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 10, 2016, 5:17 pm
#751
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
Munoz became CEO when Smisek left in September of last year.
Munoz had heart replacement surgery in October.
All this stuff was already in the pipe.
Not saying Munoz isn't more customer oriented/savvy than Smisek but we would have had the smiling Jeff every loves making the announcement if it weren't for that little thing with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Munoz had heart replacement surgery in October.
All this stuff was already in the pipe.
Not saying Munoz isn't more customer oriented/savvy than Smisek but we would have had the smiling Jeff every loves making the announcement if it weren't for that little thing with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
People are confusing "density" with "efficiency". The Polaris product is highly space-efficient. There's a lot of wasted space in other designs, and this serves no one--neither the customer nor airline. This has the high potential of being win-win for the customer and airline. Efficiency is what we should be hopeful for.
Jun 10, 2016, 5:22 pm
#752
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,481
People are confusing "density" with "efficiency". The Polaris product is highly space-efficient. There's a lot of wasted space in other designs, and this serves no one--neither the customer nor airline. This has the high potential of being win-win for the customer and airline. Efficiency is what we should be hopeful for.
Personal space is the ultimate luxury on an aircraft. Increased density = decreased personal space. There is simply no avoiding that equation.
The Polaris may turn out to be a wonderful seat. But it is a very dense configuration and will therefore be less desirable to those who can afford the more spacious - and more luxurious - J and F cabins on other carriers.
Jun 10, 2016, 5:27 pm
#753
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
That equation is simply not true, particularly in business cabins. Personal space is significantly independent of density. That's why some airlines have moved past herringbone configurations. There's more efficiency to be found.
Jun 10, 2016, 5:35 pm
#754
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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More people in the same space may be more efficient but it is also higher density. That's just basic physics.
I've flown virtually all the major configurations in J, and it is precisely what you describe as the "inefficiency" of reverse herringbone which makes it more appealing than virtually any other J configuration. From the passenger's perspective less seats in the same space = better. That's the main reason that UA GF is "better" than UA BF.
Jun 10, 2016, 6:14 pm
#755
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
Sorry, that makes no sense at all.
More people in the same space may be more efficient but it is also higher density. That's just basic physics.
I've flown virtually all the major configurations in J, and it is precisely what you describe as the "inefficiency" of reverse herringbone which makes it more appealing than virtually any other J configuration. From the passenger's perspective less seats in the same space = better. That's the main reason that UA GF is "better" than UA BF.
More people in the same space may be more efficient but it is also higher density. That's just basic physics.
I've flown virtually all the major configurations in J, and it is precisely what you describe as the "inefficiency" of reverse herringbone which makes it more appealing than virtually any other J configuration. From the passenger's perspective less seats in the same space = better. That's the main reason that UA GF is "better" than UA BF.
I dislike either herringbone style, but that dislike is independent from it being fairly inefficient in space and incompatible with narrower fuselages. That inefficiency and incongruity does nothing for me, the customer, and nothing for the airline. If anything, it's costly for both, in the measure of less supply and higher prices.
Jun 10, 2016, 6:19 pm
#756
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,322
Sorry, that makes no sense at all.
More people in the same space may be more efficient but it is also higher density. That's just basic physics.
I've flown virtually all the major configurations in J, and it is precisely what you describe as the "inefficiency" of reverse herringbone which makes it more appealing than virtually any other J configuration. From the passenger's perspective less seats in the same space = better. That's the main reason that UA GF is "better" than UA BF.
More people in the same space may be more efficient but it is also higher density. That's just basic physics.
I've flown virtually all the major configurations in J, and it is precisely what you describe as the "inefficiency" of reverse herringbone which makes it more appealing than virtually any other J configuration. From the passenger's perspective less seats in the same space = better. That's the main reason that UA GF is "better" than UA BF.
Jun 10, 2016, 6:26 pm
#757
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: Alaska FF
Posts: 302
From the looks of it, Polaris sacrificed workspace, footwells, armrests, perhaps even structural stability for density.
Jun 10, 2016, 6:29 pm
#758
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Posts: 56,481
Jun 10, 2016, 6:56 pm
#759
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum Plus
Posts: 166
Interesting points. I find it hard to believe that after "12,000 hours of research" and -granted only limited- secret customer feedback UA needs additional customer feedback once Polaris is rolled out on the first three 773 before it finalizes plans and decides to continue with the roll out the new seat. Especially if they haven't figured out yet how to fit The seats into the 787-8/9 ( but then again they seem to have solved that problem with the 787-10). I haven't the conversion plan in this light until now. If tit's rue, it would mean a hastily prepared and maybe not so thought through rush into the seat conversion despite three years of planning. Or at least utter insecurity about how the Polaris product will be received by its customers. If that's the case, the mostly positive feedback on what's available on paper should give UA it's much needed self esteem.
Do you have a link to the sketches for the 787 LOPA?
Do you have a link to the sketches for the 787 LOPA?
Jun 10, 2016, 8:23 pm
#760
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Osaka
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier Executive
Posts: 581
While I am agreeing with you in general, I think UA is trying to refit those planes first that have the worst seats, i.e. the pmUA backwards facing narrower 2-4-2 "business" class seats. The new 787-8/9 all have the diamond seats. Also, it seems as if UA is still trying to figure out how to fit Polaris into the 787-8/9. Although they seem to have figured it out for the 787-10. That is still the one part that confuses me as the width of the fuselage of any 787 should be the same or am I wrong?
Jun 10, 2016, 8:51 pm
#761
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
For example, herringbone automatically (before customer customization) gives up window seats, couple's seats, seat count, fleet-wide consistency, and, in the case of the older designs, gate-to-gate AVOD. That's a long list. What do we know that Polaris gives up? The only big one to me is that not all seats are created equal. Small list.
Sadly, that's often the case. But it isn't always. This time it isn't. How UA customized these seats will determine the good and bad, because on paper it's excellent.
Jun 10, 2016, 8:52 pm
#762
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,618
How can high density ever be good for the customer? Simple math says the more seats you cram into a fixed area, the less space per seat is the inevitable result. Unless, of course, you've found a way to defy the laws of physics.
Jun 10, 2016, 9:10 pm
#763
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat, GE/TSAPre
Posts: 251
This would be the argument for a more efficient layout with higher density while maintaining personal space.
While it is higher density (more people in a same-sized cabin) it could be successfully argued that both sides win - passengers get the same amount of personal space in their pod and the airline gets more passengers in the cabin.
Whether this is the case or not with Polaris is another question entirely.
Jun 10, 2016, 9:15 pm
#764
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Higher density means more Polaris seats than the previous layout?
So maybe better award availability?
So maybe better award availability?
Jun 10, 2016, 9:26 pm
#765
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Hungary
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 57
Is Polaris a United product or a partnership company?