Jun 2, 16, 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
Jun 2, 16, 8:14 am
#1
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United Polaris - Business Class seats -- hard product comments
With Polaris becoming live, it seems time to create a few separate threads
- an in-flight Polaris experience thread for flights being marketed as Polaris starting 01 Dec, 2016
- a Polaris lounge thread at ORD, opening 01 Dec, 2016
- and keep this present Polaris thread for other discussions, such as Polaris seats and other future Polaris activities.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 20, 16 at 10:57 am Reason: information post
Jun 3, 19, 8:38 pm
#2
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United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service -- 3+ years after Intro
Just hit the 3 year mark since the Polaris announcement and still quite a ways to go to full implementation.
While I am quite pleased with the hard product, the soft product has seen significant downgrades since announcement and is quite disappointing compared to what was presented at the rollout.
Wondering if UA will be there at the 5 year mark or a doubling to 6 years will be required.
While I am quite pleased with the hard product, the soft product has seen significant downgrades since announcement and is quite disappointing compared to what was presented at the rollout.
Wondering if UA will be there at the 5 year mark or a doubling to 6 years will be required.
Jun 3, 19, 8:57 pm
#3
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Originally Posted by dingo
I am curious about:
1. The lounge in EWR- is it just a fancy lounge, or is there some special Polaris flavor of the lounge? If so, what is that special flavor?
2. In the air, what is to be expected? I think one needs to ask for bedding...true? There i no pre-order of meals...true? Anything else?
3. On arrival in AMS - there is no arrivals lounge for showering; true?
4. On departure in BRU - is there just the regular old *A lounge or are there options?
5. On arrival back in EWR, I believe we can get to the Polaris / UA lounge...True?
1. The lounge in EWR- is it just a fancy lounge, or is there some special Polaris flavor of the lounge? If so, what is that special flavor?
2. In the air, what is to be expected? I think one needs to ask for bedding...true? There i no pre-order of meals...true? Anything else?
3. On arrival in AMS - there is no arrivals lounge for showering; true?
4. On departure in BRU - is there just the regular old *A lounge or are there options?
5. On arrival back in EWR, I believe we can get to the Polaris / UA lounge...True?
2) Correct, you can ask for mattress pad and no pre-order of meals.
3) Correct, no arrivals lounge in AMS.
4) You will have access to SN lounge either Schengen (The Loft) or non-Schengen (The Suite), both are regular *A lounges. Even though your BRU-EWR departs from non-Schengen gates, I suggest you spend more time at The Loft which is slightly nicer and less crowded than The Suite. But leave enough time to go through immigration and US security interview.
5) Correct, you have access to EWR Polaris lounge on your way back.
Also EWR-AMS is likely to be the old lie-flat seat, while BRU-EWR you will get the new Polaris seat.
Jun 3, 19, 11:27 pm
#4
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Originally Posted by FlytheTail
The flight attendants must have been 40+ year veterans, yet the purser struggled to read the standard announcements after departure and before landing. How is that possible?
Ouch on the 40+ piece! ... many of them still give outstanding service and have made for memorable flights. Lately for me it’s the junior reserves giving bare-minimum service and disappearing to the aft Galley. There’s always a few bad individuals out there, regardless of their tenure.
Jun 3, 19, 11:36 pm
#5
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Originally Posted by hirohito888
1) You will have access to Polaris lounge in EWR, it's like the AA Flagship lounge but with a la carte dining.
Jun 4, 19, 5:14 am
#6
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Originally Posted by 1kBill
The menu in the lounge dining room will be limited compared to a regular full service restaurant, but it's likely you and your family will find at least some options that are acceptable and satisfying. Frankly, United's food on board will generally range from meh to okay, once in a while good. You might consider eating your main meal in the dining room so you can sleep more on the relatively short trans-Atlantic flight.
Jun 4, 19, 5:59 am
#7
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Originally Posted by greenpau
They've just changed the announcement scripts again - the overall pieces are the same but the specific narrative has switched. They’re required to read it verbatim.
Jun 4, 19, 7:33 am
#8
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Originally Posted by Kmxu
On SFO-PVG flight a few weeks ago, the purser said that there was free direct-TV with 140 channels on the flight. We were on a B789, not B738/9, to Shanghai. She did not correct herself later.
Jun 4, 19, 9:55 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Originally Posted by FlytheTail
The flight attendants must have been 40+ year veterans, yet the purser struggled to read the standard announcements after departure and before landing. How is that possible?
Originally Posted by Kacee
Mixed crews in action.
Announcements changed with little input from FAs, and plenty of input from other workgroups. Then they were pushed to FA Link devices and a bulletin went out to ensure that everyone uses the new announcements, so FAs have been reading them verbatim from the manual, even if they do not fit (just like this case). A second bulletin went out very recently to use the new announcements "as appropriate"
Jun 4, 19, 10:24 am
#10
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Originally Posted by cesco.g
Just hit the 3 year mark since the Polaris announcement and still quite a ways to go to full implementation.
While I am quite pleased with the hard product, the soft product has seen significant downgrades since announcement and is quite disappointing compared to what was presented at the rollout.
Wondering if UA will be there at the 5 year mark or a doubling to 6 years will be required.
While I am quite pleased with the hard product, the soft product has seen significant downgrades since announcement and is quite disappointing compared to what was presented at the rollout.
Wondering if UA will be there at the 5 year mark or a doubling to 6 years will be required.
described as cheap
Jun 4, 19, 11:18 am
#11
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Originally Posted by Kmxu
On SFO-PVG flight a few weeks ago, the purser said that there was free direct-TV with 140 channels on the flight. We were on a B789, not B738/9, to Shanghai. She did not correct herself later.
Jun 4, 19, 3:27 pm
#12
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Originally Posted by fezzington
Announcements were changed very recently. The new announcements do not flow well when speaking, no matter how many times I've read through them.
Nothing to do with mixed crews.
Announcements changed with little input from FAs, and plenty of input from other workgroups. Then they were pushed to FA Link devices and a bulletin went out to ensure that everyone uses the new announcements, so FAs have been reading them verbatim from the manual, even if they do not fit (just like this case). A second bulletin went out very recently to use the new announcements "as appropriate"
Nothing to do with mixed crews.
Announcements changed with little input from FAs, and plenty of input from other workgroups. Then they were pushed to FA Link devices and a bulletin went out to ensure that everyone uses the new announcements, so FAs have been reading them verbatim from the manual, even if they do not fit (just like this case). A second bulletin went out very recently to use the new announcements "as appropriate"
In-flight announcements update on April 1 to "show more personality"
Jun 4, 19, 4:44 pm
#13
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
Interesting. I thought they recently had a push to allow more "personality" in the announcements. Are they walking that back?
In-flight announcements update on April 1 to "show more personality"
In-flight announcements update on April 1 to "show more personality"
You can't force a single "voice personality" across an airline -- the diction and cadence of speech are not the same for the two FAs sitting beside one another on a jumpseat.
Jun 4, 19, 5:24 pm
#14
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Originally Posted by fezzington
Announcements were changed very recently. The new announcements do not flow well when speaking, no matter how many times I've read through them.
Nothing to do with mixed crews.
Nothing to do with mixed crews.
Jun 4, 19, 5:46 pm
#15
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Originally Posted by fezzington
Same set of announcements.
You can't force a single "voice personality" across an airline -- the diction and cadence of speech are not the same for the two FAs sitting beside one another on a jumpseat.
You can't force a single "voice personality" across an airline -- the diction and cadence of speech are not the same for the two FAs sitting beside one another on a jumpseat.
But maybe that is other than safety announcements....some FAs tend to drone on a bit
