Jan 17, 2020, 6:38 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Archive thread -- Active thread is United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service -- 3+ years after Intro
United website - Explore: http://view.ceros.com/united/polaris-business-class/p/1
from UA's Facebook stream
Official Polaris Lounge Access Rules are here: Polaris Lounge Access Rules
United Polaris Business and Polaris First pax may access the Polaris lounge at connecting airports and their final destination within 24 hours of departure or arrival.
*A international J and F pax may only access the Polaris lounge at the departure airport. For purposes of Polaris lounge access, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and Guam are excluded from the definition of "international."
Seat Chart.
Press release: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...300278706.html
NEW YORK, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With the aspiration of making weary business travel a relic of the past, United Airlines today unveiled its all-new United Polaris business class, the airline's most significant product transformation in more than a decade, featuring a reimagined, sleep-enhancing, departure-to-landing experience for intercontinental travelers.
Named after the North Star, United Polaris is the shining new star of business class travel that flyers can turn to for a tranquil and restful journey.
"United Polaris will change the game in international business travel with an exceptional level of relaxation and comfort throughout our customers' journeys," said Oscar Munoz, president and CEO of United. "This completely reconceived experience exemplifies the new spirit of United and the innovation, excitement and operational momentum across our airline."
Path-Breaking Design
In setting out to create a transformative business class experience, United chose to outfit its widebody fleet with a custom-designed, exclusive-to-United seat, rather than select an option already in the marketplace. Designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and PriestmanGoode and manufactured by Zodiac Seats United Kingdom, each United Polaris seat will offer direct access to the aisle, 180-degree flat-bed recline and up to 6 foot 6 inches of bed space.
Crafted as individual, forward-facing, suite-like pods, each customer's personal suite will feature a "Do Not Disturb" sign, mood lighting, one-touch lumbar support, several storage areas, multiple surfaces for simultaneous working and dining, a 16-inch high-definition entertainment screen and, for seats in the center of the cabin, electronic privacy dividers. Complementing the new seats, United and PriestmanGoode have also conceived an all-new look for the United Polaris cabins.
In rethinking the international business class experience, United conducted more than 12,000 hours of research, and sleep emerged as the single most important priority for international business class travelers. United Polaris' path-breaking design and sleep-enhancing focus was inspired and informed by insights from hundreds of customers and employees, inflight product simulations and more than 100 product evaluations.
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.
Elevated Dining Experience
Upon boarding their flight, each United Polaris customer will be welcomed with a pre-departure beverage of his or her choice and gourmet chocolate. While in the air, customers will enjoy regionally influenced in-flight menus updated seasonally, developed in partnership with The Trotter Project and its critically recognized chefs, including Bill Kim of acclaimed Chicago restaurants Urbanbelly, bellyQ and Belly Shack.
The airline will offer an upgraded wine experience, with the highest-quality options curated exclusively by United's Master Sommelier. Inflight service will also include made-to-order signature ice cream sundaes, a dessert cart with a variety of petit dessert options, chocolate truffles and wine flights. On daytime flights longer than eight hours and on all flights longer than 12 hours, hot mid-flight snacks such as lobster macaroni and cheese will be available.
Raising The Bar With United Polaris Business Class Lounges
United will also open an exclusive portfolio of United Polaris business class lounges in nine locations around the world – the only lounge of its kind offered by a U.S. airline to business class customers – that will feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers and chef-inspired hot meals served in a boutique restaurant setting so customers can refresh and dine before boarding their planes. Premium sparkling wines and spirits, refreshing snacks and bottled water will also be offered.
The first new United Polaris lounge will open at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 1, 2016. Lounges in eight other locations – Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow – will follow in 2017.
United Polaris Introduction
United will begin to introduce United Polaris on Dec. 1, 2016, with the new inflight food and beverage experience, new custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, new amenity kits and the new United Polaris lounge in Chicago. The United Polaris business class seat will first take flight in December on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and subsequently on Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as on Boeing 767-300 and 777-200 retrofits.
United Polaris will serve business class customers flying the U.S. airline industry's most global route network, reaching more than 330 destinations in more than 50 countries.
More information on the United Polaris business class can be found at united.com/Polaris.
** Flights with pajama service (for both directions)
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
{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016 (wiki) (thread)
SFO Lounge changes? Which will become Polaris? Shower options?(wiki) (thread)
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}
United website - Explore: http://view.ceros.com/united/polaris-business-class/p/1
from UA's Facebook stream
Only customers traveling in United Polaris business class or United Polaris Global First on international flights and customers in Star Alliance international first or business class cabins on flights longer than six hours will have access to the United Polaris Lounge.
