The senior FA are not going to shift back to domestic flying just because of the difficulties with the Polaris service. They will just avoid the galley position and work the aisle positions.

Bingo. Let's just make the assumption that most of the population works 40 hours a week or 160 hours in a 4 week period. Depending on base some FA can work about 9 days a month and earn about 80 hours worth of credit. At the same time I doubt someone flying domestic could credit 80 hours in 9 days.

Correct, although it is more like 3 round trips.

Polaris question....If I am flying ORD-EWR domestic F, connecting to EWR-DUB Polaris on the same ticket, can I use the Polaris lounge at ORD?

YES.
i did something similar..

According to the table in this post, I believe so (as ORD would be seen as a connecting flight). Maybe I'm reading it wrong.

I think it's safe to say that US carriers can't compete with the Asian carriers. The biggest issue is the culture of the crews are polar opposites. Their work contracts are different, their objectives are different and this all impacts the end product. The Polaris amenities (catering, seats, lounges, etc.) are just one piece of the picture. UA executives can spend endless amounts of money on this stuff, but it needs the front line staff to deliver on that product for it to work and we have seen on this thread and many other threads where not everyone is onboard with the program.

Here is one example of how the work contracts have an impact on the end product.

UA and SQ both operate SFO-SIN nonstop.

We all know the westbound flights are longer than the eastbound.

I had a friend just work the ultra longhaul flight for SQ. They had almost four full days in SFO after arriving. Guess how many a UA crew working SFO-SIN gets in SIN?

Another tidbit on the above scenario. The trip happened to be over the New Year holiday and SQ actually sets up a dinner for their crew over the holiday when they are away from SIN and not just for this ultra-long haul flight. When you value your staff I am sure this works wonders towards employee morale.

Yes, there was initially some confusion on this question, but the answer is definitively "yes."

I flew the inagural EWR HKG, and back then, it had 3 full meal services. A 5 course meal, and 3 course meal, and a 4 course before landing.

It was just wonderful! Those were the days. And none of this stupid breakfast before landing nonsense that has taken over for years now.

Flew polaris for the first time MAN - EWR on 757-200. IMO it is definitely an improvement.

I think most would agree that UA can't compete with Asian carriers, but Polaris is not intended to compete with them. UA's main competition internationally remains to be AA and DL. The UA Polaris, DL One, AA Flagship branding are all ways to distinguish themselves from one another. None of the US3 are out to beat the Asian or ME3 carriers, and I don't think management or shareholders expect that.

I agree, but I'd add that they also have strong competition from the European carriers for the lucrative TATL routes. And when the new seat comes out it looks like Polaris will be very competitive with BA/AF at least.

And of course, in the medium to long term the ME3 may not be competitors at all. You have to question how viable the ME3's current business model is. I'm less clear about the long term prospects of the Asian carriers?

Except that each of UA, AA, and DL have revenue-sharing joint venture agreements with the European carriers, which means that UA is really just competing with AA and DL.

Took UA940 last night EWR-LHR. There were zero memory-foam pillows available. I asked for one before we departed and was told that the station (EWR!) was :(ut of them. Wow.

Or just your standard lazy EWR based FAs?

Same experience last month on EWR - HAM. My first "Polaris" flight so I didn't even know they had them. BTW, is there a "Polaris Lounge" planned for EWR?

They return the next day. What does it matter? They're starting their return flight at about 5p on their (SFO based) body clock. It makes sense to me. Why spend 4 days adjusting your body clock only to have to do it again?

Maybe. There's more than a bit of culture involved here. After running a business in Asia for decades I've learned that Asians (at least SE Asians) are much more likely to get attend company sponsored meals than Americans are. My VN office gets all excited. My Houston employees want to go home.

And what can be perceived as "value your staff" varies greatly. I lost a programmer to another company once bec the new employer provided all their staff with an amenity kit (toothbrush, toothpaste & face towel). She told me that meant they cared more that I did (though we paid more & had a shorter commute). My take was that they wanted their employees to brush their teeth so they'd not have foul breath.