for those seated in E+ on such routes in addition to those seated in J / F.

-James

Apr 20, 2019, 4:11 pm

#1290

seanp7

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: NYC, FLL

Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold

Posts: 6,300

Quote:

Originally Posted by j2simpso

Could someone pray tell explain for us the access rules to United domestic clubs when travelling on a p.s. service route, namely:

Does p.s. J get you access to a United Club?
Does UA Gold or above get you access whilst travelling in any class of p.s.?

1) Yes, J will.
2) No, when in Y/Y+. You need to be a UC member, or *A Gold from a non-UA entity.

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