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
Feb 24, 2020, 12:25 am
#391
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: UA MM, AA almost MM
Posts: 1,164
Yes, UA Polaris has serious problems. Downgrades on the food and wine and FA indifference. Never answer the call button. Once my husband asked "where is my wine" 30 minutes after the drink order was taken (FRA - IAH). He was told "when I am ready." He has since learned his lessons. When asked what is so special about Polaris? The FA replied something like: Nothing. Management should stop telling customers that there are differences.
However, UA Polaris is still better than AA, BA, or LH biz class, IMHO. As long as I get the biz seats for under $3000, I won't complain.
However, UA Polaris is still better than AA, BA, or LH biz class, IMHO. As long as I get the biz seats for under $3000, I won't complain.
Feb 24, 2020, 1:58 am
#392
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,524
AA: AA FLs are not that far behind the UA PLs. Also, the AA 77W J seat is still one of my favorite ones out there (same one that CX uses), and just as good as the Polaris seats, IMO. And I've had slightly better food on AA lately.
BA: Like most others, I don't like the rear-forward seating arrangements either, but if I can get the one of the few coveted window seats that have direct aisle access, then I'm perfectly content on BA CW. And the food/drink is much better than on UA.
LH: Agreed, no contest with Polaris (although the food is still better on LH).
Feb 24, 2020, 3:43 am
#393
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
I've recently took some flights in C on SQ longhaul. Here are my comments.
Well, I automatically put my jacket in the overhead bin. There was a lot of space. So I was not aware of any FAs putting jackets somewhere else.
If you need anything, just ask. The FAs are running around the cabin all the time.
What's the problem? I would do the same.
What's wrong going to the galley. You get your meal much faster.
1. No one asked to take my jacket after boarding. I finally just put it in the overhead bin myself after about 30 minutes.
2. No one offered us slippers or bedding, on our side of the aisle. I had my FA call button pressed for this for about 20 minutes and no one ever showed up before departure. (FYI we were delayed for 1 hour due to visa issues with a few passengers, which required them to be offloaded)
3. I finally got up myself and asked for a pair of slippers myself.
4. During the flight I pushed the call button again for the mid meal snack. Again no one showed up for 20 mins, so I went to the front galley and one of the male FA's was just playing on his cellphone.
Feb 24, 2020, 6:21 am
#394
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium.;UA 1.5MM; UA Lifetime Gold (whoppee); DL Plat
Posts: 2,124
Feb 24, 2020, 9:28 am
#395
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LAX IAH AMS
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 1,269
It's a craps shoot. I'd say it's about 50/50 between excellent and sub par. I've done LHR-IAH twice recently.... December flight, mediocre at best. Feb flight, best crew I've had in years. FYI, the recent one was a London based crew with a tall blonde irish lady as pursor. Other GS's seemed to know her and she set the tone for her crew. Really great.
Feb 24, 2020, 9:45 am
#397
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: back in the saddle in AMWAJ
Programs: EK PLAT 2022-2023, UAplat soon to be LH senator!
Posts: 367
i beg to differ that it is the unions, alot of us like to point the fingers at unions but my limited exposure to unions was different, everytime a employee jacked up the operation i thru it on the unions lap and said take care of it, after awhile they were so sick of dealing with these same people that they gave the green light when it was time to let some go.
Feb 24, 2020, 9:52 am
#398
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Global Services 1MM,, AA Exec Plat. Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 606
I had a similar service experience on DEL-SFO last month; “service” was nearly non-existent. I find UA long haul crews to be incredibly inconsistent and I would argue that you have a much better chance of getting better service with domestic crews given they are typically younger / more motivated and less tenured than the battle axes bidding for long haul. This is a real shame as UA should be rewarding those who are giving better service, and those who are should be given access to the more desirable premium / flagship type routes. Unfortunately with union rules this simply isn’t the case.
On DEL-SFO I was rudely welcomed by an FA who told me I should be lucky that I wasn’t on a diverted inbound flight after I politely remarked how terrible the DEL ground experience was. This was followed by me having to beg for slippers; I was told by another FA that slippers were in short supply and that she’d have to prioritize to other passengers who had asked first.
I asked for the FA to hold my meal as the flight was delayed and we wouldn’t be in the air until 530am (this was a dinner meal service btw). She didn’t seem thrilled.
