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}
Aug 16, 2016, 8:15 am
#1291
Join Date: Dec 2014
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With DL's week from hell last week, I think they needed some good PR instead of waiting until the fall.
Aug 16, 2016, 8:17 am
#1292
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
You totally nailed it. And let's be realistic. Do we really think the "senior" flight attendants in the front cabin are going to change their habits, established over 30 year careers, and suddenly become nice and solicitous? Or that United will stop serving wines that you can get for $4 at Trader Joe's?
So 6 months from now, passengers are going to be sitting in their coffin seats getting the same sub-par service, drinking the same crappy wine (albeit with a fancy new name and logo) wondering what all the hoopla was about. And that might just be the final nail in United's credibility coffin.
So 6 months from now, passengers are going to be sitting in their coffin seats getting the same sub-par service, drinking the same crappy wine (albeit with a fancy new name and logo) wondering what all the hoopla was about. And that might just be the final nail in United's credibility coffin.
Aug 16, 2016, 8:30 am
#1293
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That still leaves 767s, 764s, and 330s undeclared but it addresses the longest flights in the system.
Aug 16, 2016, 9:29 am
#1294
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 402
So likely a fraction of their fleet. And the seat is really only evolutionary, not revolutionary.
I still think United is going much further with Polaris. However, I'll be able to judge more when I head to the EWR event this week.
Aug 16, 2016, 9:33 am
#1295
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Note also that Polaris hard product will, like DL's, be limited to a very small percentage of the UA long-haul fleet for several years.
Aug 16, 2016, 9:35 am
#1296
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The soft product elements are planned for a systemwide rollout on December 1. It wouldn't surprise me if some old service items are inadvertently commingled for a few weeks, but I think the company is taking the rebranding seriously.
Much will depend on how fast the IPTE cabins are reconfigured. The other side of the 2-4-2 coin is that, while 40 or so J pax will be in "soft Polaris" with the old seat, ~8 employees and customers will still have their beloved three-cabin first class product.
I agree 100%. That said, I am encouraged by the fact that the company seems to realize they have a major credibility problem, and knows it needs to get this right.
Maybe, maybe not, but I at least expect to see a 'bump' in motivation with the raise the FAs are getting next month.
I understand the wine budget has been increased for Polaris. It won't be SQ or EK, but perhaps an improvement over the current swill... until the company decides to cut it back again, as US airlines have historically been unable to resist passenger-facing cost-cutting.
Much will depend on how fast the IPTE cabins are reconfigured. The other side of the 2-4-2 coin is that, while 40 or so J pax will be in "soft Polaris" with the old seat, ~8 employees and customers will still have their beloved three-cabin first class product.
I agree 100%. That said, I am encouraged by the fact that the company seems to realize they have a major credibility problem, and knows it needs to get this right.
Maybe, maybe not, but I at least expect to see a 'bump' in motivation with the raise the FAs are getting next month.
I understand the wine budget has been increased for Polaris. It won't be SQ or EK, but perhaps an improvement over the current swill... until the company decides to cut it back again, as US airlines have historically been unable to resist passenger-facing cost-cutting.
And as for the soft feature roll out, does it go beyond just an update of the catering? I haven't seen any details around anything else. Are they going to offer the mattress cushions on the old configs? Pajamas?
I totally get that this is a really difficult transition to make, which is why I think the all-out hoopla is a risk. For someone flying mid-December in "Polaris", but experiencing the existing over-crowded crap IAD United Club and a middle seat of a group of 4 in business...I don't think updated on-board meal entrees are going to cut the mustard. The next time they see a Polaris commercial, they are likely to snort and eye roll.
I do think the new FA agreement comes at a great time. Hopeful that causes a real impact with inflight service.
Has the timing been adjusted already? I see now in the FAQs that the first new Polaris cabin is not slated for service until early 2017.
Aug 16, 2016, 9:37 am
#1297
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Absolutely, I've been saying that since the beginning of this thread.
Anyone who buys a "Polaris" seat based on seeing the ad during the Olympics and winds up - as you say - in an IAD dungeon and middle 772 seat - is going to be massively pissed.
That's not a good sign.
Anyone who buys a "Polaris" seat based on seeing the ad during the Olympics and winds up - as you say - in an IAD dungeon and middle 772 seat - is going to be massively pissed.
That's not a good sign.
Aug 16, 2016, 9:38 am
#1298
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 55
DL's seat looks nice but it's so limited and just adds more inconsistencies to DL's product. So this new seat will be eventually installed on 43 airplanes flying 12 hour legs or more while UA will have polaris on roughly 150 aircraft flying all over the world. Also there's only 32 of them on the A350, UA has 60 on the 300ER and probably will have 60 on the 350's. There will be so few of these seats I don't see it really as competing; it's just a niche, kind of like comparing p.s. to regular domestic first class. Hopefully they will put these in SEA and finally get rid of the tired 767's flying transpac.
Aug 16, 2016, 9:57 am
#1299
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Posts: 2,176
Yes please!
Aug 16, 2016, 10:01 am
#1300
Join Date: Jan 2005
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OTOH, United has 14 77Ws to be delivered this year and next, and rumors of a two-year timetable on 55 772s, plus Polaris mods on 10-12 67I ships starting in 2017. It is not out of the question that United will have nearly as many airplanes in the Polaris configuration by the end of 2017 than the Delta's entire plan as currently envisioned.
I am very much looking forward to the Polaris soft product with the GF hard product!
In the meantime, the ORD lounge and soft product appears to be on schedule for the December 1 launch.
Aug 16, 2016, 10:11 am
#1301
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Man, Polaris just got ripped apart by Delta. Not only does it prove that UA is out of touch, it proves that their "hours and hours of research" for the product was a waste.
Just saw the ad, pretty low energy especially the line "Access to everything, including the isle." I'm sorry UA but DL and AA have been doing isle access for quite some time. This shouldn't be a advertised perk.
This is what happens when power and influence from a smaller airline (CO) make BIG decisions. It's not good.
Just saw the ad, pretty low energy especially the line "Access to everything, including the isle." I'm sorry UA but DL and AA have been doing isle access for quite some time. This shouldn't be a advertised perk.
This is what happens when power and influence from a smaller airline (CO) make BIG decisions. It's not good.
Aug 16, 2016, 10:20 am
#1302
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 55
Man, Polaris just got ripped apart by Delta. Not only does it prove that UA is out of touch, it proves that their "hours and hours of research" for the product was a waste.
Just saw the ad, pretty low energy especially the line "Access to everything, including the isle." I'm sorry UA but DL and AA have been doing isle access for quite some time. This shouldn't be a advertised perk.
This is what happens when power and influence from a smaller airline (CO) make BIG decisions. It's not good.
Just saw the ad, pretty low energy especially the line "Access to everything, including the isle." I'm sorry UA but DL and AA have been doing isle access for quite some time. This shouldn't be a advertised perk.
This is what happens when power and influence from a smaller airline (CO) make BIG decisions. It's not good.
Aug 16, 2016, 10:24 am
#1303
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Aug 16, 2016, 10:36 am
#1304
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Aug 16, 2016, 10:47 am
#1305
Join Date: Dec 2014
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