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United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}

Old Jan 17, 2020, 6:38 pm
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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
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.
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.

[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.
** 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)}


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United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}

Old Oct 19, 2016, 7:18 pm
  #1741  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: IAH, SGN, BKK
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Posts: 396
Originally Posted by porciuscato
Very classy compared to UA service, which tends to be in-your-face either for good or bad.
I'd agree for F, but my experience in LH C is that the FAs are just as rushed & distant as any US carrier.
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Old Oct 19, 2016, 7:26 pm
  #1742  
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Originally Posted by BigBossman
minor points - non-US carriers don't even carry ice, so ca't drop any!
Huh? LH TK and LO for starters all have ice.
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 3:12 am
  #1743  
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Originally Posted by iluv2fly
..... and I told her with the culture (union) and attitude (United has screwed us for all these years - why should we care)
To be fair, IMHO similar "culture" and service patterns exists at AA and DL. IMHO, all three and other U.S. carriers face an uphill battle vs. their Asian/EU/ME competition outlined above.
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 4:30 am
  #1744  
 
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Originally Posted by greg99
I suspect that the number of people who remember the Polaris missile is a small and diminishing set.
Now I'm not quite a cold war child (yes, my childhood was cold war, but not my youth) ... also I'm not exactly a military person at all ... anyhow, the ballistic missile was exactly what first came to my mind

But it serves me well as a another example that marketeers are brainless ...
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 6:30 am
  #1745  
 
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Originally Posted by milepig
Huh? LH TK and LO for starters all have ice.
I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek, thus the Yes, I know that they have ice, just never like to give very much out without a lot of prompting.

Standard Scenario on LH, LX, AF, or SN (sometimes with UA European crews as well). "Can I please have ice? - I get one cube. If I say, "can I please have a lot of ice", I get two cubes. If I go crazy and ask, "can you please fill the glass with ice", I get 3 cubes. Most of the time now, I just ask for an extra glass full of ice, which I can then top my drink off with.

We all have our priorities on board, mine are keep the plane cool and give me lots of ice with my drinks!
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 6:34 am
  #1746  
 
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Originally Posted by swiss_global
Now I'm not quite a cold war child (yes, my childhood was cold war, but not my youth) ... also I'm not exactly a military person at all ... anyhow, the ballistic missile was exactly what first came to my mind

But it serves me well as a another example that marketeers are brainless ...
I thought ICBM as well! I guess just going with the common name "North Star" wasn't distinguished enough sounding. Personally, I think it just confuses people to have a special name for the class of service, as I just think you are trying to "hide" what the offering really is....of course, everyone does this, so is expected.

I am tracking with others thoughts that C will be like the old F, PE like the old C, and Y even worse than old Y in the future.
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 7:34 am
  #1747  
 
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Originally Posted by BigBossman
I thought ICBM as well! I guess just going with the common name "North Star" wasn't distinguished enough sounding. Personally, I think it just confuses people to have a special name for the class of service, as I just think you are trying to "hide" what the offering really is....of course, everyone does this, so is expected.

I am tracking with others thoughts that C will be like the old F, PE like the old C, and Y even worse than old Y in the future.
At least in this case "business class" is prominently featured in the branding. I doubt there will be very much confusion.
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 7:45 am
  #1748  
 
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Originally Posted by BigBossman
I am tracking with others thoughts that C will be like the old F, PE like the old C, and Y even worse than old Y in the future.
Well, I haven't noticed the fares go that way though. Old F often was in the $10k-$15k price range, and I don't see new C go that way.
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 8:47 am
  #1749  
 
Join Date: May 2013
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Originally Posted by porciuscato
No, they don't do the saccharin thing that you get in diners and in United cabins sometimes: "Hah, ahm Tammy Faye and ahl be yall's server today" Instead, they're appropriately reserved and engage only if it appears you are receptive to it. Very classy compared to UA service, which tends to be in-your-face either for good or bad.
You're highlighting a cultural difference between America and Europe (or Asia). The FAs on UA (or AA or DL) will never be "appropriately reserved and engage[d]" vis-a-vie their European and Asian counterparts. American service is more personal, casual, and flexible than other cultures and I don't think it is reasonable to expect UA employees to conform to other cultural norms.

