Tremendous service and a comfortable seat made up for a reduced serving offering, but I have to admit my flight from Frankfurt to San Francisco greatly exceeded my expectations. This United Airlines Polaris business class review will give you an idea of what to expect during the pandemic on United’s recently retrofitted 787-9. United Airlines […]
Review: United 787-10 Polaris Business Class Newark To Los Angeles
If you’re going to be delayed, it’s always nice to be delayed in a premium cabin…like United’s 787-10 Polaris business class. With storms raging across the country, our flight was re-routed after we had pushed back from the gate, creating a flight path approximately one hour longer than planned. That required returning to the gate […]
Review: A Bittersweet 787-9 Flight To London In United Polaris
I flew to London on United earlier this week. Here’s a brief review of the flight. There was a number of flights I was considering for this trip. One was to fly via San Francisco and Frankfurt so I could try United’s new Premium Plus (premium economy) seat. But why add the extra stop and […]
Review: United Polaris Lounge Houston (IAH)
The United Polaris Lounge in Houston (IAH) offers a tremendous upgrade to international business class passengers versus the United Clubs. I spent two hours in the lounge but could have easily spent much longer. United calls this its “boutique” Polaris Lounge because it is far smaller than the other lounges. But crowding would not be a […]
Review: United 777-200 Polaris Business Class Chicago To Frankfurt
I’ve written this review in a more casual way than my usual trip reports. Hopefully it will be helpful to some of you. Flying United is like driving my car…I do it so often it just become second nature. Once in a while, though, I get to try something new. On this trip, it was […]
Review: United Airlines 767-300 Polaris Business Class Amsterdam To Newark
United’s retrofitted 767-300 Polaris Business Class cabin provided great comfort during a recent morning flight from Amsterdam to Newark. I checked in online and totally bypassed the check-in counters at AMS. After spending a bit of time in the ASPIRE lounge, I headed to the gate and was among the first to board. United 71 […]
Review: United Polaris 777-300ER San Francisco to Hong Kong
As a lifelong American Airlines customer and frequent Cathay Pacific flyer, United had a long way to go to impress me with their Polaris business class product. They did. Here is another leg in my status run to Hong Kong trip report. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please […]
Review: United Polaris Lounge – San Francisco
This year I split my loyalty somewhat between United and American Airlines along with a handful of discount carriers for direct flights. As a result, I needed to make a status run and chose Hong Kong as my destination. To start that trip, I began at United’s new Polaris Lounge at San Francisco International Airport. […]
A “Real” Review of the United Polaris Lounge in SFO
My recent review of new United Polaris Lounge at SFO drew a couple critical comments that it was not “genuine” because pictures were taken prior to the public opening. I dismissed those concerns due to the enormous size of the lounge, but had the chance earlier this week to try out the lounge as a […]
Review: United 777-300ER Polaris Business Class San Francisco to Hong Kong
United Polaris Business Class, and by that I mean the actual new Polaris seat, is a step in the right direction for United. My 15hr flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong gave me plenty of time to test out the new product. This was a business trip and I was traveling with John. We […]
Review: United Airlines 787-9 Polaris Business Class Los Angeles to Singapore (Inaugural)
After a wonderful opening ceremony at the gate, it was time to board the flight. Although blocked at 17hr,55min the inaugural flight from Los Angeles to Singapore would take only about 16hrs due to reduced headwinds. If you’re just joining me now and missed the first segment, I was invited by United to fly on […]
Review: Los Angeles to London in United 787-9 Polaris Business
I’ve asked my six-month-old son Augustine to offer his thoughts on his very first flight, from LA to London on United Airlines in Polaris Business Class. The day of the big trip finally arrived. Mama and Papa had been looking forward to taking me to Germany ever since I was born. Half my family lives in Germany […]
Review: Frankfurt to San Francisco in United Polaris First
With United retiring its 747-400s at the end of October, I am taking advantage of every opportunity to fly the Queen of the Skies this year. This trip, as I explained here, came about at the very last moment but worked out splendidly. I was particularly interested in this route because I flew FRA-SFO in […]
Sneak Preview of United Polaris Dining Menu
“240 new entrees. 96 new appetizers. 48 new salads.” United describes its new Polaris Business Class menu as a “complete redesign of the culinary experience”. Earlier today, a group of FAs in Chicago had a chance to sample the food and I am hearing that everyone was impressed. Sample entrees included: seared turbot with beurre […]
United Slashes Polaris Lounge Access For Most Star Alliance Business Class Passengers, Further Splintering The Alliance
Without warning, United Airlines has dramatically tightened access rules to its network of upscale Polaris Lounges. While I don’t celebrate these changes, they strike me as pragmatic and logical to address overcrowding, which can make even the nicest lounges unpleasant. United Cuts Polaris Lounge Access For Most Star Alliance Business Class Passengers United operates upscale […]
United Polaris Suite Doors Will Be Locked Open…For Now
If you were hoping for extra privacy onboard United Airlines’ new 787-9 by sliding your suite door shut in Polaris Business Class, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. Until these doors are certified, you will not be able close them. United Polaris Suite Doors Will Be Locked Open At Launch Last year, United Airlines […]
Review: Starlux Airlines Galactic Lounge Taipei (TPE – Terminal 1)
Starlux offers a cozy but comfortable lounge in Terminal 1 of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), with an a la carte menu and buffet. Starlux Airlines Galactic Lounge Taipei Terminal 1 Review (TPE) After checking in for my Starlux flight, I checked out the Starlux Galactic Lounge in Terminal 1. As Starlux describes it: The […]
Review: United Airlines 777-200 Business Class HD (High-Density), A Relic Of The Past That Still Holds Up
It’s a woefully uncompetitive product and one of the tightest business class seats on the market, but there’s still something endearing to me about the so-called “high density” or “HD” United Airlines 777-200, and I enjoyed a very comfortable journey from Chicago to Los Angeles. United Airlines 777-200 Business Class HD (High Density) Review (ORD-LAX) […]
A Candid, Honest, Brutal Review Of New SWISS A350-900 Business Class
A reader flew the brand new SWISS A350-900 in “Swiss Senses” business class from Boston to Zurich over the weekend. His thoughts are below and quite interesting. Road Warrior Not Impressed With New SWISS A350-900 Business Class This reader is a long-time friend and road warrior. He travels around the world each year for work […]
Review: United Global Services Lounge London (LHR)
I spent most of my London layover in the so-called “Global Services” section of the United Club, which (eventually) will no longer be a separate section but instead merged into the rest of the lounge. If you visit today, you’ll see that “Big Ben” has been removed from the wall (hopefully only temporarily!) and the […]
