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}
May 21, 2018, 2:06 pm
#4051
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
You have to write in about this one ... cleaning crews in FRA continue to be abysmal, and it is a known issue amongst FAs. I've had many of the same issues, including last month half of a dried pretzel roll and dirty tissues in the small recess to the side of my J seat.
May 21, 2018, 6:12 pm
#4052
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
I really like the new Polaris seat, and will fly it whenever possible. I think I even like it more than Apex suites... The privacy and space is really nice. I have only had odd numbered window seats so far but I'm trying the even middle seats in two weeks when I fly with my girlfriend so I'm interested to see how that will be. I am a window guy through and through so it will be weird to fly and not be able to look outside...
May 21, 2018, 7:06 pm
#4053
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
Missing seat assignment on Polaris itinerary
I just happened to look at my reservation tonight and noticed one of the segments is missing a seat assignment on a 767-300. The trip is in late December 2018. RDU-IAH-SCL-EZE-IAH. IAH-SCL is missing a seat assignment. Could this be because of an upgrade to the "real" Polaris seats? Based on what I have read, I did not expect there to be any changes before my trip. I did not think that South America planes were a priority. If I choose the option to change seats, I cannot even select the segment IAH-SCL. It's not listed as an option.
Should I just wait and hope the seat assignment shows up again, call United, or ???
EDIT: If I try to do a fake booking I see the regular business class seats. And I can see the seats I reserved that are clearly marked. I suppose this is perhaps a temporary glitch.
Should I just wait and hope the seat assignment shows up again, call United, or ???
EDIT: If I try to do a fake booking I see the regular business class seats. And I can see the seats I reserved that are clearly marked. I suppose this is perhaps a temporary glitch.
Last edited by zitsky; May 21, 2018 at 7:15 pm Reason: Added more detail
May 21, 2018, 7:21 pm
#4054
Moderator: United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Your ticket may be out of sync, an easy thing to call and have checked.
The reconfigured 763's with Polaris seats are regularly being used for deep South American flights
Routes featuring the B763 Polaris seats
The reconfigured 763's with Polaris seats are regularly being used for deep South American flights
Routes featuring the B763 Polaris seats
May 21, 2018, 7:33 pm
#4055
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
Your ticket may be out of sync, an easy thing to call and have checked.
The reconfigured 763's with Polaris seats are regularly being used for deep South American flights
Routes featuring the B763 Polaris seats
The reconfigured 763's with Polaris seats are regularly being used for deep South American flights
Routes featuring the B763 Polaris seats
May 21, 2018, 7:51 pm
#4056
Moderator: United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
OK so I will call United. But it looks possible that they could be/are flying Polaris planes to South America. If we are lucky to get a Polaris plane, it will make the return on the 777-200 EZE-IAH seem very dated by comparison. My understanding is that the 777 is an older plane.
just 1 of 55 722's plus 2 in progress are updated,
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...-schedule.html
May 21, 2018, 10:07 pm
#4057
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K (2MM); AA LT Gold (1.9 MM); SQ; WN; DL; "Bonvoy Ambassador""
Posts: 398
May 21, 2018, 10:29 pm
#4058
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Oops, did not realize you were not the original poster of this picture. It's a 100 grams of a product that costs either 2.30 or 2.90 Pounds (cannot read the second number). Does not look very appetizing and it shows how the planes are not cleaned between flights. Most probably, a product that cannot enter the US .....like a type of ham?
Last edited by StuckinITH; May 21, 2018 at 10:35 pm
May 22, 2018, 6:58 am
#4059
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,311
Just flew to Asia out of SFO. I didnt see any differences/enhancements since my last flight in March.
Gel pillows, mats and PJs still had to be asked for, didnt see many people asking, so perhaps thats the goal. The only hot mid flight snack was a cup of noodles, but the sandwiches were actually edible this time.
The Polaris lounge in SFO definitely one of the nicest business lounges out there, especially in North America.
1. Agree. My flight had white and red - no differentiation between the types by the crew.
2. Same, but at least they put the (sad) cheese out on the snack table after (I guess even the crew wont eat it anymore!)
