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 13, 2020, 4:49 pm
#346
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Got it - thanks for the note. my 5yo is pumped for his freedom in his own little Polaris pod so that's all good - plus he'll be sleeping as soon as possible into the flight.
Any difference between snagging, say, seats 3L, 4L, and 5L vs something toward the back like 15L 16L, 17L - with regards to a little guy/family?
Any difference between snagging, say, seats 3L, 4L, and 5L vs something toward the back like 15L 16L, 17L - with regards to a little guy/family?
That is all I can think of.
Feb 13, 2020, 4:53 pm
#347
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Got it - thanks for the note. my 5yo is pumped for his freedom in his own little Polaris pod so that's all good - plus he'll be sleeping as soon as possible into the flight.
Any difference between snagging, say, seats 3L, 4L, and 5L vs something toward the back like 15L 16L, 17L - with regards to a little guy/family?
Any difference between snagging, say, seats 3L, 4L, and 5L vs something toward the back like 15L 16L, 17L - with regards to a little guy/family?
Feb 16, 2020, 11:37 am
#348
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: seat 9A
Programs: UA 1K, Flying Blue Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriot Plat (TWA / NWA - million miler)
Posts: 54
I did UA 20/21 this week (IAH-AMS-IAH).
Both segments were on 777-200ER with new Polaris. Not sure if this was part of the plan, or just a re-shuffle while asia is a mess.
Does anyone else know?
Both segments were on 777-200ER with new Polaris. Not sure if this was part of the plan, or just a re-shuffle while asia is a mess.
Does anyone else know?
Feb 16, 2020, 11:48 am
#349
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,508
Perhaps, but there are more retrofitted Polaris 772 than B/E Diamond 772 now, 11 retrofitted sCO 772 vs. 5. So your chances of getting new Polaris seats are a lot higher these days.
Feb 16, 2020, 3:46 pm
#350
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,694
On booking, my flights for IAH-AMS & FRA for May & june have proper Polaris seating
Feb 16, 2020, 4:03 pm
#351
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SNA (home), LAX, BOM/PNQ, LHR
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Marriott Gold Elite, IHG Platinum, HHonors Silver
Posts: 965
At LAX I'm just waiting for some more Polaris love over here. All of our "Polaris" routes are 789s which still have the old seats. Every other UA hub has at least one polaris route if not more, except maybe DEN. But then there's our new HND route which will be 781 operated.
But hot take: I find the 787 seats much more comfortable than the new seats.
But hot take: I find the 787 seats much more comfortable than the new seats.
Feb 16, 2020, 8:03 pm
#352
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,199
Just back from TPE this morning and had another good experience, so that is 2-for-2 and I am pretty surprised - or too many Air Canada flights have trained me to believe that mediocre is really spectacular.
Meals were on the small side ex-TPE, however they were tasty - but some hot bites, seaweed potato chips and a a huge bin of Ferrero Rocher made up for the gap. Service was friendly, pleasant, attentive, however the cabin load was very light.
One warning - not sure if this is a new thing going on, or we just had bad luck, but US Customs at SFO seems full-on searching for food of any kind, and everyone was being stopped at the exit, Global Entry or not, and quizzed by an inspector who based on the person's flight origin, recited a long list of possible things they could be bringing, and quite a few people including us, received a bag dump looking for food of any kind, and seemed to make it appear that anything they found would be confiscated regardless of its admissibility.
Meals were on the small side ex-TPE, however they were tasty - but some hot bites, seaweed potato chips and a a huge bin of Ferrero Rocher made up for the gap. Service was friendly, pleasant, attentive, however the cabin load was very light.
One warning - not sure if this is a new thing going on, or we just had bad luck, but US Customs at SFO seems full-on searching for food of any kind, and everyone was being stopped at the exit, Global Entry or not, and quizzed by an inspector who based on the person's flight origin, recited a long list of possible things they could be bringing, and quite a few people including us, received a bag dump looking for food of any kind, and seemed to make it appear that anything they found would be confiscated regardless of its admissibility.
