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}
Jun 16, 2018, 5:38 pm
#4141
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
So I just booked my flights to HK for the next couple months. There were two open R fares available on the dates I wanted, one going out through EWR and the other returning through SFO--the two new Polaris locations. I got upgraded via GPUs on booking all the way through and the total fare was $1214. I get paid by the job without expenses. I include enough overhead for business class tickets, but I get to keep what I don't spend, so this amounts to a nice bonus.
Say what you will about UA, but I just got off LH flights in C on the 380 and 330. Sure the 380 is nice, and the food is a step up--but not a huge one. However:
1. I MUCH prefer the new Polaris seat to the new LH seat which is too wide open for my taste. I like the privacy of the Polaris seat. I'm only 160 pounds so the wider LH seat means very little to me.
2. The Polaris lounge (at least the one in ORD) is an order of magnitude better than any of the Senator lounges I visited. The Polaris food AND drink selection is FAR superior to what I saw in the Senator lounges. The showers and private toilets are nicer in Polaris as well. (United Club is another matter, but I'm going to be seeing less and less of those.
)
3. LH service is super polite, but not particularly warm. It might have been slightly better than UA, but it was not markedly so.
4. My LH domestic EU connections were a complete joke. What passes for LH domestic business class is six across economy seating with a curtain behind it, period. With the exception of service which was a negligible difference, UA domestic first class beats it in every possible way, food, seat, boarding process, drink selection--everything.
Of course my domestic UA flights are mostly limited to international connections, so I'm only speaking from that perspective, but I don't see any justification for LH being 5 stars and UA being only 3 anymore.
Say what you will about UA, but I just got off LH flights in C on the 380 and 330. Sure the 380 is nice, and the food is a step up--but not a huge one. However:
1. I MUCH prefer the new Polaris seat to the new LH seat which is too wide open for my taste. I like the privacy of the Polaris seat. I'm only 160 pounds so the wider LH seat means very little to me.
2. The Polaris lounge (at least the one in ORD) is an order of magnitude better than any of the Senator lounges I visited. The Polaris food AND drink selection is FAR superior to what I saw in the Senator lounges. The showers and private toilets are nicer in Polaris as well. (United Club is another matter, but I'm going to be seeing less and less of those.
)3. LH service is super polite, but not particularly warm. It might have been slightly better than UA, but it was not markedly so.
4. My LH domestic EU connections were a complete joke. What passes for LH domestic business class is six across economy seating with a curtain behind it, period. With the exception of service which was a negligible difference, UA domestic first class beats it in every possible way, food, seat, boarding process, drink selection--everything.
Of course my domestic UA flights are mostly limited to international connections, so I'm only speaking from that perspective, but I don't see any justification for LH being 5 stars and UA being only 3 anymore.
UA will never be a five-star Airline, they need an FC to be one.
Regarding Lounges, one can not compare a Senator lounge to Polaris lounge. Its like saying what's better LH FCT or UA Polaris? No competition there. Most Senator lounges are on par with UA's regular clubs.
Jun 16, 2018, 6:02 pm
#4142
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
Interesting take on the difference between UA and LH, however, the "new" business class seats you are talking about on LH are a few years old, the "new" Polaris seats are better but it has taken UA over 18 months to finally get the seats rolled out. With that, it would safe to say that the "old" business class seats that UA has many of their long-haul flights aren't as good as the "new" LH seats. When it comes to food, UA will never be as good as LH, period.
UA will never be a five-star Airline, they need an FC to be one.
Regarding Lounges, one can not compare a Senator lounge to Polaris lounge. Its like saying what's better LH FCT or UA Polaris? No competition there. Most Senator lounges are on par with UA's regular clubs.
Jun 16, 2018, 7:04 pm
#4143
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
Once Polaris hard product is actually on the widebodies, it will be clearly ahead of LH. The new LH C product in development looks good, but the new seat they just put on the A359 is arguably even worse than UA's BE Diamond seats (due to the shared footwell on the middle seats).
Jun 16, 2018, 8:58 pm
#4144
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
There's no question the Polaris seat is better than the current LH J seat. The LH seat sucks for a single traveler (IMO).
Jun 16, 2018, 9:02 pm
#4145
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
One or two flights not really a basis to judge. I find LH crews consistently more professional than UA and I have had some truly outstanding LH crews. I think the LH food is better, too.
There's no question the Polaris seat is better than the current LH J seat. The LH seat sucks for a single traveler (IMO).
There's no question the Polaris seat is better than the current LH J seat. The LH seat sucks for a single traveler (IMO).
Jun 17, 2018, 12:45 am
#4146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
One or two flights not really a basis to judge. I find LH crews consistently more professional than UA and I have had some truly outstanding LH crews. I think the LH food is better, too.
There's no question the Polaris seat is better than the current LH J seat. The LH seat sucks for a single traveler (IMO).
There's no question the Polaris seat is better than the current LH J seat. The LH seat sucks for a single traveler (IMO).
I'm in the minority though who just doesn't care about climbing out of J seats so windows on LH are fine with me. I love the 744 UD, but the "footsie" pairs are kind of silly. The 380 is nice too.
Jun 17, 2018, 2:01 pm
#4147
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
OTOH KE/JL are only 4*, do you think UA is anywhere near these 2 interms of service?
UA is more interested into becoming the worlds most profitable airline than getting more stars.
Jun 17, 2018, 2:12 pm
#4148
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
Those stars are meaningless. I wouldn't really agree because even with a F cabin airlines like CA will never get 5*.
OTOH KE/JL are only 4*, do you think UA is anywhere near these 2 interms of service?
UA is more interested into becoming the worlds most profitable airline than getting more stars.
OTOH KE/JL are only 4*, do you think UA is anywhere near these 2 interms of service?
UA is more interested into becoming the worlds most profitable airline than getting more stars.
I do agree the stars are meaningless, though--you have to go by cabin. I'd hate to be the guy looking for an economy class ticket that chose ANA because they got 5 stars (based pretty much solely on their first class product) and ended up in their sardine can.
Last edited by TomA; Jun 17, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Jun 19, 2018, 12:10 pm
#4149
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
Jun 19, 2018, 12:22 pm
#4151
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
Nope, they were nice about it though. So yeah, separate tickets don’t play nice even if same day. Technically I think the access rules should have allowed entry from what I can read.
In the insanely crowded CL now.
In the insanely crowded CL now.
Jun 19, 2018, 12:30 pm
#4152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
I know the scanners at ORD allow it. I don't know / haven't seen reports about EWR.
Jun 19, 2018, 12:43 pm
#4153
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Jun 19, 2018, 12:48 pm
#4154
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
I went to the United Club (not Polaris) and handed them my two tickets (with PREMIER 1K printed in big letters on the UA ticket).
The CSR said "Are you Star Alliance Gold?"
I said, "I'm a United 1K."
She said, "Yes, but you need to be Star Alliance Gold. It doesn't say that on your ticket"
Fortunately the competent woman sitting next to her heard the whole thing and said "These need to be processed manually, I'll do it."
So anyway, even if the scanner says no, manual processing is available if you meet the guidelines.
Last edited by TomA; Jun 19, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Jun 19, 2018, 2:02 pm
#4155
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
I had time, so I went back. Even when doing it manually, the system wouldn't accept my IAH-EZE boarding pass. It turns out I don't have much of a leg to stand on since I'm not at a 'connecting' airport, since I'm on two separate tickets. I understand that the agents probably turn away hundreds of people a day, but it's pretty easy to just wave someone in when it's a fringe case like this...