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United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}

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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
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.
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.

[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.
** 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)}


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United Polaris - New Business Class seats & inflight service {Archive}

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Old Dec 7, 2016, 10:36 pm
  #2401  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 249
Originally Posted by 747FC
This is what is so bizarre about UA: An 11-hour flight is too short for PJs worth at most $3.00? Oh, forgive me if I am not so impressed with Polaris...
Well American only give them in First Class and DL only give them on US-China and US-Aus flights so really UA are the most generous of the bunch so far.
Agremeister is offline  
Old Dec 7, 2016, 10:46 pm
  #2402  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
Originally Posted by Agremeister
Well American only give them in First Class and DL only give them on US-China and US-Aus flights so really UA are the most generous of the bunch so far.
American gives them in business on ULH, at least for LAX-SYD and DFW/LAX-HKG (although I think that's it in J).
FlytheTail is offline  
Old Dec 7, 2016, 11:55 pm
  #2403  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,351
To be honest, I am glad there's not more PJs dished out.
Not too keen on having to wait even longer to visit the restrooms for passengers who are changing in and out of pajamas. Pretty sure that was a consideration by UA when deciding how and when to distribute them.
narvik is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 12:00 am
  #2404  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
Originally Posted by COA777
Does anyone know if they are offering to escort first class passengers from the ORD Polaris lounge to their international departure flights, including through the side door connected to Gate C18, as they used to do from the GFL?
Unless I missed it, it appears the side door is gone -- that space now holds the shower/relaxation room suites. I took UA835 in PF from C18 yesterday, and there was no mention of escort from the PL.
wxguy is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 12:06 am
  #2405  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
Originally Posted by RobOnLI
Nope. We will not get PJs. I'm on this flight next week in PF/GF. Can't say I really care about paper thin PJs and the thought of changing in the bathroom on a United airplane.

-RM
PJ datapoint: I just flew UA835, 744, ORD-PVG. Of the 12 in PF, one was GS (me), one was UA/Plat, six were no status paid, and four were NRSA (the list was taped to the wall by the 1L lav for all to see!). Only two of us asked for PJs, the UA/Plat and me. BTW, they along with the memory foam pillows are stored in the cabinet between seats 2A and 2K, behind the door that faces the front of the plane.

I don't mind changing in the lav wearing my UA-provided socks and slippers. But I don't change until after take-off. On more than one occasion I've seen people change into their "flight suit" before departure, and then have something go wrong requiring a deplaning. Oops! Even worse would be an emergency evacuation onto the tarmac in PJs.
wxguy is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 12:29 am
  #2406  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LIM
Programs: United Premier 1K, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, AmEx Plat
Posts: 559
I was checking the IAH>LIM>IAH flights (854/855) and they are showing up on search as United Business, not United Polaris business. Does this mean it's not a Polaris route? This used to be a BusinessFirst route.
joseeantonior is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 3:40 am
  #2407  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
Anyone heard where the IAD Polaris Club might go?
Artpen100 is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 4:36 am
  #2408  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K 1.45MM, Marriott+SPG Plat, Clear, Nexus, Global Entry and MEX Viajero Confiable
Posts: 1,777
Originally Posted by wxguy
PJ datapoint: I just flew UA835, 744, ORD-PVG. Of the 12 in PF, one was GS (me), one was UA/Plat, six were no status paid, and four were NRSA (the list was taped to the wall by the 1L lav for all to see!). Only two of us asked for PJs, the UA/Plat and me. BTW, they along with the memory foam pillows are stored in the cabinet between seats 2A and 2K, behind the door that faces the front of the plane.

I don't mind changing in the lav wearing my UA-provided socks and slippers. But I don't change until after take-off. On more than one occasion I've seen people change into their "flight suit" before departure, and then have something go wrong requiring a deplaning. Oops! Even worse would be an emergency evacuation onto the tarmac in PJs.
Thanks for the tidbit! I'm in 1K on the PVG-ORD flight this Saturday and I can self-service my pj & gel pillow Was hoping I could snag another bear.. oh well

I don't change anything (including taking shoes off) until we're in the air for at least 5 min.
NH_Clark is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 8:21 am
  #2409  
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,508
Originally Posted by Artpen100
Anyone heard where the IAD Polaris Club might go?
Current Global first Lounge, I think.
JetAway is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 8:44 am
  #2410  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
Originally Posted by JetAway
Current Global first Lounge, I think.
No, they said it would be in the C17 club location. They were unsure what would become of the current GFL.
FlyHighInTheSky is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 1:11 pm
  #2411  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 42
We flew United E+ NRT-LAX on December 4. My 5-year-old daughter has a Polaris bear thanks to a kind passenger. She loves the bear!
agpt is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2016, 9:24 pm
  #2412  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,695
Originally Posted by joseeantonior
I was checking the IAH>LIM>IAH flights (854/855) and they are showing up on search as United Business, not United Polaris business. Does this mean it's not a Polaris route? This used to be a BusinessFirst route.
Less than 6 hours? Not Polaris. (I'm not sure of length)
kirkwoodj is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2016, 9:42 am
  #2413  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
Originally Posted by FlyHighInTheSky
No, they said it would be in the C17 club location. They were unsure what would become of the current GFL.
I was thinking the current GFL would be too small for all the Polaris flyers they have out of C/D.
Artpen100 is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2016, 10:02 am
  #2414  
 
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,771
Originally Posted by 747FC
This is what is so bizarre about UA: An 11-hour flight is too short for PJs worth at most $3.00? Oh, forgive me if I am not so impressed with Polaris...
Under 12 hours is Fauxlaris, all for the sake of saving $3 on a pair of cheap pj's.
worldtrav is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2016, 10:14 am
  #2415  
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Originally Posted by worldtrav
Under 12 hours is Fauxlaris, all for the sake of saving $3 on a pair of cheap pj's.
And Delta only offers them to China and Australia.

No Japan, even DTW-Japan which is almost 14 hours or MSP-Japan.

No JNB.

http://airport.blog.ajc.com/2016/03/...light-pajamas/

UA is the leader in PJ provisioning among the US carriers - covering every route Delta does with PJs and several more. Not to mention in actually having ultra long haul service to many more places...

Last edited by cerealmarketer; Dec 9, 2016 at 10:21 am
cerealmarketer is offline  


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