Jun 2, 2016, 9:06 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
As there are multi-threads on inflight service and meals, will re-focus this thread on the hard product, the seats (and things related to the seat -- pillows, pads, blankets, ...)
United website - Explore: http://view.ceros.com/united/polaris-business-class/p/1
from UA's Facebook stream
Official Polaris Lounge Access Rules are here: Polaris Lounge Access Rules
United Polaris Business and Polaris First pax may access the Polaris lounge at connecting airports and their final destination within 24 hours of departure or arrival.
*A international J and F pax may only access the Polaris lounge at the departure airport. For purposes of Polaris lounge access, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and Guam are excluded from the definition of "international."
Seat Chart.
Press release: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...300278706.html
NEW YORK, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With the aspiration of making weary business travel a relic of the past, United Airlines today unveiled its all-new United Polaris business class, the airline's most significant product transformation in more than a decade, featuring a reimagined, sleep-enhancing, departure-to-landing experience for intercontinental travelers.
Named after the North Star, United Polaris is the shining new star of business class travel that flyers can turn to for a tranquil and restful journey.
"United Polaris will change the game in international business travel with an exceptional level of relaxation and comfort throughout our customers' journeys," said Oscar Munoz, president and CEO of United. "This completely reconceived experience exemplifies the new spirit of United and the innovation, excitement and operational momentum across our airline."
Path-Breaking Design
In setting out to create a transformative business class experience, United chose to outfit its widebody fleet with a custom-designed, exclusive-to-United seat, rather than select an option already in the marketplace. Designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and PriestmanGoode and manufactured by Zodiac Seats United Kingdom, each United Polaris seat will offer direct access to the aisle, 180-degree flat-bed recline and up to 6 foot 6 inches of bed space.
Crafted as individual, forward-facing, suite-like pods, each customer's personal suite will feature a "Do Not Disturb" sign, mood lighting, one-touch lumbar support, several storage areas, multiple surfaces for simultaneous working and dining, a 16-inch high-definition entertainment screen and, for seats in the center of the cabin, electronic privacy dividers. Complementing the new seats, United and PriestmanGoode have also conceived an all-new look for the United Polaris cabins.
In rethinking the international business class experience, United conducted more than 12,000 hours of research, and sleep emerged as the single most important priority for international business class travelers. United Polaris' path-breaking design and sleep-enhancing focus was inspired and informed by insights from hundreds of customers and employees, inflight product simulations and more than 100 product evaluations.
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.
Elevated Dining Experience
Upon boarding their flight, each United Polaris customer will be welcomed with a pre-departure beverage of his or her choice and gourmet chocolate. While in the air, customers will enjoy regionally influenced in-flight menus updated seasonally, developed in partnership with The Trotter Project and its critically recognized chefs, including Bill Kim of acclaimed Chicago restaurants Urbanbelly, bellyQ and Belly Shack.
The airline will offer an upgraded wine experience, with the highest-quality options curated exclusively by United's Master Sommelier. Inflight service will also include made-to-order signature ice cream sundaes, a dessert cart with a variety of petit dessert options, chocolate truffles and wine flights. On daytime flights longer than eight hours and on all flights longer than 12 hours, hot mid-flight snacks such as lobster macaroni and cheese will be available.
Raising The Bar With United Polaris Business Class Lounges
United will also open an exclusive portfolio of United Polaris business class lounges in nine locations around the world – the only lounge of its kind offered by a U.S. airline to business class customers – that will feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers and chef-inspired hot meals served in a boutique restaurant setting so customers can refresh and dine before boarding their planes. Premium sparkling wines and spirits, refreshing snacks and bottled water will also be offered.
The first new United Polaris lounge will open at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 1, 2016. Lounges in eight other locations – Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow – will follow in 2017.
United Polaris Introduction
United will begin to introduce United Polaris on Dec. 1, 2016, with the new inflight food and beverage experience, new custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, new amenity kits and the new United Polaris lounge in Chicago. The United Polaris business class seat will first take flight in December on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and subsequently on Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as on Boeing 767-300 and 777-200 retrofits.
