Jan 22, 2017, 3:51 pm
Last edit by: wilp888
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.
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.
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
Trip reports with photos:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...l#post27799060
Polaris In-flight Experiences
Mar 18, 2018, 7:42 pm
#1696
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,482
Mar 18, 2018, 7:55 pm
#1697
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
The fact that Singapore Air and others do "book the cook" even for Economy class suggests that United should be able to do it. Hell even Air Asia allows you to order meals ahead of time.
Mar 18, 2018, 8:03 pm
#1698
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
Mar 18, 2018, 8:52 pm
#1699
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,553
United can't even load the right wines, to the point that specific wines sometimes aren't listed on the J menus.
Mar 19, 2018, 11:49 am
#1700
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,704
Mar 20, 2018, 7:17 am
#1701
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 444
Flew the new Polaris seat for the first time Sunday UA78 NRT>>EWR. The new seat is a huge improvement, and the Narita-based crew did an excellent job. On the whole, it was a very nice experience.
Mar 20, 2018, 7:18 pm
#1703
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
And not mixing drinks is the sure way to avoid getting a headache.
Mar 21, 2018, 12:13 am
#1704
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Delta DM CO PE OZ GE AMTRAK
Posts: 524
I think UA should just do costco wines. partner with costco and get on with its program. Costco has some lovely wines at good prices.
Mar 21, 2018, 2:33 am
#1705
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: United GS & 1MM, Delta Silver, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 65
Flew IAD to LHR on Sunday night (after almost missing the flight when my CMH to IAD connection was temporarily canceled because of a Lav light being out). It was just about a mediocre experience as possible. I dont look for a lot of service on this short flight. However, I didnt even get offered water pre flight and couldn't even ask for it as I could not get the FA's attention. Had one of the worst Polaris flight attendants I have ever had. Here are a sampling of the things that annoyed him:
-When taking my meal order, he huffed when I asked if I could see the menu?
-Huffed when I asked for the wine flight (had the cart but had to walk back to get the small grey holder and glasses)
-Was annoyed when before sleeping I asked for some water....
-Was nice enough to have his bag over my seat and constantly went in and out of the overhead bin.
The wine was ok and the meal was average and not worth complaining about... the attitude of service was so bad I just had to laugh.
-When taking my meal order, he huffed when I asked if I could see the menu?
-Huffed when I asked for the wine flight (had the cart but had to walk back to get the small grey holder and glasses)
-Was annoyed when before sleeping I asked for some water....
-Was nice enough to have his bag over my seat and constantly went in and out of the overhead bin.
The wine was ok and the meal was average and not worth complaining about... the attitude of service was so bad I just had to laugh.
Mar 21, 2018, 6:41 am
#1706
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,704
-Huffed when I asked for the wine flight (had the cart but had to walk back to get the small grey holder and glasses)
-Was annoyed when before sleeping I asked for some water....
-Was nice enough to have his bag over my seat and constantly went in and out of the overhead bin.
-Was annoyed when before sleeping I asked for some water....
-Was nice enough to have his bag over my seat and constantly went in and out of the overhead bin.
Mar 21, 2018, 7:22 am
#1707
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Just came of SFO-AKL and SYD-SFO. Really a big difference between the privacy of the 77W and the 772.
Some comments.
1. Pajamas: I asked during boarding "can I get pj's when you get a chance". SFO-AKL, the guy got them for me immediately, but wrong size. SYD-SFO, the lady said after boarding then never came back. I saw the people behind me got PJ's from another FA so I asked him and he promptly got them for me (and slippers).
2. Hot Bites: I was asleep on SFO-AKL, but not on SYD-SFO and was able to get either grilled cheese + soup or fish+chips. Fish+chips sounded interesting at first, but I can't imagine how it could be good on a plane so I didn't bother.
3. I always pick a bulkhead seat mainly for the foot well. Also because there is a "shelf" on top of the IFE where I put stuff. On the 772, there's no storage space. The 77W is better. Usually excess pillows and blankets. 50% of the time, an FA will move them to the overhead for takeoff+landing saying they will fall, the other 50%, they dont care. They've never fallen off before for me. In cruise, I've never been bothered except on SYD-SFO. It seemed like within 10min of me putting something there, one specific FA would come buy and move it. When I stuck my laptop bag up there, he came by and handed it to me. The only positive was that when the FA would take forever to get my tray, I noticed that when I stuck it up there, he got it really quick.
3. Generally, it seems the FA's never know where the extra (gel pillow, mattress pad, pjs) are placed. When asked, the most common response is "ok, I have to find them". On both flights, I had to tell the FA where to get them from.
5. On SYD-SFO, I found the FA's were overall less "friendly" though not rude.
6. In the past, when offered ice cream, they'd ALSO ask if I wanted some of the dessert bites as well. On both flights, I was not offered this though they would have them out during the mid-flight portions for you to take.
Some comments.
1. Pajamas: I asked during boarding "can I get pj's when you get a chance". SFO-AKL, the guy got them for me immediately, but wrong size. SYD-SFO, the lady said after boarding then never came back. I saw the people behind me got PJ's from another FA so I asked him and he promptly got them for me (and slippers).
2. Hot Bites: I was asleep on SFO-AKL, but not on SYD-SFO and was able to get either grilled cheese + soup or fish+chips. Fish+chips sounded interesting at first, but I can't imagine how it could be good on a plane so I didn't bother.
3. I always pick a bulkhead seat mainly for the foot well. Also because there is a "shelf" on top of the IFE where I put stuff. On the 772, there's no storage space. The 77W is better. Usually excess pillows and blankets. 50% of the time, an FA will move them to the overhead for takeoff+landing saying they will fall, the other 50%, they dont care. They've never fallen off before for me. In cruise, I've never been bothered except on SYD-SFO. It seemed like within 10min of me putting something there, one specific FA would come buy and move it. When I stuck my laptop bag up there, he came by and handed it to me. The only positive was that when the FA would take forever to get my tray, I noticed that when I stuck it up there, he got it really quick.
3. Generally, it seems the FA's never know where the extra (gel pillow, mattress pad, pjs) are placed. When asked, the most common response is "ok, I have to find them". On both flights, I had to tell the FA where to get them from.
5. On SYD-SFO, I found the FA's were overall less "friendly" though not rude.
6. In the past, when offered ice cream, they'd ALSO ask if I wanted some of the dessert bites as well. On both flights, I was not offered this though they would have them out during the mid-flight portions for you to take.
Mar 21, 2018, 8:01 am
#1708
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,482
Same on my recent flight HKG-SFO. A little disappointing because I'm not a fan of UA's ice cream and this was one of the more meaningful Polaris soft product "enhancements" for me.
Mar 21, 2018, 8:06 am
#1709
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
In your case, if you turn down the ice cream, I would assume, that they would then offer you the dessert bites as an alternative. I assume if I spoke up and specifically asked, he would give me some as well.
Was this the same case for you on HKG-SFO, or were you not offered either or were the dessert bites missing from the cart?
Mar 21, 2018, 8:11 am
#1710
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,482
There was a very sparse selection in the galley later in the flight.
My guess is they're provisioning less of them, so the FAs don't offer because they're afraid they'll run out.