United Polaris Business and Polaris First pax may access the Polaris lounge at connecting airports and their final destination within 24 hours of departure or arrival.
*A international J and F pax may only access the Polaris lounge at the departure airport. For purposes of Polaris lounge access, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and Guam are excluded from the definition of "international."
Seat Chart.
Press release: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...300278706.html
NEW YORK, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With the aspiration of making weary business travel a relic of the past, United Airlines today unveiled its all-new United Polaris business class, the airline's most significant product transformation in more than a decade, featuring a reimagined, sleep-enhancing, departure-to-landing experience for intercontinental travelers.
Named after the North Star, United Polaris is the shining new star of business class travel that flyers can turn to for a tranquil and restful journey.
"United Polaris will change the game in international business travel with an exceptional level of relaxation and comfort throughout our customers' journeys," said Oscar Munoz, president and CEO of United. "This completely reconceived experience exemplifies the new spirit of United and the innovation, excitement and operational momentum across our airline."
Path-Breaking Design
In setting out to create a transformative business class experience, United chose to outfit its widebody fleet with a custom-designed, exclusive-to-United seat, rather than select an option already in the marketplace. Designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and PriestmanGoode and manufactured by Zodiac Seats United Kingdom, each United Polaris seat will offer direct access to the aisle, 180-degree flat-bed recline and up to 6 foot 6 inches of bed space.
Crafted as individual, forward-facing, suite-like pods, each customer's personal suite will feature a "Do Not Disturb" sign, mood lighting, one-touch lumbar support, several storage areas, multiple surfaces for simultaneous working and dining, a 16-inch high-definition entertainment screen and, for seats in the center of the cabin, electronic privacy dividers. Complementing the new seats, United and PriestmanGoode have also conceived an all-new look for the United Polaris cabins.
In rethinking the international business class experience, United conducted more than 12,000 hours of research, and sleep emerged as the single most important priority for international business class travelers. United Polaris' path-breaking design and sleep-enhancing focus was inspired and informed by insights from hundreds of customers and employees, inflight product simulations and more than 100 product evaluations.
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.
Elevated Dining Experience
Upon boarding their flight, each United Polaris customer will be welcomed with a pre-departure beverage of his or her choice and gourmet chocolate. While in the air, customers will enjoy regionally influenced in-flight menus updated seasonally, developed in partnership with The Trotter Project and its critically recognized chefs, including Bill Kim of acclaimed Chicago restaurants Urbanbelly, bellyQ and Belly Shack.
The airline will offer an upgraded wine experience, with the highest-quality options curated exclusively by United's Master Sommelier. Inflight service will also include made-to-order signature ice cream sundaes, a dessert cart with a variety of petit dessert options, chocolate truffles and wine flights. On daytime flights longer than eight hours and on all flights longer than 12 hours, hot mid-flight snacks such as lobster macaroni and cheese will be available.
Raising The Bar With United Polaris Business Class Lounges
United will also open an exclusive portfolio of United Polaris business class lounges in nine locations around the world – the only lounge of its kind offered by a U.S. airline to business class customers – that will feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers and chef-inspired hot meals served in a boutique restaurant setting so customers can refresh and dine before boarding their planes. Premium sparkling wines and spirits, refreshing snacks and bottled water will also be offered.
The first new United Polaris lounge will open at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 1, 2016. Lounges in eight other locations – Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow – will follow in 2017.
United Polaris Introduction
United will begin to introduce United Polaris on Dec. 1, 2016, with the new inflight food and beverage experience, new custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, new amenity kits and the new United Polaris lounge in Chicago. The United Polaris business class seat will first take flight in December on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and subsequently on Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as on Boeing 767-300 and 777-200 retrofits.
United Polaris will serve business class customers flying the U.S. airline industry's most global route network, reaching more than 330 destinations in more than 50 countries.
More information on the United Polaris business class can be found at united.com/Polaris.
[From [email][email protected] 11/15/2016]
Starting December 1, 2016, United Polaris Business Class service will replace United BusinessFirst service on international flights, and United Polaris Global First service will replace the current United Global First service.
Between 2017 to 2019 eight additional United Polaris lounges will open at EWR, HKG, IAD, IAH, LAX, LHR, NRT and SFO. We do not have the exact opening dates at this time. A scheduling announcement will be forthcoming.
Starting December 1, 2016, United Polaris Business Class service will replace United BusinessFirst service on international flights, and United Polaris Global First service will replace the current United Global First service.
