I tend to avoid inaugural flights because you often get special service and special meals onboard, making the review somewhat unique, but much less valuable. Rather than fly United Airlines’ new San Francisco – Manila route on its first day of operation, I flew it on the second day in Polaris business class on the 777-300ER. That provided a better idea of what you can expect on this route and I will say at the outset that it was a very restful flight.
United Airlines 777-300ER Business Class Review (SFO-MNL)
I booked a one-way ticket from Burbank to Manila for $1338.73 in premium economy, then used 20 Plus Points to upgrade to business class (a business class ticket was only about $2300 one-way, which wasn’t bad at all).
After a smooth flight up from Burbank and a hearty dinner in the Polaris Lounge, I walked over to the gate area for boarding, where I found it quite crowded.
United Airlines 191
San Francisco (SFO) – Manila (MNL)
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Depart: 12:35 AM
Arrive: 06:50 AM+1
Duration: 15hr, 15min
Distance: 6,987 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 7L (Polaris Business Class)
Stepping onboard, I was very (and I mean very) warmly greeted by the Filipino-American purser, who took a very hands-on approach in interacting with passengers.
Seat
The 777-300ER is United’s largest widebody aircraft, with 60 seats in Polaris Business Class. Polaris is divided into two cabins, with rows 1-8 in the forward cabin and 9-16 in the rear cabin. Seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration and odd-numbered A and L seats are “true” window seats and offer the most privacy. These seats are custom for United, but modeled on the Safran Optima platform.
If traveling with someone close, you might want to choose the odd-numbered D and G seats. These so-called “honeymoon” seats make it very easy to chat with one another. Every seat, however, has direct aisle access and if you find yourself stuck in one of these honeymoon seats while traveling solo there is a privacy divider that can be raised.
![a seat in a plane](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/United-Airlines-San-Francisco-Manila-Business-Class-777-300ER-Review-19.jpeg)
The seats are 20 inches wide and convert into a lie-flat bed that is 78 inches long (6 foot, 6 inches). I always prefer bulkhead seats (row 1 and 9) when available due to the wider footwells, but they were all occupied when I booked just two days before departure.
Each seat has a universal A/C outlet and a USB-A charger. The mood lighting was on for most of the flight and I do not find it a disturbance to sleeping.
Sitting at each seat was a Saks Fifth Avenue branded bedding bundle in a zippered back that included a duvet, cooling foam gel pillow, and larger pillow. There was also a limited-edition day blanket featuring a pattern by fashion designer Claude Kameni and also made from 100% recycled plastic.
![a blanket on a plane](https://liveandletsfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/United-Airlines-San-Francisco-Manila-Business-Class-777-300ER-Review-40.jpeg)
The larger pillow had a stain on it, but I got it swapped out.
Mattress pads, slippers, and pajamas were available on request and I did change into pajamas shortly after takeoff. With excellent bedding and cool cabin, I slept very well during the flight.
Delay
We ended up departing 48 minutes late at 1:23 am due to a slight mechanical issue plus the requisite paperwork necessary, however still landed 29 minutes early at 6:29 am. That meant one hour less of sleep, but also took out the pressure from my connection in MNL.
In looking at the flight history, it appears the flight rarely is in the air for longer than 14 hours.
IFE + Wi-Fi
With such a long flight time, I did enjoy a movie called Inside (sort of a psychological thriller) in between sleeping.
Noise-canceling headphones were offered, but were unremarkable (and frankly I prefer that than to having fancy ones like on American and JetBlue that are collected an hour before landing).
Wi-Fi worked flawlessly through the flight and was only $8 to connect for MileagePlus members ($10 for non-members) and free on mobile phones for select T-Mobile customers, so I was connected on both my laptop and phone.
Food + Drink
Dinner was served after takeoff with breakfast served 90 minutes prior to arrival. During the flight, an optional snack service was available.
Menus were already placed at each seat, along with a bottle of water:
Flight attendants offered a pre-departure beverage, a choice between water or sparkling wine. Note, I was grateful to be offered water such that I did not have to consume my water bottle prior to the flight even taking off.
Dinner
The meal service flow was quite efficient and I appreciated that, as it had been a long day and I wanted to sleep, especially after the delay. Meal service took 40 minutes to commence, but once it did it was quick.
First came a beverage (seltzer water with a lime wedge for me) and warmed mixed nuts (a mix of almonds and cashews).
For my appetizer, I chose the burrata (with cracked black pepper, balsamic glaze, cherry tomatoes, basil, and frisée [a curled endive]) over the salmon rillette. It was served with a side salad comprised of baby red leafy greens with English cucumbers, fennel, and yellow bell pepper and bread (both a pretzel roll and garlic bread).
