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
Apr 7, 2017, 11:01 pm
#1306
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA/AA
Posts: 1,741
QZ: United’s business-class passengers are drinking so much wine they are running out
United’s business-class passengers are drinking so much wine the airline is running out
United Airlines worked hard to generate buzz around Polaris, the carrier’s new business-class cabin. They appear to have been too successful.
Demand for wine in the new cabin is four times more than what the airline anticipated, a United Airlines spokeswoman told Quartz. Those thirsty passengers are sending the airline scrambling to restock on the product it uses to lure well-heeled travelers. United is certainly not the first airline to boast about its wine program.
Part of the problem might be that United offers Polaris passengers not just single glasses of wine but “wine flights,” which feature a sampling of three different glasses of wine in one sitting.
https://qz.com/952923/united-airline...s-running-out/
United Airlines worked hard to generate buzz around Polaris, the carrier’s new business-class cabin. They appear to have been too successful.
Demand for wine in the new cabin is four times more than what the airline anticipated, a United Airlines spokeswoman told Quartz. Those thirsty passengers are sending the airline scrambling to restock on the product it uses to lure well-heeled travelers. United is certainly not the first airline to boast about its wine program.
Part of the problem might be that United offers Polaris passengers not just single glasses of wine but “wine flights,” which feature a sampling of three different glasses of wine in one sitting.
https://qz.com/952923/united-airline...s-running-out/
Apr 7, 2017, 11:29 pm
#1307
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
I find that the Polaris service encourages wine drinking over cocktails. They push the wine cart (and flight offerings) down the aisle and often act like its an inconvenience to ask for a cocktail, which has to be made back in the galley.
My wine consumption increased a bit just due to this service change. The flights--despite small glasses and pours--probably induce more consumption as well. I find it hard to believe that demand is 4x their projections, however.
I wonder what what the cost differential is to United between hard liquor and wine.
My wine consumption increased a bit just due to this service change. The flights--despite small glasses and pours--probably induce more consumption as well. I find it hard to believe that demand is 4x their projections, however.
I wonder what what the cost differential is to United between hard liquor and wine.
Apr 8, 2017, 12:03 am
#1308
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
A very good friend of mine is a sCO FA and mainly flies SFO-KIX or related routes because she's fluent in Japanese. Anyway, she said her usual method is if someone requests a cocktail she will immediately leave the cart and make it right then and there - she doesn't make them wait. Additionally, she will ask if you want wine, cocktail, or juice/soda - she doesn't just offer wine. All the flights I've flown so far have only offered wine.
Apr 8, 2017, 7:58 am
#1309
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
That seems plausible, though it's pure speculation.
Apr 8, 2017, 8:01 am
#1310
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
If it can be pre-ordered, perhaps the non-status passengers had done so?
Apr 8, 2017, 9:34 am
#1311
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
My seat mate didn't because the FA when asking his 2nd choice explained what the fish was. Not sure about the aisle mate.
Apr 8, 2017, 2:55 pm
#1313
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Various tier levels of frequent flyer/hotel plans received for bellyaching about minor flaws in the service I received.
Posts: 610
The flight attendants seemed perturbed about the bloody mary/mimosa cart too. I was on the westbound 947 AMS-IAD with a 50% load in business. I wanted tomato juice and it was a big production. She tried to talk me into the bloody mary mix already on the cart. As it was, I wanted a glass of water but felt sheepish because I wanted still but settled for the sparkling on the cart because I already made one special non-cart request.
Apr 8, 2017, 4:35 pm
#1314
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Yeah, I had the same thing. I like a gin and tonic with my mixed nuts. The f/a rolled her eyes and said "are you sure I can't interest you in a glass of wine?" Then stage shouted back to her colleague in the galley "I need a g&t!" It seems to me that when they planned the service, they really thought that people would only order wine and that cocktails interrupt the flow of the planned service.
Apr 8, 2017, 4:40 pm
#1315
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
The old stuff was so bad, it was suppressing demand below 'normal' levels. So when they brought in stuff that people will actually drink, "demand" skyrocketed.
Part of Smisek's cost-cutting "genius" was that UA served stuff (wine, coffee) that was so cheap, no one wanted to drink it. So they not only saved on price, but on volume, too.
Apr 8, 2017, 9:10 pm
#1316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
Posts: 15,826
Can also do this via the special meals request online. Did this for last month's trip to NRT and the purser told us that we had our special meals loaded and no reason to take our orders.
Apr 10, 2017, 9:12 pm
#1317
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 230
How is the food compared to the regular food? Is it more or the same amount in terms of quantity?
Apr 14, 2017, 12:12 pm
#1318
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAD/ARN
Programs: UA Plat/*G, Marriott LT Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 164
Off topic, that was also my first experience with Polaris (and first time sitting in the soon-to-be-retired GF/Polaris First seats). I liked the new bedding but no offer of mattress pads or PJs.
Apr 14, 2017, 2:59 pm
#1319
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,695
Apr 14, 2017, 3:02 pm
#1320
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Happy to get a Polaris bear a couple of weeks ago.
But after 3411, it may be time to hang it in mock effigy.
But after 3411, it may be time to hang it in mock effigy.