Personally, I like the fact that you can actually interact and engage with UA employees and that most will go out of their way to make your trip enjoyable if you're respectful and friendly towards them.
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 8:55 am
  #1750  
 
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Originally Posted by LXFlyer
Well, I haven't noticed the fares go that way though. Old F often was in the $10k-$15k price range, and I don't see new C go that way.
I am referring to the actual seats themselves. I saw someone even joking say that they couldn't wait for the first angled-lie-flat to be offered in PE.
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 8:56 am
  #1751  
 
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Originally Posted by fly18725
You're highlighting a cultural difference between America and Europe (or Asia). The FAs on UA (or AA or DL) will never be "appropriately reserved and engage[d]" vis-a-vie their European and Asian counterparts. American service is more personal, casual, and flexible than other cultures and I don't think it is reasonable to expect UA employees to conform to other cultural norms.

Personally, I like the fact that you can actually interact and engage with UA employees and that most will go out of their way to make your trip enjoyable if you're respectful and friendly towards them.
It's possible to interact and engage with European FA's if you so wish, and possess the appropriate tact. But they certainly won't force themselves upon you.
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Old Oct 20, 2016, 9:01 am
  #1752  
 
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Originally Posted by fly18725
You're highlighting a cultural difference between America and Europe (or Asia). The FAs on UA (or AA or DL) will never be "appropriately reserved and engage[d]" vis-a-vie their European and Asian counterparts. American service is more personal, casual, and flexible than other cultures and I don't think it is reasonable to expect UA employees to conform to other cultural norms.

Personally, I like the fact that you can actually interact and engage with UA employees and that most will go out of their way to make your trip enjoyable if you're respectful and friendly towards them.
Yes, and there is a difference between style and consistency.

There will always be a different style of service based on the home region as there should be.

There is plenty of great service in its own authentic style on US carriers. And plenty on European and Asian. We as consumers will have our own preferences on style.

The style just seems more consistent on some of the European and Asian carriers.

Especially on smaller carriers like Austrian or Singapore where it's easier for them to manage that.
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Old Oct 21, 2016, 9:22 am
  #1753  
 
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Really informative article on the seat development process regarding AA's Concept D
  • Concept D started development way back in 2007 - before Cirrus was around - as a project for the 787 and 772s. The 773 wasn't in the picture at the time. They wanted to use Concept D in the 773s but it wasn't certified yet when the short term opportunity came to grab some 773s for cheap from Boeing.
  • AA had to come to a licensing agreement with Cathay to get Cirrus on the 773s in order to speed up certification. And being in the same alliance helped that. Didn't realize this was a point - that something as widely used as Cirrus needed licensing from another carrier.
  • They gave props to US Airways for the work they did developing the original Cirrus

https://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/20...oncept-d-seat/

Reading this...

My bet is if UA finds Polaris feedback inflight isn't positive, with Kirby around he knows the blueprint for pivoting to something off the shelf on installs.

Last edited by cerealmarketer; Oct 21, 2016 at 9:27 am
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Old Oct 21, 2016, 9:42 am
  #1754  
 
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Originally Posted by cerealmarketer

My bet is if UA finds Polaris feedback inflight isn't positive, with Kirby around he knows the blueprint for pivoting to something off the shelf on installs.
It is a very interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

I think that the Polaris train ("seat") has left the station. There is no chance that UA will replace it with something else even if the feedback is very negative.
Kmxu is online now  
Old Oct 21, 2016, 9:56 am
  #1755  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 249
Originally Posted by Kmxu
It is a very interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

I think that the Polaris train ("seat") has left the station. There is no chance that UA will replace it with something else even if the feedback is very negative.
Having sat in the Polaris seat, I really can't picture much negative feedback that would be solved by using an off the shelf product. Comfort wise there is very little between it and the more traditional reverse-herringbone I've flown on Air France and Delta, while also being more private in some seats and better for flying with a companion in others.

Short of an AA-style complete breakdown of the seats, I cannot picture United switching to an off the shelf product when Polaris is on-par comfort wise and superior in terms of density.
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