Jan 17, 2020, 6:38 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Archive thread -- Active thread is United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service -- 3+ years after Intro
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)}
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)}
United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}
Feb 21, 2018, 12:11 pm
#3841
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
At this point, from ORD, I do not get planes with the new Polaris seats. But, I do get to enjoy the one and only Polaris Lounge. It's less overcrowded now that they have opened the expanded area. I just hope that, when they open the other Polaris Lounges, they do not drop the Veuve Clicquot. Actually, I wish that they would serve Veuve Clicquot on the Polaris routes.
Feb 21, 2018, 12:57 pm
#3842
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
AA Flagship Dining is only open to AA F passengers. It's hard to compare a F product since UA is discontinuing it. Polaris lounge (with all its shortcomings) will still be the only business lounge with table service menu dining. The only thing comparable in North America would be AC Signature Suite. BA JFK Supper service is self-served. Of course, one can argue about the actual quality of the food between Polaris, Flagship, Skyclub, Centurion, etc.
Feb 21, 2018, 1:08 pm
#3843
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
At this point, as an SFO-based flyer, I've yet to experience a Polaris lounge in the more than eighteen months since UA announced Polaris. During that period, the SFO lounges have sunk from barely mediocre to just plain bad, leading me to acquire an AMEX Plat card for Centurion lounge access (along, based on the crowds, with an awful lot of other SFO flyers) and to status match over to DL (whose SFO SkyClub absolutely blows any domestic UC away).
Feb 21, 2018, 1:44 pm
#3844
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: NZ *E
Posts: 346
At this point, as an SFO-based flyer, I've yet to experience a Polaris lounge in the more than eighteen months since UA announced Polaris. During that period, the SFO lounges have sunk from barely mediocre to just plain bad, leading me to acquire an AMEX Plat card for Centurion lounge access (along, based on the crowds, with an awful lot of other SFO flyers) and to status match over to DL (whose SFO SkyClub absolutely blows any domestic UC away).
Feb 21, 2018, 5:02 pm
#3845
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
I guess that's why they decided to cut dressing choices (and provide us with disgusting oil) and bread baskets, since passengers were complaining that the service took too long. BS.
Feb 22, 2018, 12:46 am
#3846
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
The one that is actually just balsamic & olive oil? Much better than the high fructose corn syrup & canola oil things they used to have.
Feb 22, 2018, 12:59 am
#3847
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
.Also while maybe not healthier, the previous dressings were never disclosed as using lower cost ingredients, but choices of both cream based and oil based were previously available.
It is odd that while some items being removed have low uptake I know that the current dressing is not well received, but with one or none as options UA thinks it's a smash hit. BTW they have to toss all dressings bottles as these are preplated items so unsure if FAs have been asked to report non consumption.
Feb 22, 2018, 1:54 am
#3848
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
The key with this one is to use it as a dip for the bread, instead of as a salad dressing. I'm not a dressing person anyway, so this has been a win in my book.
Feb 22, 2018, 2:03 am
#3849
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA1K | *A Gold
Posts: 767
I got the Japanese breakfast option on the IAH-NRT flight, and the food was pretty bad - the rice was all dry and crunchy! Bread on the western menu option was also bad... I think I’ve had better food flying in economy.
Also, did they get rid of one of the pillows? I thought they used to put more Saks Fifth pillows on your seat..?
Also, did they get rid of one of the pillows? I thought they used to put more Saks Fifth pillows on your seat..?
Last edited by mr8; Feb 22, 2018 at 2:08 am
Feb 22, 2018, 4:09 am
#3850
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
That enhancement happened many, many months ago. Now you get the big pillow and can request the cooling gel pillow. At the beginning there was an additional pillow that was smaller than the big pillow.
Feb 22, 2018, 5:34 am
#3851
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
It does start to get a sense of this:
https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/d...n-polaris.html
In terms of lounges, UA has vastly under-delivered. All the lounges except ORD are still under renovation. Food/drink offerings in UA Clubs are just sorry, expect the SFO/LAX/ORD Clubs that contain slightly better offerings. Even the food quality in the Polaris Lounge starts to deteriorate.
We might not even get the UA Polaris lounge by this summer in other hubs. I didn't even bother going to the HKG one because better choices are around(TG/SG). Very occasionally in NRT UA Club(Mostly ANA *A/J lounge)
https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/d...n-polaris.html
In terms of lounges, UA has vastly under-delivered. All the lounges except ORD are still under renovation. Food/drink offerings in UA Clubs are just sorry, expect the SFO/LAX/ORD Clubs that contain slightly better offerings. Even the food quality in the Polaris Lounge starts to deteriorate.
We might not even get the UA Polaris lounge by this summer in other hubs. I didn't even bother going to the HKG one because better choices are around(TG/SG). Very occasionally in NRT UA Club(Mostly ANA *A/J lounge)
Feb 22, 2018, 5:57 am
#3852
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
It does start to get a sense of this:
https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/d...n-polaris.html
In terms of lounges, UA has vastly under-delivered. All the lounges except ORD are still under renovation. Food/drink offerings in UA Clubs are just sorry, expect the SFO/LAX/ORD Clubs that contain slightly better offerings. Even the food quality in the Polaris Lounge starts to deteriorate.
We might not even get the UA Polaris lounge by this summer in other hubs. I didn't even bother going to the HKG one because better choices are around(TG/SG). Very occasionally in NRT UA Club(Mostly ANA *A/J lounge)
https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/d...n-polaris.html
In terms of lounges, UA has vastly under-delivered. All the lounges except ORD are still under renovation. Food/drink offerings in UA Clubs are just sorry, expect the SFO/LAX/ORD Clubs that contain slightly better offerings. Even the food quality in the Polaris Lounge starts to deteriorate.
We might not even get the UA Polaris lounge by this summer in other hubs. I didn't even bother going to the HKG one because better choices are around(TG/SG). Very occasionally in NRT UA Club(Mostly ANA *A/J lounge)
Feb 22, 2018, 6:30 am
#3853
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
Percentage doesn't tell the whole story, as there are only three types of aircraft that would be retrofitted with Polaris seats, with only 77W and four of the 767 aircraft having them now, you are correct, it doesn't feel that many at all, especially when most of the TATL routes are flown by PMUA/PMCO 772s.
Feb 22, 2018, 7:29 am
#3854
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Percentage doesn't tell the whole story, as there are only three types of aircraft that would be retrofitted with Polaris seats, with only 77W and four of the 767 aircraft having them now, you are correct, it doesn't feel that many at all, especially when most of the TATL routes are flown by PMUA/PMCO 772s.
Feb 22, 2018, 7:40 am
#3855
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
If (as UA does) you only count the 77W, 763 3 class, and 772ER, you can really juice the percentage, but it's grossly misleading in terms of describing likelihood that you're going to get Polaris seat on your next international long-haul flight.
Last edited by Kacee; Feb 22, 2018 at 7:46 am