I have my first-ever Polaris flight this Saturday! 10.5 hrs, out of EWR. Can't wait - getting to the airport 5 hrs early to properly take advantage of everything. I've flown domestic first and northern South America business class a bunch of times, but never Polaris (I'll also be flying Swiss lie-flat and Ethiopian lie-flat for comparison)
Great video. I've flown Polaris several times. The first two times I did not go to the lounge. Huge mistake. Now I book longer layovers in cities that have the Polaris Lounge just to enjoy it.
Booked 2 Polaris seats from Lax to Sydney and return Brisbane to San Fran in a few weeks! Booked the 2 straight forward odd row seats next to each other! Can't wait to experience it! Great video!
the part about the seat configuration was so helpful thank you!!! I did not notice it in the seat map at all until you mentioned it, then I saw that the aisle seats look a little inclined. Great video
A lot of issues are resolved when you recognize that Polaris is a class of service and not a cabin type. The B787s fly on domestic routes; when they do, it’s not the Polaris class of service, even though it’s a lie flat seat. Similarly, the B772s with the dense front cabin generally fly on non-Polaris routes. You’ll see them performing flights to Hawaii in the winter months. The Polaris Lounge is the key point and I’d make sure you get to the airport in plenty of time to use it. DEN is rumored to be getting a lounge “soon.” Finally, if you’re flying into a hub airport without a forward connection, you can’t use the Polaris lounge on arrival (DUB is the exception as it has preclearance). I often connect through SFO, as it gives me a chance to use the lounge there and again at LAX, if you so desire. I should mention too that if you fly into LHR in Polaris, you have access to an arrivals lounge, or you can get breakfast and have a shower. It’s a great facility that’s under used. Keep that one in mind too!
I have flown Polaris several times due to having flight benefits. It is nice, cant deny that. However, I could never justify the price of these tickets. Too each their own.
Okay, so great video! We are flying Polaris to Singapore overnight and daytime Premium Plus on the return next spring. We want to experience both. However, if United offers a sweet deal to upgrade then we may consider it.
Is the preflight meal choice available for Hawaiian flights? we're booked on Polaris SFO-HNL and I can't find on United's website where to order the meal. We're flying the end of September.
Great question. I don’t know the entire list of 14+hour flights but at one point they had the longest flight. I believe it was San Francisco to Singapore
I think the full list it: SFO/LAX - Melbourne/Brisbane/Sydney/HongKong/Singapore/New Delhi, IAH - Sydney, ORD - Shanghai, EWR/IAD - Tokyo/Mumbai/New Delhi/Dubai/Cape Town. And yes they advertised as the longest but Singapore Airlines was flying the same route @@Roamaroo
Please fly business on other airlines before praising united Polaris. EG ANA has a bigger area, more pleasant flight attendants, more accommodating food and beverage services. Overall, Polaris has a customer experience far below any foreign carrier. Note when carriers are ranked internationally, US airlines NEVER get into the top 5, or 10. Don't waste your money on Polaris.
The polaris lounge in San Francisco is a joke. It is like a railway station with people grabbing food helter skelter and if you want to sit down to eat expect a 2 hour wait so you won't be able to use the restaurant. Also what kind of lounge doesn't have espresso machines that you can use to make a cappuccino or espresso...they just have coffee. There are no self server for Beer or Wine (maybe local rules) and theres just one bar tender when I was there and a long line. This place is a disgrace. No idea why people keep talking about it. Oh by the way the Polaris seats are like a coffin, your legs go into that hole and you can't even turn on your side without hurting yourself.
UA hasn't had the wine tasting in years. You enthusiastically present Polaris as a great value in international business class travel. It isn't. Just take a look at their food offerings.
@@SuperEman500 My solution is to fly another carrier. I have 3.7 million miles on United over 40 years, but I refuse to be captive (or "loyal" in airline-speak) to United's product. I've seen the other things that are out there, and I like them. I don't choose international air carriers based on their lounge or their ice cream sundae.
The only thing I really care about is the Polaris lie flat seating for long haul flights. I couldn't care less about the fancy lounges and food options. Except the ice cream. I do like the ice cream. If United had a class that offered Polaris style lie flat seats minus every other amenity, I'd very much prefer that.
United Polaris is really tops, especially their lounges. United really excels with their premium inflight and lounge product, BUT their airport employees still tend to be mediocre to downright rude, especially at SFO. For this reason, I no longer fly them.
I respectfully disagree...just go to the circus that is the Polaris lounge in SFO. The Centurian lounge is so much better. No expresso machines and no self server beer or wine, you have to wait in a long line and the buffet looks likes wolves came to feed on it..its all strewn in all directions and its so crowded and you can never eat at the restaurant since its over 2 hour weight only a psycho would come early for the food there.
I have my first-ever Polaris flight this Saturday! 10.5 hrs, out of EWR. Can't wait - getting to the airport 5 hrs early to properly take advantage of everything. I've flown domestic first and northern South America business class a bunch of times, but never Polaris (I'll also be flying Swiss lie-flat and Ethiopian lie-flat for comparison)
How was the flight?
Great video. I've flown Polaris several times. The first two times I did not go to the lounge. Huge mistake. Now I book longer layovers in cities that have the Polaris Lounge just to enjoy it.
There's nothing better than a great lounge to relax in!