Between 2017 to 2019 eight additional United Polaris lounges will open at EWR, HKG, IAD, IAH, LAX, LHR, NRT and SFO. We do not have the exact opening dates at this time. A scheduling announcement will be forthcoming.
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
{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016 (wiki) (thread)
SFO Lounge changes? Which will become Polaris? Shower options?(wiki) (thread)
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}
United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}
Oct 14, 2016, 11:32 am
#1666
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
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The Cathay 777 300 has 26 seats in the forward cabin
https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Ca...77-300ER_C.php
Cathay set the standard for Cirrus.
Air Canada is also at 26 seats
http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/77W.html
Given UA is using a more advanced design that's more efficient I'd imagine it feels at most as if one more rather than 2 seats were placed in the cabin.
Hardly 'crammed' vs the others 26 seat layouts.
https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Ca...77-300ER_C.php
Cathay set the standard for Cirrus.
Air Canada is also at 26 seats
http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/77W.html
Given UA is using a more advanced design that's more efficient I'd imagine it feels at most as if one more rather than 2 seats were placed in the cabin.
Hardly 'crammed' vs the others 26 seat layouts.
Oct 14, 2016, 11:38 am
#1667
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
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Posts: 9,455
I'm incredibly curious, once all the US majors are flying PE overwater, how many companies (of the shrinking number who still pay for long-haul J) will change their policies to PE instead of J. Do you have any insight into what the airline industry is thinking about this? It seems like a rather big risk for them rolling out the "new middle cabin".
It might also mean the end of upgrades from standard Y to J.
Oct 14, 2016, 12:39 pm
#1668
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,621
I agree and I think a premium economy product is becoming a competitive necessity between a full-flat business class product (sans F cabin) and a dense, slim Y cabin, even with extra legroom options available. United is able to gather good insight on the product from its JV partners and I am almost certain that we'll see plans for a W product once the Polaris rollout is completed.
From a sales and technology perspective, a W product seems to be a more difficult implementation because it involves an entirely new class of service, not just a refined version of an existing product. AA, for instance, is re-mapping its domestic fare buckets to accommodate PE booking classes, and it appears to be a major IT project. United, of course, continues to struggle in the IT department (with the latest example barely 12 hours old).
I'd rather see United focus its energy on hitting the mark with Polaris out of the gate, and once they are satisfied with that, shift gears to PE. Execution has been United's weakest point since the merger... no need to dilute things further with another massive project (a new class of service) until they prove they can get one big initiative right.
From a sales and technology perspective, a W product seems to be a more difficult implementation because it involves an entirely new class of service, not just a refined version of an existing product. AA, for instance, is re-mapping its domestic fare buckets to accommodate PE booking classes, and it appears to be a major IT project. United, of course, continues to struggle in the IT department (with the latest example barely 12 hours old).
I'd rather see United focus its energy on hitting the mark with Polaris out of the gate, and once they are satisfied with that, shift gears to PE. Execution has been United's weakest point since the merger... no need to dilute things further with another massive project (a new class of service) until they prove they can get one big initiative right.
Yes, E+ will either shrink or disappear, but so what? It's no longer competitive, and while I am very appreciative that United was a leader in economy plus and offers more of those seats than the competition, that was then and this is now. Yes, upgrades to J may eventually suffer, but J is the new F, so I don't know why anyone should be surprised by that change.
Since all the majors are on a race to the bottom when it comes to their FFP, the loyalty I used to give UA is a thing of the past. I've spent the vast majority of my flight hours on United, and while I'd like that to continue, it's not going to happen if they offer a substandard product.
Oct 14, 2016, 12:53 pm
#1669
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Posts: 12,729
I think that's part of the concern. UA and AA have immunized relationships with partners selling W products, and that should allow some insight on the extent to which premium economy cannibalizes J bookings. UA already heavily discounts J to major corporate customers, so it would not want to lose that revenue to a less-expensive product.
Most likely, but UA already has much larger E+ cabins on international aircraft than AA or DL. Presumably a cohort of the target market for PE, especially the segment currently flying economy on UA, is already occupying the E+ cabin, so the aim would be to move those customers into W and extract some measure of a revenue premium for it.
It might also mean the end of upgrades from standard Y to J.
Most likely, but UA already has much larger E+ cabins on international aircraft than AA or DL. Presumably a cohort of the target market for PE, especially the segment currently flying economy on UA, is already occupying the E+ cabin, so the aim would be to move those customers into W and extract some measure of a revenue premium for it.
