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United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}

Old Jan 17, 2020, 6:38 pm
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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
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.
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.

[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.
** 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)}


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United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}

Old Feb 3, 2019, 1:21 pm
  #4426  
 
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Originally Posted by big V
... Was not offered PDB. To be fair, I did board on the later side but they still should have offered. I had to flag them down for drink refills when someone actually walked through the cabin (which was not that often). When one FA cleared some plates and I asked for more wine, I was told "I don't have wine in my station, I'm only clearing, ask another FA."
It's little tidbits like this that amaze me. In any other service industry -- heck, at any other airline-- this would be considered a service failure. But at United, the bar is so low, we just take it in stride.

Last edited by porciuscato; Feb 3, 2019 at 1:45 pm
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 1:46 pm
  #4427  
 
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Originally Posted by porciuscato
It's little tidbits like this that amaze me. In any other service industry -- heck, at any other airline-- this would be considered a service failure. But at United, the bar is so low, we just take it in stride.
I would reply, "Would you kindly have the Purser stop by at his/her convenience? Thank you!"
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 2:27 pm
  #4428  
 
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Anyone know if there has been any additional information on when the Polaris lounges are scheduled to be opened? From the initial announcement, I believe that NRT, LHR, and HKG are the international locations to get one, along with IAD. Would be nice if they considered a boutique PL for DEN, given they are adding more international flights out of there (DEN-LHR and upcoming DEN-FRA).
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 2:53 pm
  #4429  
 
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Originally Posted by PsiFighter37
Anyone know if there has been any additional information on when the Polaris lounges are scheduled to be opened? From the initial announcement, I believe that NRT, LHR, and HKG are the international locations to get one, along with IAD. Would be nice if they considered a boutique PL for DEN, given they are adding more international flights out of there (DEN-LHR and upcoming DEN-FRA).
Happened to check earlier today, no estimated dates for these yet.
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 3:20 pm
  #4430  
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Was it just my sleep-addled brain, or are there multiple hard products on the 789 in Polaris? I had two flights last week, and though the layout was the same (and I was in the same seat for both, 1E), the 2nd flight had significantly more firm of a seat (to the point that with the requested foam bedding + the regular bedding, it was still uncomfortably hard). IIRC, the IFE for the first flight had more buttons on the control than the 2nd (which was mostly a touchscreen "remote"). Am I imagining things?
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 3:53 pm
  #4431  
 
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Originally Posted by PsiFighter37
Anyone know if there has been any additional information on when the Polaris lounges are scheduled to be opened? From the initial announcement, I believe that NRT, LHR, and HKG are the international locations to get one, along with IAD. Would be nice if they considered a boutique PL for DEN, given they are adding more international flights out of there (DEN-LHR and upcoming DEN-FRA).
As a GS who flies through NRT often, I am not looking forward to the end of the GFL there. To me, that's one of the best benefits of being GS.
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 9:34 pm
  #4432  
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Originally Posted by exerda
Was it just my sleep-addled brain, or are there multiple hard products on the 789 in Polaris? I had two flights last week, and though the layout was the same (and I was in the same seat for both, 1E), the 2nd flight had significantly more firm of a seat (to the point that with the requested foam bedding + the regular bedding, it was still uncomfortably hard). IIRC, the IFE for the first flight had more buttons on the control than the 2nd (which was mostly a touchscreen "remote"). Am I imagining things?
There is a different, newer(?) control on some 789's, but the essential hard product is the same for all. Perhaps the seat cushion on the 2nd flight had been replaced more recently?

I am curious when the newer control was introduced and if there is a pattern to which craft have it.
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 9:38 pm
  #4433  
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Originally Posted by tcdtcd

No, no theyre not guaranteed on eligible flights. Im on UA895 as we speak (ORD-HKG), and no PJs were boarded 😡. Got a half-hearted apology.
Indeed - my SO flew SFO TPE a couple days ago and no PJs boarded, they blamed it on ORD

The aircraft spent more than enough time in SFO, like overnight, to get the PJs boarded - and the FA also refused to bring them a mattress pad until they were inflight, so I had to coach the SO to go find another FA to get their pad delivered before they were all given out.

I suspect the PJs were boarded, but the FA was too lazy to go find them.

I'm on UA7 tomorrow to NRT, let's see if 1) they properly board all Polaris product features, 2) they try and give my reserved Japanese meal to a screeching GS who didn't order in advance, and 3) if they bring my tomato soup and grilled cheese or claim it wasn't boarded because they are too lazy to go prepare it.

The one predictable thing about flying UA is the unpredictability of the experience....and that's not meant as a compliment.
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 10:36 pm
  #4434  
 
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Originally Posted by porciuscato
It's little tidbits like this that amaze me. In any other service industry -- heck, at any other airline-- this would be considered a service failure. But at United, the bar is so low, we just take it in stride.
I was thrilled when I got the email asking me to fill out the post-flight survey. Thinking I had a chance to discuss the service issues, I eagerly clicked on the link. It was for the ANA leg!!! Grrrrr.
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 4:51 am
  #4435  
 
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
Indeed - my SO flew SFO TPE a couple days ago and no PJs boarded, they blamed it on ORD

The aircraft spent more than enough time in SFO, like overnight, to get the PJs boarded - and the FA also refused to bring them a mattress pad until they were inflight, so I had to coach the SO to go find another FA to get their pad delivered before they were all given out.

I suspect the PJs were boarded, but the FA was too lazy to go find them.

I'm on UA7 tomorrow to NRT, let's see if 1) they properly board all Polaris product features, 2) they try and give my reserved Japanese meal to a screeching GS who didn't order in advance, and 3) if they bring my tomato soup and grilled cheese or claim it wasn't boarded because they are too lazy to go prepare it.

The one predictable thing about flying UA is the unpredictability of the experience....and that's not meant as a compliment.
Same story on 895 (ORD-HKG). HKG-based crew (very good btw) said ORD out of stock on PJs. Puzzled, I asked for how long - they didnt know.

Last edited by tcdtcd; Feb 4, 2019 at 4:52 am Reason: Typo
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 7:00 am
  #4436  
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Originally Posted by PsiFighter37
Anyone know if there has been any additional information on when the Polaris lounges are scheduled to be opened? From the initial announcement, I believe that NRT, LHR, and HKG are the international locations to get one, along with IAD. Would be nice if they considered a boutique PL for DEN, given they are adding more international flights out of there (DEN-LHR and upcoming DEN-FRA).
Originally Posted by kirkwoodj
Happened to check earlier today, no estimated dates for these yet.
The official United Tracker is here: https://view.ceros.com/united/polari...-desktop-4/p/2

IAD, HKG, NRT, and LHR are all in the "Future Locations" bucket, with no other information. (There are options for "In Planning" and "Under Construction", but none of the 4 are so marked)

DEN is not listed.
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 8:34 am
  #4437  
 
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Originally Posted by tcdtcd


Same story on 895 (ORD-HKG). HKG-based crew (very good btw) said ORD out of stock on PJs. Puzzled, I asked for how long - they didnt know.
If only United had access to a plane so they could fly them in
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 8:55 am
  #4438  
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The bad news...no pajamas of course....and I'll be writing in because this is ridiculous. The good news, a great PMCO crew in Polaris with excellent service to come. My purser is equally annoyed with no pajamas.
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 9:02 am
  #4439  
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United's world-class Marketing & Tech teams combine to promote the comfort of Polaris...


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Old Feb 4, 2019, 9:12 am
  #4440  
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
United's world-class Marketing & Tech teams combine to promote the comfort of Polaris...


It's good to see UA finally right-sizing Polaris expectations . . . .
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