Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. (No, it’s not edible.). You’ll now find a mix of Boeing 757s, 767s, 777s and 787-10 Dreamliners flying cross-country. The security officers’ workstations just received a major upgrade. November 10, 2020. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. Submitted by SeatGuru User on 2020/02/04 for Seat 7D . That particular plane only re-emerged from a stint in Wilmington last week. At worst you’ll have 5 across (2-1-2) on their 767s and quite likely 3 across (1-1-1) with the Polaris planes. Related: Here’s what food and drinks you can expect on your next flight. This was our first time flying in United Airlines' Polaris Business class! Here’s what the cramped C74 space looked like mid-afternoon, when the bulk of European flights would normally depart. Excited to experience United Polaris Business Class? The United Polaris Lounge is available to those holding a boarding pass for travel in United Polaris business class and those holding a boarding pass for long-haul international first or business class on a Star Alliance member airline. As such, your flight could easily be booked full. Might we suggest at least stocking up the bar, offering full mini-bottles, and perhaps serving quality sandwiches or cold plates? I was given a laminated card showing my PreCheck status, allowing me to keep my shoes on and my laptop in my bag. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. But Premium Plus and coach, as well as Polaris, were all in tip-top condition. At least the Christie Cookie Company snickerdoodle cookie was good! Happily, apart from a wider, more modern-look seating configuration and some rejigged amenities, you'd hardly spot the difference. But even if you can’t find an inexpensive fare, scoring an upgrade has never been easier. Seats are arranged in an alternating 1-2-1 configuration. This didn’t bother me too much on the daytime flight, but I would certainly miss the duvet on redeyes or longer hauls to Alaska or Hawaii. Business class "suites" are roomy and comfortable. © 2021 Sound Imagineers, LLC. Without an option to shower or even a proper space to freshen up, there are relatively few uses of an amenity kit, but a toothbrush and a comb are always nice to have. Related: The one major social distancing challenge I’d like to see airlines fix. As it turns out, there was none, unless we’d settle for rosé, which we gladly accepted. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. In addition to the new cabin, United is unveiling Polaris business class lounges in eight airports around the world, including Chicago O’Hare’s lounge, which opened in December. In response, United has made severe cuts to the international premium travel experience. At the time, the airline started taking delivery of new planes with these top-notch biz pods. As long as social distancing remains possible, that’s unlikely to be a problem, but should traffic pick up, concerned customers may be better off skipping the lounge and staying in the public concourse. Related: 7 ways the United Club experience has changed due to the pandemic. The Polaris Lounge was also very nice, much nicer than United's regular lounges. Boarding the United 777 was so exciting. The only available wines were mini-bottles from Economy (other airlines manage to open regular bottles without a health risk.) The most noticeable difference was the dessert. There is absolutely no reason—beyond cost—why the airline cannot offer healthier or more diverse options while still meeting CDC guidelines. Instead, the flight attendant came around asking for orders. They also have a serve yourself snack bar on the plane, that includes wine. After staying mum on the topic for months, United released late July a video highlighting the new United Club experience. In Europe, British Airways, who typically doesn’t shine in the lounge department, has rolled out a-la-carte service with mobile ordering and at-seat delivery, for all guests. Unlike American Airlines, United doesn’t admit premium transcon flyers to … The flight attendants—who outnumbered paying business class passengers—were truly gracious and attentive, and did their best with what they had to work with. This lounge is temporarily closed. But with low fares and easy upgrades, I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. Most guests snack and drink and therefore have a legitimate reason to take their mask off. Our United Polaris® business class service is designed to bring a new level of quality to every aspect of premium cabin travel - from lounge to landing - and provide the best sleep in the sky. After the meal, there was a snack basket available for those seated in Polaris. Unfortunately, to trim costs, United has removed the duvet from eligible domestic flights and replaced it with a day blanket. Aside from the comfortable bed, I’ve enjoyed United’s pajamas and Saks Fifth Avenue-branded bedding on international jaunts. We send up to one email a week and never resell your information. And you get the Polaris lounge at ORD. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Also, if United can provide proper silverware for dinner, why is breakfast all plasticware? Boy, how times have changed. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Stay up-to-date on major lounge openings, exciting developments, and ground service innovations. Related: The cheapest way to upgrade transcon United flights. Why serve cloying syrup that masquerades as a fruit cup, when perhaps a shrink-wrapped piece of fruit would be tastier, healthier, and equally safe? But they’re not shedding much ink on service cutbacks, and especially those that impact intercontinental premium cabins. Before JetBlue introduced Mint, cross-country business-class airfares could easily climb to well above $2,000 each way. Polaris passengers are treated to limited complimentary libations, but the lounge isn’t cleaned regularly, mask usage is spotty, and pre-flight dining and showers are all distant memories at this time. The bathrooms, however, were abysmal, just like in pre-pandemic times: old, cramped, and of questionable cleanliness. She offered a choice of chicken or pasta, but didn’t give much more description than that. This summer, we reviewed the watered-down United Polaris experience to Europe—it was a tale of shrink-wrapped snacks and an eerily quiet business class […]. There were no other options available. « Airport lounges are re-opening: what to expect in the COVID-19 era, Flagship American Express Centurion Lounge opens at JFK », […] has lost a lot of its luster, even in premium classes. