United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service -- 3+ years after Intro
|
|||
#1
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 59,342
United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service -- 3+ years after Intro
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
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,009
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.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 1,688
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.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.02MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 865
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.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: ONT, LAX
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,588
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.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,476
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.
#7
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,276

#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX/SFO
Programs: AA EXP; AS 75K; WN A List; UA 1K 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott AMB; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 49,903
#9
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"
#10
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Doylestown/Charlotte
Programs: UAL GS & Million M; Delta Gold Medallion (2 mio +); American; Hyatt Platinum Passport, Omni Platinum
Posts: 1,300
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
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: CO Platinum 1K, United 1K, SPG LT Platinum, National Executive Elite, Platinum TSA Hater
Posts: 37,953
FREE DirecTV with 140 channels? Sounds like she has been moonlighting at jetBlue.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Plat Premier (+AMB); Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 8,720
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"
#13
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.
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX/SFO
Programs: AA EXP; AS 75K; WN A List; UA 1K 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott AMB; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 49,903

#15
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Plat Premier (+AMB); Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 8,720
But maybe that is other than safety announcements....some FAs tend to drone on a bit