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}
Jul 14, 2016, 8:06 am
#946
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
I just talked to the GS reps at IAD and they said that the GFL here will be changed to a Polaris lounge in about a year. They mentioned that it will be the last hub to get the Polaris Lounge. Hopefully that doesn't mean it's the last hub to get planes with Polaris seats!
Jul 14, 2016, 8:08 am
#947
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,621
I just talked to the GS reps at IAD and they said that the GFL here will be changed to a Polaris lounge in about a year. They mentioned that it will be the last hub to get the Polaris Lounge. Hopefully that doesn't mean it's the last hub to get planes with Polaris seats!
Jul 14, 2016, 9:54 am
#948
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
I just talked to the GS reps at IAD and they said that the GFL here will be changed to a Polaris lounge in about a year. They mentioned that it will be the last hub to get the Polaris Lounge. Hopefully that doesn't mean it's the last hub to get planes with Polaris seats!
And IAD getting a Polaris makeover in one year (which is theoretically 6 months after the first lounge in ORD) is hardly step child worth the hyperbole.
In other words if the last Polaris lounge really does come online in a year that's surprisingly great news.
Jul 14, 2016, 9:55 am
#949
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
Jul 14, 2016, 10:52 am
#950
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA Platinum (but I also just pay for upgrades if I want them)
Posts: 636
I think it would be cool if United put set mockups in the United Club leading up to the roll out so we can try out the new seat BEFORE we step on the plane for the first time.
Might be a good marketing idea and help sell this new product.
videos and pictures are one thing but putting a mockup in UC's across the globe might be a step forward..
just a thought
Might be a good marketing idea and help sell this new product.
videos and pictures are one thing but putting a mockup in UC's across the globe might be a step forward..
just a thought
Jul 14, 2016, 10:58 am
#951
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA 1.6MM EXP; UA GS; SPG LTG,Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,477
I think it would be cool if United put set mockups in the United Club leading up to the roll out so we can try out the new seat BEFORE we step on the plane for the first time.
Might be a good marketing idea and help sell this new product.
videos and pictures are one thing but putting a mockup in UC's across the globe might be a step forward..
just a thought
Might be a good marketing idea and help sell this new product.
videos and pictures are one thing but putting a mockup in UC's across the globe might be a step forward..
just a thought
The SFO UC in the international terminal however is possibly a different beast, as it's somewhat isolated from the domestic terminal. Also the LHR UC; not sure of the other hubs. ORD would seem to have a lot of domestic overlap as would EWR.
Jul 14, 2016, 11:20 am
#952
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 477
Interesting idea, but I'd be curious (speculation welcome) on what fraction of UC users are actually potential paying Polaris customers. Absent data, I'm going to guess that the majority are not (domestic-heavy elites who look at international J as an upgrade/award play). Sort of like a car show. Lots of people show up just to look at the cars, or maybe check out the odd Camry or Accord with purchasing intent (like me), but spend most of their time (again like me) ogling the Bentleys and sitting in the Jaguars and wishing
The SFO UC in the international terminal however is possibly a different beast, as it's somewhat isolated from the domestic terminal. Also the LHR UC; not sure of the other hubs. ORD would seem to have a lot of domestic overlap as would EWR.
The SFO UC in the international terminal however is possibly a different beast, as it's somewhat isolated from the domestic terminal. Also the LHR UC; not sure of the other hubs. ORD would seem to have a lot of domestic overlap as would EWR.
Jul 14, 2016, 12:05 pm
#953
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA Platinum (but I also just pay for upgrades if I want them)
Posts: 636
I'd rather have more concrete details about the service - am I going to be eating cereal out of the new bowls for my second meal to Asia on Polaris or will there be a real meal? What are the actual wines being planned? What substantive upgrades beyond a new seat and plates are they rolling out?
Jul 14, 2016, 12:08 pm
#954
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,021
I think it would be cool if United put set mockups in the United Club leading up to the roll out so we can try out the new seat BEFORE we step on the plane for the first time.
Might be a good marketing idea and help sell this new product.
videos and pictures are one thing but putting a mockup in UC's across the globe might be a step forward..
just a thought
Might be a good marketing idea and help sell this new product.
videos and pictures are one thing but putting a mockup in UC's across the globe might be a step forward..
just a thought
Jul 14, 2016, 12:17 pm
#955
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
Though thinking about it, I wonder why they don't start just admitting BF international flyers to the GFL lounge in December till it closes for assumed renovation. Depending on the timing, it could get crowded if they don't expand it, I suppose. I suspect a lot of people might still prefer the LH lounges, but might be nice not to trek to A/B.
Jul 16, 2016, 9:34 pm
#956
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: IAH
Programs: UA GS, TK Gold
Posts: 304
I have EWR-HKG in J booked for April 2017. I hope Polaris will be rolled out for this would be 2nd longest UA route.
Last edited by tonykline1947; Jul 16, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Jul 16, 2016, 10:52 pm
#957
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
AA had seats in the Westfield Sydney in late 2013 and SQ had them last year at SIN but both just were display things with people/infographics around. I wish there were more options to test drive seats.
Jul 17, 2016, 5:39 am
#958
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: CLE (mostly)
Programs: UA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Mlife Gold, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 823
They probably expect people to try and "test drive" them for hours at a time, spending every moment waiting for their flight in the seat... Outside a club, that seat would probably be the most comfortable one in any airport terminal.
Jul 17, 2016, 6:36 am
#959
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,011
I think it depends on how quickly the frames are delivered - even though the first one comes in December, how many will actually arrive such that there are enough to do a route?
Jul 17, 2016, 8:57 am
#960
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Interesting idea, but I'd be curious (speculation welcome) on what fraction of UC users are actually potential paying Polaris customers. Absent data, I'm going to guess that the majority are not (domestic-heavy elites who look at international J as an upgrade/award play). Sort of like a car show. Lots of people show up just to look at the cars, or maybe check out the odd Camry or Accord with purchasing intent (like me), but spend most of their time (again like me) ogling the Bentleys and sitting in the Jaguars and wishing
The SFO UC in the international terminal however is possibly a different beast, as it's somewhat isolated from the domestic terminal. Also the LHR UC; not sure of the other hubs. ORD would seem to have a lot of domestic overlap as would EWR.
The SFO UC in the international terminal however is possibly a different beast, as it's somewhat isolated from the domestic terminal. Also the LHR UC; not sure of the other hubs. ORD would seem to have a lot of domestic overlap as would EWR.
Assuming the product really is good, it's the kind of positive marketing UA needs right now. It's fighting a reputation battle with the public after the post-merger Smisek years.
As someone who books a P or Z fare maybe twice a year, I usually try to book on a *A partner. While it may not matter in terms of where the final revenue goes in some cases, experiencing the seat ahead of time might change how I buy. I assume the same goes for those who book J away from UA today.