Feb 17, 2020, 3:20 pm
#353
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pacific
Programs: Recovering UA 1k, MillionMiler
Posts: 34
Why can't United be consistent? It's 95% crew, IMHO. If crew treats their pax as valued guests, flights are usually delightful up front. If, like my flight to Beijing last fall, they're robotic and barely do their jobs, it's an uncomfortable flight no matter how good everything else is. I found the Polaris (my first) plane very weird in configuration ... all that stuff stacked on the seat, very narrow aisles and access meant that it was annoying to try to stow everything and get settled in. Had the crew been even slightly interested in my comfort, I would have forgotten all about the initial battle to get seated. Once "in there" it was very comfortable ... except for the Saks stuff all over the floor. Other than the very charming and efficient purser, not one crew member ever asked me if I wanted or needed anything. They flew up and down the aisles so fast you had no opportunity to flag one down; that was obviously their goal. Makes a girl feel unwanted!
Polaris lounges are great. Too bad the flight service is not.
Feb 17, 2020, 3:28 pm
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Just back from TPE this morning and had another good experience, so that is 2-for-2 and I am pretty surprised - or too many Air Canada flights have trained me to believe that mediocre is really spectacular.
Meals were on the small side ex-TPE, however they were tasty - but some hot bites, seaweed potato chips and a a huge bin of Ferrero Rocher made up for the gap. Service was friendly, pleasant, attentive, however the cabin load was very light.
One warning - not sure if this is a new thing going on, or we just had bad luck, but US Customs at SFO seems full-on searching for food of any kind, and everyone was being stopped at the exit, Global Entry or not, and quizzed by an inspector who based on the person's flight origin, recited a long list of possible things they could be bringing, and quite a few people including us, received a bag dump looking for food of any kind, and seemed to make it appear that anything they found would be confiscated regardless of its admissibility.
Meals were on the small side ex-TPE, however they were tasty - but some hot bites, seaweed potato chips and a a huge bin of Ferrero Rocher made up for the gap. Service was friendly, pleasant, attentive, however the cabin load was very light.
One warning - not sure if this is a new thing going on, or we just had bad luck, but US Customs at SFO seems full-on searching for food of any kind, and everyone was being stopped at the exit, Global Entry or not, and quizzed by an inspector who based on the person's flight origin, recited a long list of possible things they could be bringing, and quite a few people including us, received a bag dump looking for food of any kind, and seemed to make it appear that anything they found would be confiscated regardless of its admissibility.
Feb 17, 2020, 5:41 pm
#355
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,199
I always declare my food, and actually this is the first time I didn't bring anything back with me, but I tell the Global Entry inspector what I have and they wave me through, and I just exit the customs hall - but this time they were stopping everyone, GE or not, and re-doing the food inspection. A little funny was the sole caucasian inspector who was lining everyone up and reciting a list of various Taiwanese, Filipino, Chinese, Korean and Japanese snacks and foods by memory trying to land the "big catch". Thankfully I didn't bring back my usual supply of Japanese meat curry.
Feb 17, 2020, 6:28 pm
#356
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,694
I always declare my food, and actually this is the first time I didn't bring anything back with me, but I tell the Global Entry inspector what I have and they wave me through, and I just exit the customs hall - but this time they were stopping everyone, GE or not, and re-doing the food inspection. A little funny was the sole caucasian inspector who was lining everyone up and reciting a list of various Taiwanese, Filipino, Chinese, Korean and Japanese snacks and foods by memory trying to land the "big catch". Thankfully I didn't bring back my usual supply of Japanese meat curry.
Feb 18, 2020, 7:11 am
#358
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,349
You now have to specifically mention food voluntarily to the Customs agent when leaving.
The old rule still applies: if you have food items that you didn't declare and they catch you, you run the risk of losing your GE privileges.
Feb 21, 2020, 5:38 pm
#360
Moderator: United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,846
They will be somewhat different, good is a subjective term. Many consider the older seats better for couples but they do not have all aisle access. The new all aisle access seats are more "private" but that means it is difficult for couples to talk. Many find the older seats to be more cushioned and a tad wide, while others prefer the greater seat storage space of the newer seats. There are some differences in footwell space. All depends on what matters to you.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 21, 2020 at 5:47 pm Reason: typo