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
Jan 27, 2019, 10:15 am
#1981
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1K 2MM / Marriott LTP
Posts: 5,071
Both sizes were available on EWR-HKG on 1/26/19.
Jan 27, 2019, 5:23 pm
#1982
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
but they had a different beef dish on the return, which was better.
Jan 29, 2019, 2:56 pm
#1983
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: DL DM 3MM
Posts: 127
SFO-SIN, SIN-SFO... Crew great, but on such a long flight, really disappointed with food/wine. Ran out of Whites early - only got one glass before dinner when they ran out. This happened both ways - only got one glass there, one back - and my first selection back was out before I had to choose a different white wine. After two glasses, all Whites were out. I also fell for the short ribs and not good. About 8 hours in the flight many would come up to the snack trays and rummage for food. Only a few bags of chips, some Apples and a very awkward sweet tray that had no plates or ability to see inside the covered 3-tier case. I got the grilled cheese with soup because I was really hungry - about 4 bites and that was it - such a small portion for a 17 hr flight. Coming back, I asked if there was anything else - I got a saran wrapped turkey sandwich that could fit in the palm of my hand. Upon landing the breakfast omelet was OK but the night landing back to SFO - that pasta (I think it was seafood) was a bad choice.
Too bad - the Polaris Lounges had great food/beverage selections - honestly, the in-flight food/beverage was borderline domestic F food experience. Next time, I need to make sure I eat a good dinner/breakfast in the PL before I board... Also probably bring my own bottle of white from duty free - does United charge a corkage fee?
Too bad - the Polaris Lounges had great food/beverage selections - honestly, the in-flight food/beverage was borderline domestic F food experience. Next time, I need to make sure I eat a good dinner/breakfast in the PL before I board... Also probably bring my own bottle of white from duty free - does United charge a corkage fee?
Jan 29, 2019, 5:32 pm
#1984
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,158
SFO-SIN, SIN-SFO... Crew great, but on such a long flight, really disappointed with food/wine. Ran out of Whites early - only got one glass before dinner when they ran out. This happened both ways - only got one glass there, one back - and my first selection back was out before I had to choose a different white wine. After two glasses, all Whites were out. I also fell for the short ribs and not good. About 8 hours in the flight many would come up to the snack trays and rummage for food. Only a few bags of chips, some Apples and a very awkward sweet tray that had no plates or ability to see inside the covered 3-tier case. I got the grilled cheese with soup because I was really hungry - about 4 bites and that was it - such a small portion for a 17 hr flight. Coming back, I asked if there was anything else - I got a saran wrapped turkey sandwich that could fit in the palm of my hand. Upon landing the breakfast omelet was OK but the night landing back to SFO - that pasta (I think it was seafood) was a bad choice.
Too bad - the Polaris Lounges had great food/beverage selections - honestly, the in-flight food/beverage was borderline domestic F food experience. Next time, I need to make sure I eat a good dinner/breakfast in the PL before I board... Also probably bring my own bottle of white from duty free - does United charge a corkage fee?
Too bad - the Polaris Lounges had great food/beverage selections - honestly, the in-flight food/beverage was borderline domestic F food experience. Next time, I need to make sure I eat a good dinner/breakfast in the PL before I board... Also probably bring my own bottle of white from duty free - does United charge a corkage fee?
Jan 30, 2019, 9:53 am
#1985
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA 1K MM, AC 50K MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 278
SFO-SIN, SIN-SFO... Crew great, but on such a long flight, really disappointed with food/wine. Ran out of Whites early - only got one glass before dinner when they ran out. This happened both ways - only got one glass there, one back - and my first selection back was out before I had to choose a different white wine. After two glasses, all Whites were out. I also fell for the short ribs and not good. About 8 hours in the flight many would come up to the snack trays and rummage for food. Only a few bags of chips, some Apples and a very awkward sweet tray that had no plates or ability to see inside the covered 3-tier case. I got the grilled cheese with soup because I was really hungry - about 4 bites and that was it - such a small portion for a 17 hr flight. Coming back, I asked if there was anything else - I got a saran wrapped turkey sandwich that could fit in the palm of my hand. Upon landing the breakfast omelet was OK but the night landing back to SFO - that pasta (I think it was seafood) was a bad choice.
Too bad - the Polaris Lounges had great food/beverage selections - honestly, the in-flight food/beverage was borderline domestic F food experience. Next time, I need to make sure I eat a good dinner/breakfast in the PL before I board... Also probably bring my own bottle of white from duty free - does United charge a corkage fee?
Too bad - the Polaris Lounges had great food/beverage selections - honestly, the in-flight food/beverage was borderline domestic F food experience. Next time, I need to make sure I eat a good dinner/breakfast in the PL before I board... Also probably bring my own bottle of white from duty free - does United charge a corkage fee?
