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}
Dec 1, 2018, 5:48 pm
#4381
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: Hyatt Globalist | Jumpseat Platinum
Posts: 546
My parents found themselves in Polaris recently after a stint of not flying for health issues... Some changes they noted that I hadn't (or had forgotten about?):
- The white pillows didn't have buttons on the pillowcase anymore. Dad loved that, he never understood the rationale behind buttons on a pillowcase.
- The new eye masks are much slimmer. Mom didn't care for it, and used her old one (one like the 747 masks) instead.
- The new socks seemed to be tighter. Neither of them cared for that as they put those over their regular socks.
- The cowshed stuff came in a new container that wasn't the old one with a zip close.
Dec 1, 2018, 6:45 pm
#4382
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
My parents found themselves in Polaris recently after a stint of not flying for health issues... Some changes they noted that I hadn't (or had forgotten about?):
- The white pillows didn't have buttons on the pillowcase anymore. Dad loved that, he never understood the rationale behind buttons on a pillowcase.
- The new eye masks are much slimmer. Mom didn't care for it, and used her old one (one like the 747 masks) instead.
- The new socks seemed to be tighter. Neither of them cared for that as they put those over their regular socks.
- The cowshed stuff came in a new container that wasn't the old one with a zip close.
Dec 1, 2018, 7:01 pm
#4383
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
I miss the cowshed pouch from Global First, with the actual zipper. Makes great currency pouches for the various international currencies I keep around.
I keep a set of eye shades from LH first in my backpack...better than any of the United versions.
Amazing the ways they continue to find ways to cheapen...
I keep a set of eye shades from LH first in my backpack...better than any of the United versions.
Amazing the ways they continue to find ways to cheapen...
Dec 1, 2018, 7:38 pm
#4384
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
My parents found themselves in Polaris recently after a stint of not flying for health issues... Some changes they noted that I hadn't (or had forgotten about?):
- The white pillows didn't have buttons on the pillowcase anymore. Dad loved that, he never understood the rationale behind buttons on a pillowcase.
- The new eye masks are much slimmer. Mom didn't care for it, and used her old one (one like the 747 masks) instead.
- The new socks seemed to be tighter. Neither of them cared for that as they put those over their regular socks.
- The cowshed stuff came in a new container that wasn't the old one with a zip close.
- Pillows — August?
- Eye masks: with end of the Polaris tin / introduction of the new kit (black zip pouch)
- Socks: with end of 747 tin / introduction of the Polaris tin
- Cowshed pouch: these went from metal zipper (at introduction) to plastic zip-lock (Polaris roll-out??) to adhesive seal (747 tin??)
Dec 2, 2018, 3:54 am
#4385
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
It might be possible to answer more definitively by referencing press photos of the kits, but here are my vague recollections:
- Pillows — August?
- Eye masks: with end of the Polaris tin / introduction of the new kit (black zip pouch)
- Socks: with end of 747 tin / introduction of the Polaris tin
- Cowshed pouch: these went from metal zipper (at introduction) to plastic zip-lock (Polaris roll-out??) to adhesive seal (747 tin??)
Dec 2, 2018, 5:48 am
#4386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
Dec 2, 2018, 11:25 am
#4387
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Medellín
Programs: LH SEN | UA 1K
Posts: 77
They all had:
Dec 3, 2018, 7:44 am
#4389
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
You mean the little one that with the moisturizer and lip balm and such?
As you can see, I gave it to our kid for her to store crayons, thinking I'd keep the next one for myself and use that for stashing USB flash drives. But the next such pouch didn't have the zipper and was basically a zip-lock bag with a Cowshed logo.
As you can see, I gave it to our kid for her to store crayons, thinking I'd keep the next one for myself and use that for stashing USB flash drives. But the next such pouch didn't have the zipper and was basically a zip-lock bag with a Cowshed logo.
Dec 3, 2018, 8:11 am
#4390
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
Those little zipper bags were great for all sorts of things.
Dec 6, 2018, 2:20 pm
#4391
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,118
Polaris Lounge? What’s that?
Six GPUs all used this year, one—yes one Polaris Lounge experience for 90 minutes between opening and boarding. Why so little attendance?
GPU’s don’t clear in advance any longer. They clear at the gate. What a joke Polaris has become to anyone other than paying Polaris customers.
GPU’s don’t clear in advance any longer. They clear at the gate. What a joke Polaris has become to anyone other than paying Polaris customers.
Dec 6, 2018, 2:30 pm
#4392
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
Six GPUs all used this year, one—yes one Polaris Lounge experience for 90 minutes between opening and boarding. Why so little attendance?
GPU’s don’t clear in advance any longer. They clear at the gate. What a joke Polaris has become to anyone other than paying Polaris customers.
GPU’s don’t clear in advance any longer. They clear at the gate. What a joke Polaris has become to anyone other than paying Polaris customers.
le point
Dec 6, 2018, 2:54 pm
#4393
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I never found R space at booking (now PZ) but I had good success in 2018 with the upgrades clearing months or days before the flight. There's only one flight that my wife and I cleared after boarding the flight. That was in 2017.
And then there's the return that allows me to access the Polaris Lounges when I have to wait for my connection. I tend to never book the first flight after the arrival as I don't like to have to worry about delays. This means that I usually have 2 or 3 hours in the Polaris Lounge.
And then there's the return that allows me to access the Polaris Lounges when I have to wait for my connection. I tend to never book the first flight after the arrival as I don't like to have to worry about delays. This means that I usually have 2 or 3 hours in the Polaris Lounge.
Dec 8, 2018, 11:56 am
#4394
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: LY-PL, A3-*G
Posts: 1,680
TLV-SFO no mattres pads
I asked and got PJ’s after boarding.
asked for a mattress after dinner and was told that only 2 were loaded for the whole cabin.
Dinner was Ok, breakfast was pathetic.
Loved the Polaris lounge at SFO
asked for a mattress after dinner and was told that only 2 were loaded for the whole cabin.
Dinner was Ok, breakfast was pathetic.
Loved the Polaris lounge at SFO
Dec 10, 2018, 8:26 am
#4395
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Denver
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 7
6'1" here. Just came over IAH to Lima last night in a 767 Polaris seat. Putting the seat into bed mode makes it nearly flat but your feet are angled into a cubby pocket. I found that my toes were crushed in to the cubby when I allowed my body to follow the natural recline of the seat. In order to not be smushed in there I had to slide upwards in the seat elevating my torso a bit and the lumbar support was pretty much on my buttocks. Laying on my side provided more room. But by no means was this comparabl4 to the comfort of the Arab/ME state subsidized airlines.