Should I Fly UA Polaris Or LH Business
#31
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,384
I'm usually quite well-fed by the time I'm done with my cheese, but appetites may vary. My general reservations about LH J food stem more from the quality (the main is usually pretty mediocre), but UA isn't a whole lot better in that department and LH at least has decent cheese.
#33
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
LH J is very mediocre. The only time I would ever willingly choose it over UA J is if the UA aircraft was the 2-4-2 config. Even then, I always thought that LH food in both J and F was worse then UA. I now only fly LH when I know I’ll be in F. Not worth the gamble of their so-so J product.
I would stick with UA.
I would stick with UA.
Otherwise, you need to clarify your statement, or else it would appear that you don't know what the hell LH F is all about. I agree that LH J is nothing to write home about.
#34
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Texas
Programs: UA 1K, AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 327
I flew LH on biz Iah-FRA last month on their 747 and OMG I was so disappointed.
The amenity kit TK gives in Y is superior to what they give in J. Businessfirst (R.I.P) would be better than LH J let alone Polaris.
The amenity kit TK gives in Y is superior to what they give in J. Businessfirst (R.I.P) would be better than LH J let alone Polaris.
The food and service of UA was much better. The only thing better with LH were the FAs but that's almost any airline!
#35
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Texas
Programs: UA 1K, AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 327
The biggest issues were with the ground staff and the Maple Leaf Lounge. Their boarding process is a joke which comes back around back to the nasty ground staff. I don't use the C word often but the gate agents that I dealt with at LAX deserved the C word X 10. Inflight its whatever. The business class flight attendant disappeared after the meal and only returned when the seatbelt sign for landing was turned back on. Pretty much everything negative the Air Canada flyers have posted here happened. I've never had such an apathetic crew before on mainline United as I did on Air Canada.
Naw, unless its intra California or to Nevada or Arizona, I usually fly out of LAX.
I really like this list. Hopefully by the time my trip comes around, more of the Polaris Lounges will be open as well. Just to clarify, my trip is for December of this year. The plan is to visit many of the Christmas markets while they are in full swing.
So lets talk about LH's business class food. Is it just me or is it a bit skimpy in quantity? From the pictures that I've seen, LH's food offerings seems subpar to what I had on Swiss last May.
Naw, unless its intra California or to Nevada or Arizona, I usually fly out of LAX.
I really like this list. Hopefully by the time my trip comes around, more of the Polaris Lounges will be open as well. Just to clarify, my trip is for December of this year. The plan is to visit many of the Christmas markets while they are in full swing.
So lets talk about LH's business class food. Is it just me or is it a bit skimpy in quantity? From the pictures that I've seen, LH's food offerings seems subpar to what I had on Swiss last May.
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,310
I would have never thought I am saying this:
UA 77W is better than LH 748 upper deck. LH sears lack of privacy.
I am am not impressed with LH J at all. I’d pick UA, OS and LX over LH.
UA 77W is better than LH 748 upper deck. LH sears lack of privacy.
I am am not impressed with LH J at all. I’d pick UA, OS and LX over LH.
#38
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Programs: EK Platinum, AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,129
I'm also confused. Do you mean you used to think LH J and F food was worse than UA, and now you know better that LH F is far superior to anything UA has to offer?
Otherwise, you need to clarify your statement, or else it would appear that you don't know what the hell LH F is all about. I agree that LH J is nothing to write home about.
Otherwise, you need to clarify your statement, or else it would appear that you don't know what the hell LH F is all about. I agree that LH J is nothing to write home about.
#39
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,257
I have never encountered the true Polaris as advertised ... all Polaris 777 products I have encountered in 2017 are of the revolting 2-4-2 arrangement with the narrow coffins involving a lot of climbing. I personally would not take the risk to hope to actually end up on one of these magical new Polaris configurations, especially as UA makes an active effort to obfuscate the used configuration.
I'd follow in sequence of preference OS>LX>LH>UA.
I'd follow in sequence of preference OS>LX>LH>UA.
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Well, based on what everyone has written, where is what I'm thinking, OS LX UA and LH ONLY if it is absolutely needed. Having flown UA (business first) and LX I did like their service. If I had to narrow it down even further, I'd say UA and OS are top contenders.
#41
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,962
This better be a joke. There is a general consensus that LH has better food/drinks in C ... let alone F where they are operating on a different planet compared to UA. UA wins on some of the seats and that's pretty much it IMO. Service is almost always much better on LH. Just flew MUC-BOS this week and the service was outstanding; better than anything I ever had on UA.
#43
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Texas
Programs: UA 1K, AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 327
This better be a joke. There is a general consensus that LH has better food/drinks in C ... let alone F where they are operating on a different planet compared to UA. UA wins on some of the seats and that's pretty much it IMO. Service is almost always much better on LH. Just flew MUC-BOS this week and the service was outstanding; better than anything I ever had on UA.
Portions were small so I asked for an extra entree and since it wasn't sold out they had extra ones to offer.
Anerican flyers always like to think grass is greener on the other side. Don't know why!
TK on the other hand was amazing!
Last edited by Bruin1K; Feb 4, 2018 at 11:43 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Programs: EK Platinum, AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,129
This better be a joke. There is a general consensus that LH has better food/drinks in C ... let alone F where they are operating on a different planet compared to UA. UA wins on some of the seats and that's pretty much it IMO. Service is almost always much better on LH. Just flew MUC-BOS this week and the service was outstanding; better than anything I ever had on UA.
But Im not sure where you're getting the general consensus of LH J food being better than UA, as most things that I've read and experienced myself are quite the opposite. Their F food is better then what they offer in J, but still not too great IMO.
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
I've flown a fair bit of LH long haul J and UA BF/Polaris over the past few years, and overall I slightly prefer the LH catering. I've had some terrible meals on UA, as well as some good ones. If I were judging UA long-haul meals based solely on one flight, don't think my conclusion would be particularly meaningful in terms of advising others.