Jan 24, 2017, 6:53 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
I chatted with UA Insider earlier today. He told me--
In a follow-up phone call, he indicated things like premium meals, lie-flat beds, menus, and amenity kits would remain.
No decision has been made whether the service might be renamed Polaris. Everything is still under consideration.
More details on my blog.
FA told me yesterday this info about p.s. going away showed up on one of her FB groups. Would love to see the original source.
The premium trans-con markets we operate between EWR and SFO and LAX are not going away. We will continue to offer the enhanced service on those flights.
No decision has been made whether the service might be renamed Polaris. Everything is still under consideration.
More details on my blog.
FA told me yesterday this info about p.s. going away showed up on one of her FB groups. Would love to see the original source.
[Rumor]p.s. service is ending{UA - premium EWR-SFO/LAX continues–no word on branding}
Jan 22, 2017, 5:21 pm
#1
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[Rumor]p.s. service is ending{UA - premium EWR-SFO/LAX continues–no word on branding}
I was told this definitively by a lounge agent-- it will become standard domestic F. She admitted it will not be good for UA vs. B6 and other competitors. 
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 24, 2017 at 7:02 pm Reason: Clarify title
Jan 22, 2017, 5:24 pm
#2
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If I were a betting man, I would bet that PS ending just means that Polaris will end up taking its place. While possible, I highly doubt UA would just give up on the premium fares the route can demand.
Jan 22, 2017, 5:27 pm
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I would bet it simply means that UA is retiring the p.s. moniker. I'm sure it will continue to have a differentiated service probably via the Polaris label.
Jan 22, 2017, 5:30 pm
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I wonder if this is confusion (by the agent) with the change of calling PS Business as BF vs now as just Business. And not using the Polaris moniker. Agents tend not to be involved in strategy planning.
It is totally unbelievable UA will take the lie-flat service away from EWR<>SFO/LAX. That would be a competitive disaster.
It is totally unbelievable UA will take the lie-flat service away from EWR<>SFO/LAX. That would be a competitive disaster.
Jan 22, 2017, 5:32 pm
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Jan 22, 2017, 5:34 pm
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Biggest question will be w/r/t lounge access... it will seem a bit incongruous if the product is called Polaris but isn't eligible for the Polaris lounge.
Jan 22, 2017, 5:39 pm
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It will take awhile for them to retrofit those 757s. I'm also quite sick of the same red meat being portrayed with different sauces. Bring us the A350s!!
Jan 22, 2017, 5:41 pm
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Agree. Every hour they leave and I would say 95% of the time those seats are sold. I don't see many upgrades.
Jan 22, 2017, 5:56 pm
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Well the 28J 'PS exclusive' 757s are slated to exit by the end of next year when they hit a fuel tank retrofit deadline.
It may be something related to the timing of that.
How they replace it....lots of possibilities in the current environment and I'm sure Kirby has ideas given his look at the AA performance.
Everyone matching JetBlue's $600 range one way fares year round isn't something UA, AA, or DL planned on when they made their investments in lie flat products on these routes.
Maybe they go to subbing in more widebodies and 16J 757s until those have a replacement, basically what Delta has been doing.
It may be something related to the timing of that.
How they replace it....lots of possibilities in the current environment and I'm sure Kirby has ideas given his look at the AA performance.
Everyone matching JetBlue's $600 range one way fares year round isn't something UA, AA, or DL planned on when they made their investments in lie flat products on these routes.
Maybe they go to subbing in more widebodies and 16J 757s until those have a replacement, basically what Delta has been doing.
Jan 22, 2017, 6:04 pm
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