It might also mean the end of upgrades from standard Y to J.
What is the typical price premium of PE over regular economy on overseas flights?
Oct 14, 2016, 12:56 pm
#1670
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
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Posts: 9,455
I don't mean PE in 2020... I knew that was a poor choice of words. Replace "rollout" with "launch".
PE is becoming more and more important globally, and United rarely bucks industry trends. We'll see it here too. Until then, I can't fault the company for devoting resources to improving its substandard business class product first, and attempting to deliver on the expectations it has set for Polaris.
That last bit is purely speculative, but discount PE for the most part is competitive with current upgradeable fares (in the H/Q/U range) on UA.
PE is becoming more and more important globally, and United rarely bucks industry trends. We'll see it here too. Until then, I can't fault the company for devoting resources to improving its substandard business class product first, and attempting to deliver on the expectations it has set for Polaris.
That last bit is purely speculative, but discount PE for the most part is competitive with current upgradeable fares (in the H/Q/U range) on UA.
Oct 14, 2016, 3:01 pm
#1671
Join Date: May 2001
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As I have said before we seem headed for a simple reinvention of 3 class service under different names. Companies (and others) balk at the idea of paying for "first class" since it sounds luxurious but some reasonable percentage will pay for "business" class since it implies a "serious" travel purpose. So the airlines ditch 1st and go to 2 class but then realize that there is this gap in the middle between the "buy the cheapest" vacation guy and the "how about a bit more comfort" customer so they invent PE. 5 years from now we will see that this all has resulted in 3 class service that looks a lot like 10 years ago with different names. And, yes, under that set of assumptions upgrades will go 1 cabin - Y to PE or PE to J. What may have changed long term is sizing of the cabins (bigger biz as a percentage of aircraft compared to old F) because the airlines have found a better sweet spot in price/benefit/cabin size. I.e., they charge (in adjusted dollars) less than old first (but likely more than today) for business but have cut the cost per seat (space per seat and service level). The exceptions to this will be airlines serving niche markets where there really are some ultra spenders. But I suspect in the long term many of those go private and even the gulf carriers etc. migrate more towards the biz/PE/Y model.
Oct 14, 2016, 6:35 pm
#1672
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: 3,592
In conversation with a UA employee on Monday, it seems that the company is well aware how much Smisek & Co p*ssed off many of its HVF and is making real efforts to get them back. Polaris is the spearhead of that effort.
There was a suggestion that the refitting of the 767s will start before the end of the year, and that there would still be an F cabin with 1-1-1- configuration. We'll see.
There was a suggestion that the refitting of the 767s will start before the end of the year, and that there would still be an F cabin with 1-1-1- configuration. We'll see.
Oct 14, 2016, 6:41 pm
#1673
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Posts: 12,694
I also see generally empty (33-50%) PE cabins.
Oct 14, 2016, 7:07 pm
#1674
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If they eliminate the E+ benefit for some elites because they converted a lot of them to PE and then fly out with half empty cabins, people could be pissed.
Oct 14, 2016, 7:13 pm
#1675
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
In conversation with a UA employee on Monday, it seems that the company is well aware how much Smisek & Co p*ssed off many of its HVF and is making real efforts to get them back. Polaris is the spearhead of that effort.
There was a suggestion that the refitting of the 767s will start before the end of the year, and that there would still be an F cabin with 1-1-1- configuration. We'll see.
There was a suggestion that the refitting of the 767s will start before the end of the year, and that there would still be an F cabin with 1-1-1- configuration. We'll see.
Oct 14, 2016, 7:22 pm
#1676
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,621
Every flight I took last summer and this summer TATL on BA the PE cabin was either sold out or near sold out.
And if they don't offer a PE cabin, many of us will fly the airlines that do.
And if they don't offer a PE cabin, many of us will fly the airlines that do.
Oct 14, 2016, 8:53 pm
#1677
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Oct 15, 2016, 1:27 am
#1678
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
If PE was a slamdunk success with OALs, UA would have jumped on it for sure.
But obviously it is not that clear cut.
So, the focus on getting Polaris right, seems to make sense, at this time for UA.
But obviously it is not that clear cut.
So, the focus on getting Polaris right, seems to make sense, at this time for UA.
Oct 15, 2016, 9:02 am
#1679
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: BA Executive Club Silver - UNITED SA Silver
Posts: 38
when are the new lounges supposed to open in Chicago? Any updates rather than December?
Oct 15, 2016, 6:01 pm
#1680
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