United Polaris will serve business class customers flying the U.S. airline industry's most global route network, reaching more than 330 destinations in more than 50 countries.
More information on the United Polaris business class can be found at united.com/Polaris.
** Flights with pajama service (for both directions)
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
{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016 (wiki) (thread)
SFO Lounge changes? Which will become Polaris? Shower options?(wiki) (thread)
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}
Archive - United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}
United website - Explore: http://view.ceros.com/united/polaris-business-class/p/1
from UA's Facebook stream
Only customers traveling in United Polaris business class or United Polaris Global First on international flights and customers in Star Alliance international first or business class cabins on flights longer than six hours will have access to the United Polaris Lounge.
United Polaris Business and Polaris First pax may access the Polaris lounge at connecting airports and their final destination within 24 hours of departure or arrival.
*A international J and F pax may only access the Polaris lounge at the departure airport. For purposes of Polaris lounge access, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and Guam are excluded from the definition of "international."
Seat Chart.
Press release: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...300278706.html
NEW YORK, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With the aspiration of making weary business travel a relic of the past, United Airlines today unveiled its all-new United Polaris business class, the airline's most significant product transformation in more than a decade, featuring a reimagined, sleep-enhancing, departure-to-landing experience for intercontinental travelers.
Named after the North Star, United Polaris is the shining new star of business class travel that flyers can turn to for a tranquil and restful journey.
"United Polaris will change the game in international business travel with an exceptional level of relaxation and comfort throughout our customers' journeys," said Oscar Munoz, president and CEO of United. "This completely reconceived experience exemplifies the new spirit of United and the innovation, excitement and operational momentum across our airline."
Path-Breaking Design
In setting out to create a transformative business class experience, United chose to outfit its widebody fleet with a custom-designed, exclusive-to-United seat, rather than select an option already in the marketplace. Designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and PriestmanGoode and manufactured by Zodiac Seats United Kingdom, each United Polaris seat will offer direct access to the aisle, 180-degree flat-bed recline and up to 6 foot 6 inches of bed space.
Crafted as individual, forward-facing, suite-like pods, each customer's personal suite will feature a "Do Not Disturb" sign, mood lighting, one-touch lumbar support, several storage areas, multiple surfaces for simultaneous working and dining, a 16-inch high-definition entertainment screen and, for seats in the center of the cabin, electronic privacy dividers. Complementing the new seats, United and PriestmanGoode have also conceived an all-new look for the United Polaris cabins.
In rethinking the international business class experience, United conducted more than 12,000 hours of research, and sleep emerged as the single most important priority for international business class travelers. United Polaris' path-breaking design and sleep-enhancing focus was inspired and informed by insights from hundreds of customers and employees, inflight product simulations and more than 100 product evaluations.
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.
Elevated Dining Experience
Upon boarding their flight, each United Polaris customer will be welcomed with a pre-departure beverage of his or her choice and gourmet chocolate. While in the air, customers will enjoy regionally influenced in-flight menus updated seasonally, developed in partnership with The Trotter Project and its critically recognized chefs, including Bill Kim of acclaimed Chicago restaurants Urbanbelly, bellyQ and Belly Shack.
The airline will offer an upgraded wine experience, with the highest-quality options curated exclusively by United's Master Sommelier. Inflight service will also include made-to-order signature ice cream sundaes, a dessert cart with a variety of petit dessert options, chocolate truffles and wine flights. On daytime flights longer than eight hours and on all flights longer than 12 hours, hot mid-flight snacks such as lobster macaroni and cheese will be available.
Raising The Bar With United Polaris Business Class Lounges
United will also open an exclusive portfolio of United Polaris business class lounges in nine locations around the world – the only lounge of its kind offered by a U.S. airline to business class customers – that will feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers and chef-inspired hot meals served in a boutique restaurant setting so customers can refresh and dine before boarding their planes. Premium sparkling wines and spirits, refreshing snacks and bottled water will also be offered.