Booked 2 Polaris seats from Lax to Sydney and return Brisbane to San Fran in a few weeks! Booked the 2 straight forward odd row seats next to each other! Can't wait to experience it! Great video!
the part about the seat configuration was so helpful thank you!!! I did not notice it in the seat map at all until you mentioned it, then I saw that the aisle seats look a little inclined. Great video
A lot of issues are resolved when you recognize that Polaris is a class of service and not a cabin type. The B787s fly on domestic routes; when they do, it’s not the Polaris class of service, even though it’s a lie flat seat. Similarly, the B772s with the dense front cabin generally fly on non-Polaris routes. You’ll see them performing flights to Hawaii in the winter months. The Polaris Lounge is the key point and I’d make sure you get to the airport in plenty of time to use it. DEN is rumored to be getting a lounge “soon.” Finally, if you’re flying into a hub airport without a forward connection, you can’t use the Polaris lounge on arrival (DUB is the exception as it has preclearance). I often connect through SFO, as it gives me a chance to use the lounge there and again at LAX, if you so desire.
I should mention too that if you fly into LHR in Polaris, you have access to an arrivals lounge, or you can get breakfast and have a shower. It’s a great facility that’s under used. Keep that one in mind too!
Wow! All great information! Thank you for sharing.
LHR arrivals lounge only lets you in if you arrive at the lounge before noon. Flight delayed? Big line at Customs? Too bad so sad.
I have flown Polaris several times due to having flight benefits. It is nice, cant deny that. However, I could never justify the price of these tickets. Too each their own.
Okay, so great video! We are flying Polaris to Singapore overnight and daytime Premium Plus on the return next spring. We want to experience both. However, if United offers a sweet deal to upgrade then we may consider it.
Thanks for the helpful tips.
very good!!!
Is the preflight meal choice available for Hawaiian flights? we're booked on Polaris SFO-HNL and I can't find on United's website where to order the meal. We're flying the end of September.
Well, you’ve sold me on Polaris :)
Are there many 14+ hour flights that united do?
Great question. I don’t know the entire list of 14+hour flights but at one point they had the longest flight. I believe it was San Francisco to Singapore
I think the full list it: SFO/LAX - Melbourne/Brisbane/Sydney/HongKong/Singapore/New Delhi, IAH - Sydney, ORD - Shanghai, EWR/IAD - Tokyo/Mumbai/New Delhi/Dubai/Cape Town. And yes they advertised as the longest but Singapore Airlines was flying the same route @@Roamaroo
SFO-MNL
SFO TPE, SFO SYD, SFO ATHENS, etc. TONS available
@@ekuche8335 Yes even though SFO-TPE is not 14 hours you can still get Pyjamas
Only United 787-8 have older version 2-2-2 business class. Except 757 and 737.
They 787s have all be upgraded to the new Polaris.
What planes are Polaris on?
Now they're pretty much on every flight over 6 hours
Please fly business on other airlines before praising united Polaris. EG ANA has a bigger area, more pleasant flight attendants, more accommodating food and beverage services. Overall, Polaris has a customer experience far below any foreign carrier. Note when carriers are ranked internationally, US airlines NEVER get into the top 5, or 10. Don't waste your money on Polaris.
It is truly awful if you have flown on any of these.. JAL, ANA, QATAR, EMIRATES, SINGAPORE, EVA, STARLUX, CATHAY, THAI (New business class)
There are no more "non upgraded planes"
The “domestic” 777s have the old, lie-flat seats.
The polaris lounge in San Francisco is a joke. It is like a railway station with people grabbing food helter skelter and if you want to sit down to eat expect a 2 hour wait so you won't be able to use the restaurant. Also what kind of lounge doesn't have espresso machines that you can use to make a cappuccino or espresso...they just have coffee. There are no self server for Beer or Wine (maybe local rules) and theres just one bar tender when I was there and a long line. This place is a disgrace. No idea why people keep talking about it. Oh by the way the Polaris seats are like a coffin, your legs go into that hole and you can't even turn on your side without hurting yourself.
11. Take off your (backwards) hat in the plane.
UA hasn't had the wine tasting in years. You enthusiastically present Polaris as a great value in international business class travel. It isn't. Just take a look at their food offerings.
So stick with Premium plus then?
@@SuperEman500 My solution is to fly another carrier. I have 3.7 million miles on United over 40 years, but I refuse to be captive (or "loyal" in airline-speak) to United's product. I've seen the other things that are out there, and I like them. I don't choose international air carriers based on their lounge or their ice cream sundae.
The only thing I really care about is the Polaris lie flat seating for long haul flights. I couldn't care less about the fancy lounges and food options. Except the ice cream. I do like the ice cream. If United had a class that offered Polaris style lie flat seats minus every other amenity, I'd very much prefer that.
@@odesangel Lie flat is not comfortable if you are over 6' and a side sleeper..you feel like you are in a straitjacket
United Polaris is really tops, especially their lounges. United really excels with their premium inflight and lounge product, BUT their airport employees still tend to be mediocre to downright rude, especially at SFO. For this reason, I no longer fly them.
I respectfully disagree...just go to the circus that is the Polaris lounge in SFO. The Centurian lounge is so much better. No expresso machines and no self server beer or wine, you have to wait in a long line and the buffet looks likes wolves came to feed on it..its all strewn in all directions and its so crowded and you can never eat at the restaurant since its over 2 hour weight only a psycho would come early for the food there.
i made all of these mistakes and now my dog is a cat.
Racists