3. No pillows either.
4. Rushed service due to the late night departure
Gel pillows, mats and PJs still had to be asked for, didnt see many people asking, so perhaps thats the goal. The only hot mid flight snack was a cup of noodles, but the sandwiches were actually edible this time.
The Polaris lounge in SFO definitely one of the nicest business lounges out there, especially in North America.
The May 1st changes to Polaris are a negative from passenger standpoint.
Some trivial gripes and some legit ones:
1. Beverage served from the Y-class type beverage cart. Looks cheap. Worse explanation of wine offerings than pre-May 1st.
2. Cheese served at same time as ice cream. If you want ice cream, you have to skip the cheese or eat cheese after ice cream. I was told today by Pursor that "cheese is desert".
3. It indicated gel pillows would be passed out to ALL seats (maybe I missed the effective date but I had understood from May 1st EDIT: OK, I see it's from Jul 1st). But, it wasn't done on SIN-LAX today.
4. Main meal was barely warm due to the crew being totally flustered on how to time the meal service (SIN-LAX; May 4th).
5. No differentiation of meal service cadence for daytime flights vs late evening flights.
.
Some trivial gripes and some legit ones:
1. Beverage served from the Y-class type beverage cart. Looks cheap. Worse explanation of wine offerings than pre-May 1st.
2. Cheese served at same time as ice cream. If you want ice cream, you have to skip the cheese or eat cheese after ice cream. I was told today by Pursor that "cheese is desert".
3. It indicated gel pillows would be passed out to ALL seats (maybe I missed the effective date but I had understood from May 1st EDIT: OK, I see it's from Jul 1st). But, it wasn't done on SIN-LAX today.
4. Main meal was barely warm due to the crew being totally flustered on how to time the meal service (SIN-LAX; May 4th).
5. No differentiation of meal service cadence for daytime flights vs late evening flights.
.
2. Same, but at least they put the (sad) cheese out on the snack table after (I guess even the crew wont eat it anymore!)
3. No pillows either.
4. Rushed service due to the late night departure
May 22, 2018, 10:32 am
#4060
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
I just happened to look at my reservation tonight and noticed one of the segments is missing a seat assignment on a 767-300. The trip is in late December 2018. RDU-IAH-SCL-EZE-IAH. IAH-SCL is missing a seat assignment. Could this be because of an upgrade to the "real" Polaris seats? Based on what I have read, I did not expect there to be any changes before my trip. I did not think that South America planes were a priority. If I choose the option to change seats, I cannot even select the segment IAH-SCL. It's not listed as an option.
Should I just wait and hope the seat assignment shows up again, call United, or ???
EDIT: If I try to do a fake booking I see the regular business class seats. And I can see the seats I reserved that are clearly marked. I suppose this is perhaps a temporary glitch.
Should I just wait and hope the seat assignment shows up again, call United, or ???
EDIT: If I try to do a fake booking I see the regular business class seats. And I can see the seats I reserved that are clearly marked. I suppose this is perhaps a temporary glitch.
May 22, 2018, 2:35 pm
#4061
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,003
Have they stopped offering mattress padding, gel pillows and pajamas? I flew SFO-PEK-SFO over the weekend on 777-300ER. They didn’t offer and I didn’t see anyone ask. After the first meal, the flight attendants were nowhere to be found.
May 22, 2018, 2:45 pm
#4062
Moderator: United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Note: Gel pillows will be part of the items found on the seat at boarding -- starting July 1 2018
The call button works in those cases
May 22, 2018, 2:48 pm
#4063
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
I thought I read that mattress pads are gone. Or are they also available on request? Are they a different color than the blanket or duvet, to make it obvious which is which? I have never been in Polaris before.
May 22, 2018, 2:52 pm
#4064
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
All should have been available. It's rare that they proactively offer, though. Did you request any?
May 22, 2018, 2:53 pm
#4065
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Maine
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 706
It's by request only and with the removal of the information from the menu a lot of folks don't even know it's an option which likely reduces the number of requests. It makes no sense to me why they got removed other than as a way to reduce the number they stock onboard. Granted the gel pillows will be given to all soon, but I do really like using the mattress padding and hope it sticks around.