Upon waking up on numerous occasions I had to use my call button for water, not once in 16h did they proactively come through the cabin with drinks, except after take off and prior to landing. I at one point had to walk to the galley to ask for water as they weren’t responding to my call button request- they acted like I was inconveniencing them by asking for something as they were in deep conversation about their route bidding.
This had to be one of my worst UA flights on record.
On DEL-SFO I was rudely welcomed by an FA who told me I should be lucky that I wasn’t on a diverted inbound flight after I politely remarked how terrible the DEL ground experience was. This was followed by me having to beg for slippers; I was told by another FA that slippers were in short supply and that she’d have to prioritize to other passengers who had asked first.
I asked for the FA to hold my meal as the flight was delayed and we wouldn’t be in the air until 530am (this was a dinner meal service btw). She didn’t seem thrilled.
Upon waking up on numerous occasions I had to use my call button for water, not once in 16h did they proactively come through the cabin with drinks, except after take off and prior to landing. I at one point had to walk to the galley to ask for water as they weren’t responding to my call button request- they acted like I was inconveniencing them by asking for something as they were in deep conversation about their route bidding.
This had to be one of my worst UA flights on record.
Feb 24, 2020, 9:57 am
#399
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,227
I don't like using the call button and would always get up and ask if that's reasonably possible. But it's not possible in the PMCO business class if you have a window seat and it's not possible if it's in the middle of meal service. And it's in the middle of meal service where I have the most issues with UA's FAs. The approach is that it's their way, or the highway. I'm SOL if I want a glass of wine with my main course, as that doesn't seem to fit with the meal protocol - you can have two (vast) glasses before the starter arrives, a (vast) glass with the starter and then nothing - and no water either - until after they've cleared the main course away. It's not how I like to eat or drink and I've now figured out that I need to stockpile beforehand, which doesn't go down with them at all well.
The problem is that they don't give anything for the passengers' needs or desires and have no sensitivity. I don't complain and I don't make a scene unnecessarily so they probably have no idea that they have provided appalling service and I now steal myself for the ordeal.
But then, for years as a 1K, I've got it on the cheap. Moving to the ranks of Gold next year will mean I'll have to buy the service, but it will be on BA or VS or LH or AF, not UA. I've found the service to be good on all those airlines, good meaning attentive, polite and thoughtful, Sadly UA FAs only ever manage polite and that not always.
The problem is that they don't give anything for the passengers' needs or desires and have no sensitivity. I don't complain and I don't make a scene unnecessarily so they probably have no idea that they have provided appalling service and I now steal myself for the ordeal.
But then, for years as a 1K, I've got it on the cheap. Moving to the ranks of Gold next year will mean I'll have to buy the service, but it will be on BA or VS or LH or AF, not UA. I've found the service to be good on all those airlines, good meaning attentive, polite and thoughtful, Sadly UA FAs only ever manage polite and that not always.
Feb 24, 2020, 10:07 am
#400
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
I guess that I'm not on the same circuit as some. With TPACs in November RT EWR - NRT, December RT PHL - SFO - TPE, January RT PHL - SFO - NRT, February RT EWR - SFO - NRT and not once was service anything less than great. Polaris legs had all the accoutrements on the seats and west bound PJs were available at the asking.
Feb 24, 2020, 10:32 am
#401
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Global Services 1MM,, AA Exec Plat. Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 606
I guess that I'm not on the same circuit as some. With TPACs in November RT EWR - NRT, December RT PHL - SFO - TPE, January RT PHL - SFO - NRT, February RT EWR - SFO - NRT and not once was service anything less than great. Polaris legs had all the accoutrements on the seats and west bound PJs were available at the asking.
Feb 24, 2020, 1:29 pm
#402
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
Tony,
i beg to differ that it is the unions, alot of us like to point the fingers at unions but my limited exposure to unions was different, everytime a employee jacked up the operation i thru it on the unions lap and said take care of it, after awhile they were so sick of dealing with these same people that they gave the green light when it was time to let some go.
i beg to differ that it is the unions, alot of us like to point the fingers at unions but my limited exposure to unions was different, everytime a employee jacked up the operation i thru it on the unions lap and said take care of it, after awhile they were so sick of dealing with these same people that they gave the green light when it was time to let some go.
If nothing else, the union and the seniority system that it demands favors entrenched, lazy workers over hard-working, motivated, ambitious ones. As long as that's in place, United will attract (and retain forever) undesirable workers and repel good ones.
