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}
Nov 29, 2016, 12:09 pm
#2176
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: UA Premier 1K, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 59
Some of UA's promotional language states that the sit-down preflight dining in the lounge is an alternative to in-flight dining services. Does anyone know if the plan is to attempt to enforce this and not serve in-flight meal service to a passenger that had used the lounge dining option?
Nov 29, 2016, 12:44 pm
#2177
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Some of UA's promotional language states that the sit-down preflight dining in the lounge is an alternative to in-flight dining services. Does anyone know if the plan is to attempt to enforce this and not serve in-flight meal service to a passenger that had used the lounge dining option?
Nov 29, 2016, 2:25 pm
#2178
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Analysis: Peak Polaris usage at ORD
I thought I'd try to guess the maximum number of Polaris passengers in the new Lounge on a given day at ORD (in this particular case I picked Tuesday, I have no idea whether that's typical or whether another day is worse).
I made the following assumptions:
- Every flight is full
- Every Polaris passenger enters and stays in the lounge from T-2:00 to T-:45.
These are EXTREMELY unlikely assumptions, but it also does not include:
- Pax are arriving on a Polaris flight
- Pax who are departing from ORD but connecting to a Polaris flight at another airport
- For this I added 25%
And of course not everyone is going to spend that much time in the lounge (though some, like me, will spend more, especially Friday!). But it's a good guesstimate as to what the worst/best times in the lounge should be. (I'm happy to see that my usual 2:25pm to FRA will be at the lowest time)
Of course we also don't know the capacity of the Lounge yet - I'm going to count the seats when I'm there Friday!
I made the following assumptions:
- Every flight is full
- Every Polaris passenger enters and stays in the lounge from T-2:00 to T-:45.
These are EXTREMELY unlikely assumptions, but it also does not include:
- Pax are arriving on a Polaris flight
- Pax who are departing from ORD but connecting to a Polaris flight at another airport
- For this I added 25%
And of course not everyone is going to spend that much time in the lounge (though some, like me, will spend more, especially Friday!). But it's a good guesstimate as to what the worst/best times in the lounge should be. (I'm happy to see that my usual 2:25pm to FRA will be at the lowest time)
Of course we also don't know the capacity of the Lounge yet - I'm going to count the seats when I'm there Friday!
Code:
Airline Dest Dep Lounge Time A/C Cap Max Max+25% UA PVG 9:50am 8:50am-9:05am 747 64 64 80 NH NRT 10:45am 8:45am-10:00am 77W 60 124 155 UA NRT 12:15pm 10:15am-11:30am 774 64 160 200 UA PEK 12:30pm 10:30am-11:45am 772 48 160 200 UA HKG 1:25pm 11:25am-12:40pm 772 48 208 260 UA FRA 2:25pm 12:25pm-1:40pm 772 48 96 120 UA LHR 4:10pm 2:10pm-3:25pm 763 32 240 300 LH FRA 4:15pm 2:15pm-3:30pm 748 88 240 300 NH HND 4:15pm 2:15pm-3:30pm 77W 60 240 300 NH NRT 4:35pm 2:35pm-3:50pm 77W 60 240 300 UA BRU 5:50pm 3:50pm-5:15pm 763 32 144 180 UA LHR 6:00pm 4:00pm-5:15pm 763 32 144 180 UA FRA 6:15pm 4:15pm-5:30pm 772 48 144 180 UA CDG 6:30pm 4:30pm-5:45pm 763 32 144 180 UA GRU 8:50pm 6:50pm-8:05pm 763 32 128 160 UA LHR 9:10pm 7:10pm-8:25pm 763 32 128 160 LH MUC 9:35pm 7:25pm-8:50pm 346 64 128 160
Last edited by villox; Nov 29, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Nov 29, 2016, 2:28 pm
#2179
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
Will LH J pax get access?
It is marketed as those sitting in Polaris get Polaris lounge access..
It is marketed as those sitting in Polaris get Polaris lounge access..
Nov 29, 2016, 2:33 pm
#2180
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Only customers traveling in United Polaris business class or United Polaris first class on long-haul international flights, as well as customers traveling in international first or business class cabins on Star Alliance™ partner airlines, will have access to the United Polaris lounge.
Nov 29, 2016, 2:35 pm
#2181
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 1,032
Another striking thing from that interview is apparently UA will not load enough mattress pads and pajamas for all passengers? I knew that the gel cooling pillows were limited and on demand, but I didn't realize that about mattress pads and PJs! That's quite annoying. I would hope that while Polaris first exists, these items are guaranteed for F pax.
Nov 29, 2016, 2:38 pm
#2182
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
Yes. From the FAQ:
Only customers traveling in United Polaris business class or United Polaris first class on long-haul international flights, as well as customers traveling in international first or business class cabins on Star Alliance™ partner airlines, will have access to the United Polaris lounge.
Only customers traveling in United Polaris business class or United Polaris first class on long-haul international flights, as well as customers traveling in international first or business class cabins on Star Alliance™ partner airlines, will have access to the United Polaris lounge.
I wonder what the balance will be like in terms of if UCs will now be *less* crowded..