The first new United Polaris lounge will open at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 1, 2016. Lounges in eight other locations – Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow – will follow in 2017.
United Polaris Introduction
United will begin to introduce United Polaris on Dec. 1, 2016, with the new inflight food and beverage experience, new custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, new amenity kits and the new United Polaris lounge in Chicago. The United Polaris business class seat will first take flight in December on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and subsequently on Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as on Boeing 767-300 and 777-200 retrofits.
United Polaris will serve business class customers flying the U.S. airline industry's most global route network, reaching more than 330 destinations in more than 50 countries.
More information on the United Polaris business class can be found at united.com/Polaris.
[From [email][email protected] 11/15/2016]
Starting December 1, 2016, United Polaris Business Class service will replace United BusinessFirst service on international flights, and United Polaris Global First service will replace the current United Global First service.
Between 2017 to 2019 eight additional United Polaris lounges will open at EWR, HKG, IAD, IAH, LAX, LHR, NRT and SFO. We do not have the exact opening dates at this time. A scheduling announcement will be forthcoming.
Starting December 1, 2016, United Polaris Business Class service will replace United BusinessFirst service on international flights, and United Polaris Global First service will replace the current United Global First service.
Between 2017 to 2019 eight additional United Polaris lounges will open at EWR, HKG, IAD, IAH, LAX, LHR, NRT and SFO. We do not have the exact opening dates at this time. A scheduling announcement will be forthcoming.
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
{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016 (wiki) (thread)
SFO Lounge changes? Which will become Polaris? Shower options?(wiki) (thread)
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}
Archive - United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}
United Polaris - Business Class seats -- hard product comments
Aug 28, 2019, 4:10 pm
#226
Moderator: United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
But the point of the earlier post is the lead is always changing and unrealistic to expect UA / carrier, in general, to always be in the lead because of the capital investment to update -- and the need to amortize that cost over a number of years.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 28, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Aug 28, 2019, 7:42 pm
#227
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Woodside, CA, USA
Programs: United Platinum
Posts: 517
While UA isn't always the first, it is not really true they are all always the last. There are still a number of major carriers behind UA in upgrading to all aisle access.
But the point of the earlier post is the lead is always changing and unrealistic to expect UA / carrier, in general, to always be in the lead because of the capital investment to update -- and the need to amortize that cost over a number of years.
But the point of the earlier post is the lead is always changing and unrealistic to expect UA / carrier, in general, to always be in the lead because of the capital investment to update -- and the need to amortize that cost over a number of years.
It does amaze me that one of the two daily SFO-LHR non-stops on UA is a 777-200 with 8 across business. Especially since that flight is usually more expensive than the earlier flight on a 777-300 with 1-2-1 Polaris seating. When I booked my most recent trip today it was a $4,000 premium for the 8-across flight.
Aug 28, 2019, 8:08 pm
#228
Moderator: United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Aug 29, 2019, 11:53 pm
#229
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
While UA isn't always the first, it is not really true they are all always the last. There are still a number of major carriers behind UA in upgrading to all aisle access.
But the point of the earlier post is the lead is always changing and unrealistic to expect UA / carrier, in general, to always be in the lead because of the capital investment to update -- and the need to amortize that cost over a number of years.
But the point of the earlier post is the lead is always changing and unrealistic to expect UA / carrier, in general, to always be in the lead because of the capital investment to update -- and the need to amortize that cost over a number of years.
since Air France still flies A380’s with angle flat business class, UA isn’t always the last.
It does amaze me that one of the two daily SFO-LHR non-stops on UA is a 777-200 with 8 across business. Especially since that flight is usually more expensive than the earlier flight on a 777-300 with 1-2-1 Polaris seating. When I booked my most recent trip today it was a $4,000 premium for the 8-across flight.
It does amaze me that one of the two daily SFO-LHR non-stops on UA is a 777-200 with 8 across business. Especially since that flight is usually more expensive than the earlier flight on a 777-300 with 1-2-1 Polaris seating. When I booked my most recent trip today it was a $4,000 premium for the 8-across flight.