Would you work for an organization knowing that no matter how well you did your job, someone else would always get paid more and get better assignments, not because they were better, but simply because they were around for longer? I didn't think so.
Feb 24, 2020, 1:33 pm
#403
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
I guess that I'm not on the same circuit as some. With TPACs in November RT EWR - NRT, December RT PHL - SFO - TPE, January RT PHL - SFO - NRT, February RT EWR - SFO - NRT and not once was service anything less than great. Polaris legs had all the accoutrements on the seats and west bound PJs were available at the asking.
So I definitely believe bad service sometimes happens.
Feb 24, 2020, 1:43 pm
#404
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
Flight attendants glued to their phones, inconvenienced when you physically get out of your seat to ask for a glass of ice or a drink, ignoring call buttons. I asked for water in the front galley with attendants sitting on their phones and was told to grab a bottle that was out with the snacks.
Feb 24, 2020, 1:47 pm
#405
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, BA Silver, AC, AF/KL, AV, VS | Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 459
I stopped flying UA back in 2008 (absolutely shabby 772 with broken seats, broken IFE, but a stellar crew between IAD-LHR and LHR-SFO) but ended my embargo last year when “real” Polaris showed as an option between HKG-SFO. I chose it because I wanted to experience the new seat and the Polaris Lounge in SFO on arrival. When I booked my ticket the positive buzz was still in effect but as my date got closer, more reports of “service enhancements” kept coming out. I regretted every moment of picking this flight over my two other one-stop options on EVA or ANA.
With the exception of one flight attendant, everyone was rushing back and forth (right out of a Pam Ann skit – so busy!) throughout service times and if you dared to flag one down for something, you got glared at or a sigh. I think I was the only one to (bravely) ask for the PJs because I don’t remember seeing others wearing them, and they were delivered with attitude. The one FA servicing on my side was at least pleasant enough. The food was poor and I had already read about difficulty in getting assistance in flight so I bought a large bottle of water and some snacks at the airport. I honestly don’t remember seeing a snack setup and I did not ask anyone for anything because when I passed by the galley they made it feel unwelcoming. To the credit of my FA, I do remember him walking down the aisle multiple times during the flight with a bottle of water and cups.
Side note, the Polaris Lounge in SFO turned out to be a poor experience as well, outside of the nice hot shower. The dining room server was distinctly cold and abrupt with me but not with other people around me and I don’t know what I did to deserve that sort of treatment. I decided to only order one dish and then move away from the dining room and only use the buffet but nothing was being replenished there so nothing appealed.
My connection to PDX was similarly poor with lots of crumbs on my seat (it happens on other airlines as well but this was an extraordinary amount) and FAs that honestly couldn’t have cared less about any kind of service.
I never received any after-flight survey to answer and I felt that any comments I wrote to them on my own would just go into the trash. I’m down to 709 miles in my account and will not waste any more money or points flying with them. It really is hard to imagine now that I was ever a 1K, five years in a row, back in the early oughts. Halcyon days…
With the exception of one flight attendant, everyone was rushing back and forth (right out of a Pam Ann skit – so busy!) throughout service times and if you dared to flag one down for something, you got glared at or a sigh. I think I was the only one to (bravely) ask for the PJs because I don’t remember seeing others wearing them, and they were delivered with attitude. The one FA servicing on my side was at least pleasant enough. The food was poor and I had already read about difficulty in getting assistance in flight so I bought a large bottle of water and some snacks at the airport. I honestly don’t remember seeing a snack setup and I did not ask anyone for anything because when I passed by the galley they made it feel unwelcoming. To the credit of my FA, I do remember him walking down the aisle multiple times during the flight with a bottle of water and cups.
Side note, the Polaris Lounge in SFO turned out to be a poor experience as well, outside of the nice hot shower. The dining room server was distinctly cold and abrupt with me but not with other people around me and I don’t know what I did to deserve that sort of treatment. I decided to only order one dish and then move away from the dining room and only use the buffet but nothing was being replenished there so nothing appealed.
My connection to PDX was similarly poor with lots of crumbs on my seat (it happens on other airlines as well but this was an extraordinary amount) and FAs that honestly couldn’t have cared less about any kind of service.
I never received any after-flight survey to answer and I felt that any comments I wrote to them on my own would just go into the trash. I’m down to 709 miles in my account and will not waste any more money or points flying with them. It really is hard to imagine now that I was ever a 1K, five years in a row, back in the early oughts. Halcyon days…