Nov 29, 2016, 2:45 pm
#2183
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,445
I thought I'd try to guess the maximum number of Polaris passengers in the new Lounge on a given day at ORD (in this particular case I picked Tuesday, I have no idea whether that's typical or whether another day is worse).
I made the following assumptions:
- Every flight is full
- Every Polaris passenger enters and stays in the lounge from T-2:00 to T-:45.
These are EXTREMELY unlikely assumptions, but it also does not include:
- Pax are arriving on a Polaris flight
- Pax who are departing from ORD but connecting to a Polaris flight at another airport
- For this I added 25%
And of course not everyone is going to spend that much time in the lounge (though some, like me, will spend more, especially Friday!). But it's a good guesstimate as to what the worst/best times in the lounge should be. (I'm happy to see that my usual 2:25pm to FRA will be at the lowest time)
Of course we also don't know the capacity of the Lounge yet - I'm going to count the seats when I'm there Friday!
I made the following assumptions:
- Every flight is full
- Every Polaris passenger enters and stays in the lounge from T-2:00 to T-:45.
These are EXTREMELY unlikely assumptions, but it also does not include:
- Pax are arriving on a Polaris flight
- Pax who are departing from ORD but connecting to a Polaris flight at another airport
- For this I added 25%
And of course not everyone is going to spend that much time in the lounge (though some, like me, will spend more, especially Friday!). But it's a good guesstimate as to what the worst/best times in the lounge should be. (I'm happy to see that my usual 2:25pm to FRA will be at the lowest time)
Of course we also don't know the capacity of the Lounge yet - I'm going to count the seats when I'm there Friday!
Code:
Airline Dest Dep Lounge Time A/C Cap Max Max+25% UA PVG 9:50am 8:50am-9:05am 747 64 64 80 NH NRT 10:45am 8:45am-10:00am 77W 60 124 155 UA NRT 12:15pm 10:15am-11:30am 774 64 160 200 UA PEK 12:30pm 10:30am-11:45am 772 48 160 200 UA HKG 1:25pm 11:25am-12:40pm 772 48 208 260 UA FRA 2:25pm 12:25pm-1:40pm 772 48 96 120 UA LHR 4:10pm 2:10pm-3:25pm 763 32 240 300 LH FRA 4:15pm 2:15pm-3:30pm 748 88 240 300 NH HND 4:15pm 2:15pm-3:30pm 77W 60 240 300 NH NRT 4:35pm 2:35pm-3:50pm 77W 60 240 300 UA BRU 5:50pm 3:50pm-5:15pm 763 32 144 180 UA LHR 6:00pm 4:00pm-5:15pm 763 32 144 180 UA FRA 6:15pm 4:15pm-5:30pm 772 48 144 180 UA CDG 6:30pm 4:30pm-5:45pm 763 32 144 180 UA GRU 8:50pm 6:50pm-8:05pm 763 32 128 160 UA LHR 9:10pm 7:10pm-8:25pm 763 32 128 160 LH MUC 9:35pm 7:25pm-8:50pm 346 64 128 160
Nov 29, 2016, 2:53 pm
#2184
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Nice work. A typical US/domestic airport lounge would be planned to need ~40 square feet per pax while the more spacious international carrier lounges can be upwards of 70 sf. Assuming 300 pax * 50 sf per pax = 15,000 sf needed. Anyone know if the P ORD lounge is close to this amount?
Nov 29, 2016, 3:19 pm
#2185
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: The electrified part of North Carolina
Programs: UA GM, AA GM, DL GM
Posts: 4,157
In addition to the flights you have listed, there are also business/first class passengers on *A flights leaving from T5. If they connect at ORD, some of them may stop by the Polaris lounge.
Nov 29, 2016, 3:25 pm
#2186
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Same is true for domestic passengers connecting onward to Polaris at another hub. I assume this wouldn't occur at such a rate to throw off the relative numbers, but I could be wrong.
Nov 29, 2016, 3:47 pm
#2187
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: The electrified part of North Carolina
Programs: UA GM, AA GM, DL GM
Posts: 4,157
Nov 29, 2016, 4:27 pm
#2188
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
Is SQ allowing Star Alliance partner passengers into their lounges in SIN? If I recall, you had to use a special Star Alliance lounge they set up for that purpose, but it's been a while since I used it.
Nov 29, 2016, 4:49 pm
#2189
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 818
DEN-NRT
This may be too early to ask, or I can respond when I fly next week, but there are certain sleep amenities only available on Polaris flights over 12 hours (cooling pillow, pyjamas). Is DEN-NRT one of these eligible flights? I know the actual flight time can be under twelve hours, but my itinerary shows flight time at 12H 25M. Can someone confirm?
Nov 29, 2016, 4:55 pm
#2190
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,451
This may be too early to ask, or I can respond when I fly next week, but there are certain sleep amenities only available on Polaris flights over 12 hours (cooling pillow, pyjamas). Is DEN-NRT one of these eligible flights? I know the actual flight time can be under twelve hours, but my itinerary shows flight time at 12H 25M. Can someone confirm?