Aug 30, 2019, 12:33 am
#230
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
Aug 30, 2019, 1:06 am
#232
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Woodside, CA, USA
Programs: United Platinum
Posts: 517
Re: the 8-across 777-200 being more expensive:
Well, in my case I just needed to be in London for dinner the next day, so either flight worked. I would have paid a premium for the 1-2-1 seating, and was definitely happy to save my company some bucks AND get the better seat.
Well, in my case I just needed to be in London for dinner the next day, so either flight worked. I would have paid a premium for the 1-2-1 seating, and was definitely happy to save my company some bucks AND get the better seat.
Oct 3, 2019, 11:32 am
#234
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA
Posts: 19
Polaris Seat Questions
After having flown the new product a couple times I'm still confused about a few things.
I'd upload photos but FT keeps giving me a security token error.
1-Underneath the pop out reading light there is a button with an LED light in the middle. What does this button do? Reading light brightness? What are the modes?
2-I don't know what some of the buttons are on the seat control area. There are two adjustments for what looks like lumbar? Is one amount of inflation of the airbag and the other is position up/down your back? The lamp icon turns on the little lamp over the marble, what does the moon icon do?
3- I could not figure out how to lower the armrest next to the seat to expand the bed area. Where is the release?
I'd upload photos but FT keeps giving me a security token error.
1-Underneath the pop out reading light there is a button with an LED light in the middle. What does this button do? Reading light brightness? What are the modes?
2-I don't know what some of the buttons are on the seat control area. There are two adjustments for what looks like lumbar? Is one amount of inflation of the airbag and the other is position up/down your back? The lamp icon turns on the little lamp over the marble, what does the moon icon do?
3- I could not figure out how to lower the armrest next to the seat to expand the bed area. Where is the release?
Oct 3, 2019, 11:48 am
#235
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 721
After having flown the new product a couple times I'm still confused about a few things.
I'd upload photos but FT keeps giving me a security token error.
1-Underneath the pop out reading light there is a button with an LED light in the middle. What does this button do? Reading light brightness? What are the modes?
2-I don't know what some of the buttons are on the seat control area. There are two adjustments for what looks like lumbar? Is one amount of inflation of the airbag and the other is position up/down your back? The lamp icon turns on the little lamp over the marble, what does the moon icon do?
3- I could not figure out how to lower the armrest next to the seat to expand the bed area. Where is the release?
I'd upload photos but FT keeps giving me a security token error.
1-Underneath the pop out reading light there is a button with an LED light in the middle. What does this button do? Reading light brightness? What are the modes?
2-I don't know what some of the buttons are on the seat control area. There are two adjustments for what looks like lumbar? Is one amount of inflation of the airbag and the other is position up/down your back? The lamp icon turns on the little lamp over the marble, what does the moon icon do?
3- I could not figure out how to lower the armrest next to the seat to expand the bed area. Where is the release?
2 - moving toward you, the farthest away buttons with up and down arrows control seat recline, the +/- buttons control lumbar support, then up and down arrows for foot rest. The moon icon turns on a do not disturb light on the aisle.
3 - the rectangular button on the side of the armrest just before it bends.
Oct 3, 2019, 2:35 pm
#237
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,509
Oct 3, 2019, 3:02 pm
#238
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1K & Marriott Titanium
Posts: 96
on my most recent flight the armrest would not go down. (i'm familiar with the mechanism and have operated it successfully in the past)
Oct 3, 2019, 10:20 pm
#239
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
Just curious, when did wine flights disappear from Polaris? I remember those being a huge "selling point" when Polaris was launched and I even tried a few. Now you may get one or two different whites or reds (usually two buck chuck I assume). I don't drink wine normally but it was interesting to try some new ones now and again.
-RM
-RM
Oct 4, 2019, 4:52 am
#240
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Just curious, when did wine flights disappear from Polaris? I remember those being a huge "selling point" when Polaris was launched and I even tried a few. Now you may get one or two different whites or reds (usually two buck chuck I assume). I don't drink wine normally but it was interesting to try some new ones now and again.
-RM
-RM
