2 years later: Polaris Hype vs. Actual - Is it worth it?
#46
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Hard to tell, in two years of flying United Business/First products since the rollout 1-2 times a month at least... I've only sat in the new Polaris seating on ONE flight. I did really enjoy that flight and the seat.... I just wish I got to see it more often.
The lounges are great. I no longer HATE EWR, now I quite like my layovers there.
The lounges are great. I no longer HATE EWR, now I quite like my layovers there.
#47
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,590
Hard to tell, in two years of flying United Business/First products since the rollout 1-2 times a month at least... I've only sat in the new Polaris seating on ONE flight. I did really enjoy that flight and the seat.... I just wish I got to see it more often.
The lounges are great. I no longer HATE EWR, now I quite like my layovers there.
The lounges are great. I no longer HATE EWR, now I quite like my layovers there.
The ORD lounge is mostly overcrowded and you still can't see if the lavs are occupied or vacant without using a flashlight. I haven't found overcrowding in LAX and SFO yet. And off course LHR remains excellent.
My impression at the time of the hype was that they were desperately trying to prevent their F and J pax from leaving, so promised what they couldn't actually deliver in the hope that people would be taken in. And they were.
#48
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,067
Umm, every international UA flight I have been on the last few years (which is quite a few) has been "Polaris". I even still have several teddy bears. I was led to believe there would be more of the new Polaris seats and an IAD lounge by now. Not to mention better food and wine. That is how.
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
Overall, I'm very pleased with Polaris. It's a solid hard product (although I will miss the option of a pair of seats on the window) that is very competitive in the international market. But what is more exciting to me is that UA is managing this with a reasonably high floor density, and committing to larger J cabins for years to come.
#50
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Umm, every international UA flight I have been on the last few years (which is quite a few) has been "Polaris". I even still have several teddy bears. I was led to believe there would be more of the new Polaris seats and an IAD lounge by now. Not to mention better food and wine. That is how.
#51
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,498
Maybe I'm an outlier, but I've had 4 flights on old hard product (on 772/787) and 6 flights (2 more next week) on new hard product (all on 77W). I would say that overall UA did deliver on the Polaris experience for me. I admit that I do avoid ORD and flying on 767, so maybe there's a bias in me booking on 77W flights.
#52
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: United GS, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 109
We just have to realize the fact that the surprise and delight program was really extended to the Polaris hard product. You are surprised and delighted when you get a Polaris hard product but certainly expect the old worn product on most flights. The Polaris lottery so to say.
having said that - the soft product downgrades over the last two years have been disappointing.
Flying mainly out of IAH - the hard product has been far and few between for this GS.
having said that - the soft product downgrades over the last two years have been disappointing.
Flying mainly out of IAH - the hard product has been far and few between for this GS.
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,651
I don't even consider DL/AA given their mess/outdated J products and domestic connections (awful on the return). If not UA I'm looking at foreign carriers.
#54
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,431
Perhaps, but can you give an example of a similar product roll-out that was completed faster than what United is doing with Polaris?
For all the hype of the Delta One Suite, it was announced only a few weeks after Polaris and is currently available on fifteen (15) ships... in other words, 1/3 of United's progress in virtually the same time period.
For all the hype of the Delta One Suite, it was announced only a few weeks after Polaris and is currently available on fifteen (15) ships... in other words, 1/3 of United's progress in virtually the same time period.
#55
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 688
These days I actually hope for the old 777 config over Polaris, as they are allowing GS/1K to select the F seats, which i still find superior to the new Polaris J product. More room. I get cramped in my feet and knees/shins in the new seats. The Polaris soft product has absolutely gone downhill from its grand rollout, and I don't know how anyone can claim otherwise. The laziness of FAs has crept back in. More anonymous service with the bigger J cabins. I've had multiple instances of limited pre-departure beverage service. The mid-flight snack bars are horrendous. Wines are rarely stocked according to the menus.
I'll still take it over the 2-4-2 seats, but it is definitely declining.
I'll still take it over the 2-4-2 seats, but it is definitely declining.
#56
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,425
AC is actually a great example, although their full-gut retrofits were for a total of 18 777s in the span of 10 months, not in connection with major maintenance visits (unlike UA). Of the 25 777s, 2 were new-builds (coming from Boeing with the new interiors) and 5 were partial reconfigurations, removing Thompson business class seats and replacing them with the Super Diamond seat. Those 5 (2013-14 deliveries) were the first to feature 3-4-3 in Y and premium economy from the factory, so those cabins were not heavily modified.
14 of the current 76C configuration is planned to mod to the high-J 76L. When these aircraft were first retrofit in 2013-2015, they received new interiors, Y seats and IFE, all of which should substantially remain in place. I believe the 76C>76L reconfigurations will proceed at a brisk pace.
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,277
I think it is important to separate the experiences into a few buckets:
- One for those who have not flown the 77W or the refitted 763 and 772 but have been to the Polaris Lounge
- One for those who have not flown the 77W and refitted aircrafts and have NOT been to a Polaris Lounge (LAX, IAD, DEN based flyers)
- One for those who have flown in the Polaris seat and visited the lounge
- One for those who have flown in the Polaris seat but have not visited the Polaris Lounge
Last edited by UA_Flyer; Dec 17, 2018 at 8:27 pm
#58
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
Haven't tried the true polaris seat because honestly there is not that many available yet. Did try out the SFO polaris lounge. Seating is nice, crowded at times (what lounge isn't) food was nice, food poisoning wasn't (they shouldn't keep the buffet and noodle bar lukewarm, but shame on me for not noticing in foresight I suppose). It would be hard for Polaris to surpass TPAC J rivals I suspect but when the routes become available I'll try. I really don't understand why UA isn't more aggressive on rollout on TPAC other than they feel they can just get away with it on their corporate contracts. I just book away for a better J and what has been a non-existent W product. I'm just not a fan of UA's service or food TPAC compared to competitors so Polaris is very much flat to non-existent in my experience.
#59
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,275
Did you happen to have the chicken from the buffet?
#60
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,096