Jan 30, 2019, 10:16 am
#1986
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
The penny-pinching on mid-flight snacks is really incredible given what long-haul J costs. UA is literally chasing $6-10k ticket purchases to other carriers to save $5-10 on food.
By contrast, this is one thing the Asian carriers do really well. The CX mid-flight options include a burger or wonton noodle soup, and both are really good. SQ also offers several options mid-flight.
By contrast, this is one thing the Asian carriers do really well. The CX mid-flight options include a burger or wonton noodle soup, and both are really good. SQ also offers several options mid-flight.
Jan 30, 2019, 11:04 am
#1987
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wayne, NJ USA
Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member
Posts: 2,175
The penny-pinching on mid-flight snacks is really incredible given what long-haul J costs. UA is literally chasing $6-10k ticket purchases to other carriers to save $5-10 on food.
By contrast, this is one thing the Asian carriers do really well. The CX mid-flight options include a burger or wonton noodle soup, and both are really good. SQ also offers several options mid-flight.
By contrast, this is one thing the Asian carriers do really well. The CX mid-flight options include a burger or wonton noodle soup, and both are really good. SQ also offers several options mid-flight.
Jan 30, 2019, 11:15 am
#1988
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,158
The penny-pinching on mid-flight snacks is really incredible given what long-haul J costs. UA is literally chasing $6-10k ticket purchases to other carriers to save $5-10 on food.
By contrast, this is one thing the Asian carriers do really well. The CX mid-flight options include a burger or wonton noodle soup, and both are really good. SQ also offers several options mid-flight.
By contrast, this is one thing the Asian carriers do really well. The CX mid-flight options include a burger or wonton noodle soup, and both are really good. SQ also offers several options mid-flight.
Absolutely crazy that business class passengers are facing wine outages before dinner service is even finished.
Jan 30, 2019, 11:23 am
#1989
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Jan 30, 2019, 12:18 pm
#1990
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA 1K MM, AC 50K MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 278
Jan 30, 2019, 9:57 pm
#1991
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Please keep writing in about this situation - they are round-trip catering / multi-sector catering the wine to save costs and it just doesn’t work. SYD-SFO earlier this month had only one bottle of white and no champagne at all. It’s crazy.
Jan 31, 2019, 12:01 am
#1992
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,341
Pretty sure United's rationale for being skimpy on the mid-flight snacks and the wines is the opening of the Polaris lounges.
In typical United fashion, once they spend an extra dollar somewhere they immediately go look for another place to save two....or three...
In typical United fashion, once they spend an extra dollar somewhere they immediately go look for another place to save two....or three...
Jan 31, 2019, 12:07 am
#1993
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,062
Jan 31, 2019, 1:30 am
#1994
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Earth ... for now
Programs: UA 2MM * Marriott Ambassador LT Titanium * IHG Diamond Ambassador * Hilton Diamond *
Posts: 1,785
I flew from LAX to NRT today on the old BC configuration (2-2-2 on 787). I had not flown United for a while preferring flying ANA with the 1-2-1 configuration and the better service.
I noticed a few things:
- all the wines are now American (no more Pouilly Fume, Sancerre or Albarino), besides an unknown Champagne.
- the international movie selection no longer includes Italian, German or French movies. Besides the Asian films, there are only movies in Spanish.
- the nuts are no longer warm, the container is smaller - not even filled up and the selection is poorer.
- the toilets can be very dirty. I blame first the passengers that leave them like that and I guess that I am now too used to the ANA FAs that are keeping them clean.
- the dessert selection hasn't changed for quite some time!
The flight followed a nice experience at the new LAX Polaris lounge. The staff is nice. They offer a good illy espresso coffee in an appropriate espresso coffee cup and the Champagne is Piper Heidseick. The food on the buffet and the restaurant is fairly decent.
Both the cabin and the lounge are 'Polaris', but it's like 2 different companies.
I noticed a few things:
- all the wines are now American (no more Pouilly Fume, Sancerre or Albarino), besides an unknown Champagne.
- the international movie selection no longer includes Italian, German or French movies. Besides the Asian films, there are only movies in Spanish.
- the nuts are no longer warm, the container is smaller - not even filled up and the selection is poorer.
- the toilets can be very dirty. I blame first the passengers that leave them like that and I guess that I am now too used to the ANA FAs that are keeping them clean.
- the dessert selection hasn't changed for quite some time!
The flight followed a nice experience at the new LAX Polaris lounge. The staff is nice. They offer a good illy espresso coffee in an appropriate espresso coffee cup and the Champagne is Piper Heidseick. The food on the buffet and the restaurant is fairly decent.
Both the cabin and the lounge are 'Polaris', but it's like 2 different companies.
Last edited by UASPG; Jan 31, 2019 at 5:09 pm
Jan 31, 2019, 2:45 am
#1995
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,341