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. As a side note, the United Club Newark still hands out Star Wars-themed kits (which aren’t available onboard anymore) for those who collect them. Overall, the meal was about as good as I remember it from March pre-pandemic. Though the lounge was open, food and beverage services have been suspended due to local county restrictions. Going forward, you’ll find me in the last row of the cabin in the single seat flush with the window. (It paid off; we departed with just 32 of the 50 Polaris pods taken. For more information, review our our Privacy Policy. Dining tables are few and far between; there’s only four to six chairs around high-top workstations; and solo seating is sparse. There are no more printed menus—despite the fact that single-use copies don’t pose a safety risk. United Polaris Lounge This lounge is temporarily closed. It could especially impact United Airlines’ sub-fleet of “High-J” 767s, outfitted last year with 46 Polaris business class seats instead of the normal 30. And so was the cookie (which is traditionally served at the end of the flight.) While the Polaris Lounge remains shuttered, he explained that Polaris passengers are eligible for enhanced amenities, including “top-shelf alcohol” and additional food options such as a cheese plate. The selection included gummy bears, pretzels and kettle chips — much more limited than before the pandemic. We left the United Club Newark near gate C74 and made our way to our departure gate. Unlike American Airlines, United doesn’t admit premium transcon flyers to its business-class-only Polaris Lounges. (Those who follow me on Instagram know that Polaris is one of my favorite biz products.) Seats are staggered, which means that the window seats alternate between being closer to the aisle and window. Where are the veggies? In an effort to boost consumer confidence, airlines are aggressively touting enhanced hygiene protocols. In United Premium Plus ® and United Polaris ® business class, your entrée, bread and single-serve cup of ice cream will be served together. Pre-pandemic, fares started at around $600 each way. (But, so much for “any top-shelf alcohol.”) The bartender opened a mini bottle, poured into plastic cups, and promptly stashed the bottle away. You don't have to wait. Dinner, however, was a simple affair. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. The food served on the flight, dinner and breakfast leaves a bit to be desired. United Airlines have been slowly rolling out their plush new Polaris business class offering across the fleet, but in Australia we'll have to hold tight a bit longer – though there's whispers it's not far away. Flying on a nearly empty widebody is thrilling. United’s worldwide lounge network virtually shut down on March 17th. The club was so quiet that it was almost unrecognizable from its former incarnation. Related: Why more lie-flat seats on United flights isn’t necessarily good news. Back in June, United announced a long-awaited overhaul of its international business-class service and amenities, including new seats. Upon entering the plane, every passenger was given a sanitizing wipe and gloves by request as part of United’s CleanPlus initiative. 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Once airside, there were plenty of hand sanitizer stations located throughout the airport. At Newark airport, United’s supposedly “elevated pre-packaged food offerings” consist of shrink-wrapped pretzels and cookies. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. So what is it currently like to fly business class to Europe with United? Visit our COVID-19 resource center for information on how the pandemic is impacting airport lounges. After all, it’s likely one of the riskiest (and costliest) components of the inflight experience since flyers are allowed to take off their mask for eating and drinking. Members of the loungereview.com team report on their recent experience traveling in United Polaris business class from Newark to Paris. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. United Airlines is closing its network of Polaris international business-class lounges, effective Wednesday. The Polaris business class cabin was deserted, and the Premium Plus cabin completely unoccupied. As it turns out, just fine. The United Airlines Fleet Website. To make sure you know what to expect with United Polaris travel, see below for a few key reminders. Avoid any middle row seats in aisles 7 and 8. It was social distancing at its finest—and a sad reminder that Americans can only travel to 20 destinations worldwide. The gel pillow, full-size pillow, mattress pad, duvet, and slippers make for a restful night, and it’s fortunate that they haven’t been sacrificed on the COVID-19 altar. United’s signature Saks Fifth Avenue-branded sleep amenities were still available. Even though the plane hadn’t flown in five days, I decided to clean my area again. One option is the United Polaris lounge in Houston, the airline's luxe international business class lounge. Options were “beef, fish, or pasta”, with Economy undertones. As for United’s “goal of disinfecting seats after each use and upon request”, it was indeed merely an aspiration. Airlines are bleeding money, and it’s difficult to justify high-end services for a handful of premium passengers per flight. The deserted buffet area was a shadow of its former self, and for good reason: pickings were slim. I selected a gin and tonic with my lunch, which was served in a sealed bottle and can. Even the tray tables and lavatories looked spotless. On the brighter side, the traditional liquor selection is available. