As the pandemic hits its first anniversary, what can you expect onboard a transcontinental flight on United in the forward cabin? This review covers United Airlines Polaris business class onboard the 787-10 Dreamliner from Los Angeles to Newark. United Airlines 787-10 Polaris Business Class Review [2021] After being dropped off in Terminal 7, I proceeded […]
French Toast Or Quiche? Breakfast In United Polaris Business Class
My Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. Good morning. I thought we’d start out the day with a look back at breakfast on my United Airlines flight […]
Details: United Airlines Upgrades Polaris Pre-Arrival Meals
After teasing upgrades for several months, United Airlines will improve its pre-arrival meals in Polaris Business Class. United Airlines Improves Polaris Pre-Arrival Meals Since the pandemic began, United has severely cut back on catering expenses on both domestic and international flights in premium cabins. On longhaul flights, the most noticeable cutback has been on pre-arrival […]
Christmas Eve Breakfast In United Polaris Lounge LAX
I’m looking back fondly this morning on one year ago, when I enjoyed a tasty breakfast in United’s Los Angeles (LAX) Polaris Lounge after a 13-hour flight from Sydney, Australia. Christmas Eve Breakfast @ LAX United Polaris Lounge In what seems so long ago, I embarked on a mileage run December 22-24th last year to […]
United Airlines Completes 777-200 Polaris Retrofits
Flying the 777-200 on a longhaul international United Airlines flight? You’ll no longer have to check the seat map to see which type of configuration you can expect in business class. United has completed its Polaris retrofit process and also added Premium Plus seats across its 777-200 longhaul fleet. United Airlines Completes 777-200 Retrofits In […]
Review: United Airlines 787-9 Polaris Business Class – International Pandemic Edition
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 […]
The Last Supper In The Polaris Lounge…
United has shuttered all of its Polaris lounges, hopefully just on a temporary basis. What are we missing during this time? Dinner In United Polaris Lounge Newark Last week, I enjoyed linner (lunch and dinner in one sitting) in the Newark Polaris Lounge prior to my United flight to Cape Town. It wasn’t deliberate, but […]
EU Ambassador Bolts From Impeachment Hearing To United Polaris
U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland must have a very good driver after leaving Capitol Hill at 4:00PM and somehow still making his 5:50PM flight to Brussels on United. After providing testimony implicating President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and perhaps even Vice President Mike Pence in the Ukraine “quid pro […]
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 […]
First Impressions Of United 787-10 Dreamliner Polaris Class
I recently had the chance to finally fly United’s 787-10 Dreamliner. Here’s my initial thoughts about this brand new aircraft. I was flying from Newark to Los Angeles and after a long economy class flight (due to strong headwinds) from Milan to Newark, I was quite happy to step onboard this flight. Business class on […]
United Polaris On Display At Saks Fifth Avenue
United Airlines is front and center at Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship New York City store this weekend. Through Monday, Saks Fifth Avenue is highlighting United’s new summer destinations from Newark and its Polaris business class product in the ground floor street windows of its 5th Avenue store. United is offering summer seasonal service to the […]
A Tasty Vegetarian Choice In United Polaris
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. I recently enjoyed a fairly healthy (I think) dinner on United that I want to recommend here. If […]
One Year Later: How Is United Polaris Lounge Holding Up At SFO?
Between flights last weekend, I had 2.5 hours in United’s SFO Polaris Lounge. How is it holding up one year later? I’ve reviewed this lounge twice already…once during a media preview and again as a passenger. The lounge is spacious and comfortable, with amenities including a sit-down restaurant, buffet, sleeping rooms, showers, and private restrooms. […]
United Restores Two Polaris Cutbacks
United is restoring two cutbacks in Polaris Business Class on late-evening flights from Washington Dulles to Europe while extending its mandatory express dining trial another month. Last month I wrote about a one-month trial program at Washington Dulles on four late-evening departures to Europe: Dublin (UA126) Frankfurt (UA932) Lisbon (UA168) London (UA924) In an effort […]
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 […]
United Actually Is Reducing Meal Service In Polaris During April “Trial”
An update on the mandatory business class express dining on late-evening flights from Washington Dulles. As it turns out, some items have been cut from the menu. Last week I wrote about United’s trial of express meal service for each passenger during the month of April in order to maximize sleep onboard. Initially, I was told […]
Opinion: United Should Invest In Polaris, Not Livery
Yesterday, I wrote about United’s plans to introduce a new livery next month. Today, I argue that there are far more pressing priorities than fuselage paint jobs. The new livery will likely incorporate the new purple and blue hues that characterize United’s current color scheme. That’s understandable, especially as United moves away from gold. I […]
United Polaris Dining: The Sad New State Of Affairs
Just how important is meal presentation in offering a premium business class product? United Airlines is betting that it simply doesn’t matter. At least that’s the only explanation I can come up with for its choice to begin pre-plating entrees so that it can cut one flight attendant position from many international flights. I’ve written […]
The Rude Canadian In LAX Polaris Lounge
How would you handle a rude passenger in the confined space of an airline lounge? First, an explanation on the title. I try hard not to ever generalize in a negative way, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with positive generalizations when not done in a patronizing manner. And in this case, my […]
My First Impressions Of LAX United Polaris Lounge
Last night I flew United in Polaris Business Class from Los Angeles to London and finally had the chance to check out the recently-opened Polaris lounge at LAX. In fact, I made a day out of it… The new premium lounge occupies the real estate of the former International First Class Lounge (which later became […]