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. Every airline is making adjustments to the meal and snack service. Great to be back in the air once again on @united ✈️, A post shared by Zach Griff (@_zachgriff) on Aug 21, 2020 at 3:01pm PDT. ” in 21 reviews “ If I ever need another 6 hr layover in Chicago, I wouldn't hesitate to book the flight. United re-opens first non-hub lounge at Honolulu airport . This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Clear and PreCheck queues were open, but I was funneled into the main security line after the ID check. To be fair, the salmon was tasty. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. Flying has lost a lot of its luster, even in premium classes. Of the major U.S. carriers, United is doing a great job at attempting to deplane passengers in a socially distant manner. At a cost of $2.48 million, I was surprised that the security agent wasn’t using the new barrier. Overall, the special COVID-19 Polaris service at the United Club Newark was an unexpected touch, but in its current incarnation, it’s ultimately a disappointment. As a comparison point: in North America, American Airlines is offering snack boxes and re-introducing hot food, Alaska has maintained their luxurious handcrafted coffee service, Delta is offering a substantial choice of packaged and fresh food items, and Air Canada is delivering shrimp roll, snack bags, and cold fare to guests at their seats. We never share or resell your information. It felt like there were many more passengers in Polaris than there were in the back of the plane. See, 7 ways the United Club experience has changed due to the pandemic, international travel is largely off-limits, The cheapest way to upgrade transcon United flights, legacy-United 757-200s with a 28-seat biz cabin, Why more lie-flat seats on United flights isn’t necessarily good news, adjustments to the meal and snack service, Here’s what food and drinks you can expect on your next flight, United improves onboard beverage service, trims Saks amenities, deplane passengers in a socially distant manner, The one major social distancing challenge I’d like to see airlines fix, Marriott reinstates elite benefit guarantees effective immediately, Check your American Airlines accounts: 2021 rollover elite miles, dollars and segments now posting, Travel industry reconsiders political donations following Capitol siege, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. However, UA is making an exception for premium transcons. The TSA is contracting Lavi Industries to build an additional 1,230 units at 37 airports nationwide. CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. Contact the business for more information about recent service changes. One of the highlights of flying in Polaris is the On The Rocks Old Fashioned. What are the tortilla chips for? There were just a handful of people checking in for United flights. I kept snapping pictures of the cabin and aircraft. There may be more travelers than a few months ago, but the severe cuts to the international flight schedule have significantly impacted demand. If our experience at Newark airport is representative, the promise of an increased focus on hygiene remains unfulfilled too. United Airlines flight review form London Heathrow to Houston on United Polaris Business Class. The bar is equipped with plexiglass shields, though they cause so much glare that communication with the bartender is almost challenging. We're very excited about our brand new international premium cabin service — United Polaris SM first and business class — which offers comfort and relaxation for restful sleep in the sky. We will use information provided on this form to be in touch with you. If you choose the right flight, you don’t necessarily need to splurge for the extra space in Polaris. The airline is also building a … Why not minimize waste and serve nuts in a ceramic ramekin? We eagerly made our way to the bar, and asked for a glass of Champagne. Read user reviews for United Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 5. On Business Class, United wins. Even though travel demand has declined significantly, the carriers are still offering their top products on these cross-country routes. There is no lounge for connecting passengers. You can learn more at united.com/Polaris. (I wasn’t surprised to learn that Christie is the same company that created the legendary Doubletree cookie.). However, there’s a full assortment of traditional liquors available upon request. Additionally, I purposely chose to sit in the last row of the cabin in one of the single seats flush with the window. And why so much “bread” when there’s rice already? Cabin and Layout: United Polaris Business Class, 48-seat capacity across 12 rows, in a 1-2-1 configuration Seats: 11A, 11D, 12A, 12D Miles Used: 50,000 TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go miles per ticket, bought miles for 1 cent each Taxes and Fees Paid: $53 (€45) per ticket Typical Economy Cost: $6,000 (round-trip) Table of contents. It was a long walk to the international area, past the still-shuttered Polaris Lounge and the future site of the new United Club. The butternut squash mezzaluna was better than I expected. I selected the pasta, which was served all on one tray with foil and seals intact. 1. Under normal circumstances, Newark airport is a hive of activity, and United’s lounges struggle to cope with the crowds. I figured that I’d be farthest from the galley and fewer passengers would walk by my seat. There was no cleaning staff in sight, despite the fact that the club has many touch points. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. On the 787-10, the biggest of the Dreamliners, the 44 business-class seats are spread across 11 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. At the United Club Newark, the bar area is now entirely clear of furniture, in favor of social distancing markers on the floor. But, veggies, anyone? That doesn’t make too much of a difference for transcon UA flyers. Dinner and breakfast leaves a bit more room to catch some inflight snooze time a.m. to review Amex! 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