On the same tray the main course was served and I chose the special for this route, beef kare-kare with jasmine rice, cilantro, fried eggplant, bok choy, and green beans.
The dish was good. To my unrefined palate, it tasted like Indian food…but I thought it was a fine dish. The green salad was partially frozen, but thawed out when I ate it French-style after my main course. I also noted that “real” butter ramekins are back.
For dessert, I had an ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and sliced almonds…I’m not a huge fan of the vanilla ice cream currently in use, but it still hit the spot.
Mid-flight Snack
I fell asleep with 11 hours left in the flight and woke up three hours from Manila, though we had gained time so I had slept for about 7.5 hours.
Stretching my legs, I took a look at the snack station set up between the business class cabins and noticed there was whole oranges and apples, bottles of water, nobles like potato chips and almonds, and leftover cake and cheese plates from dinner.
I love LilliesQ chips and the cheese and pretzel bites from Whisps.
I also ordered a grilled cheese toastie and a cup of tomato soup, both of which were served warm and really hit the spot. At home, I fast from about 9pm to 1pm each day and this part of the flight was at approximately 1pm Pacific Time, so I was right on schedule for my stomach to start growling (despite eating a very late dinner).
Breakfast
Breakfast service began 90 minutes prior to landing with a hot towel.
This flight had a choice I had not previously seen on the breakfast menu, a Spanish potato omelette with rosti potatoes, harvest apple chicken sausage and garlic tomato petals. It was on the dry side, but decent as far as airplane omelets go. It was served with a side of fresh fruit, a rather pitiful croissant, and a Chobani Greek yogurt (with peach).
I give very solid marks to the meal service on this flight. The presentation and the dishes themselves were all quite satisfactory.
Lavatory
Business class has two lavatories in the front of the aircraft and two lavatories between cabins. The Polaris lavatories are stocked with hand creme and hydrating mist from Therabody.
Amenity Kit
United now partners with Therabody to offer a fanny-pack style amenity kit. Contents included:
- TheraFace eye serum: Crafted with ingredients like niacinamide, caffeine, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B5 and allantoin, the serum helps reduce puffiness, enhance hydration, soothe the delicate eye area and improve the skin’s barrier function.
- TheraFace face spray: Formulated to help soothe, hydrate and protect the skin, this spray features hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B5, calendula flower extract, aloe leaf juice and glycerin.
- TheraFace cleansing towelette: Wipe-off the travel day without drying the skin thanks to ingredients like Vitamin B5 and E, calendula flower extract, aloe leaf juice and glycerin.
- TheraFace hand cream: Avoid dreaded dry hands thanks to ingredients like niacinamide, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, sweet almond oil and Vitamin B5. Both the hand cream and face spray are available in the onboard lavatories as well.
- Other items: The kit also includes go-to amenities for arriving refreshed, including a bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask, ear plugs, socks, and a pen.
> Read More: United Airlines Unveils “Polaris 2.0” With Focus On Sleep Amenities
Service
I had an all-male crew in business class and these guys were quite attentive and polite – I was addressed by name and thanked for my 1K status when the meal order was taken and I did not have to wait long for one to notice that I was awake and offer a beverage (and the mid-flight snack).
Arrivals Form
Paper customs forms were distributed before landing, but be aware that you also need to register your travel here and generate a QR code to enter the Philippines (I’ll cover this in a separate post).
CONCLUSION
We landed early in Manila, taxiing past a mix of widebody aircraft including a Cathay Pacific A330, Cebu Pacific A330neo, Singapore Airlines 787, and ANA 787.
Shortly after pulling up to the gate the jetbridge was connected and I was on my way to immigration.
This was another good flight on United. Most importantly, the seat and bedding were great, but the internet worked well, the food was quite edible, and the service was excellent. I hope this new Manila route works well for United!
Looks like a nice flight. What was the timing of booking and using your PP? I have had a terrible time using PP even when I book premium economy. There are too many business seats already booked so even the PE folks don’t all get upgraded. I have a ton of points left.
On a serious note, maybe you could donate some to my brother if they are just going to expire. I’ll share about that in a future post. There’s been so much drama beyond the scenes lately.
My upgrade cleared at 23 hours, 50 minutes prior to departure.
Definitely
i mean a giant stain on a pillow is kind of gross, and oh so United.
When I saw the aircraft type I worried that it might be the super crowded old style business class with seven across seats. Is that even still around with United?
Yes, it still flies domestically to Hawaii and some transcon routes.
The 777-300ER was delivered to United with the new Polaris seats installed. They were the lead aircraft fleet for the transition to the new seat.
Do you think the wi-fi was only $8 because of your 1K status? From London Heathrow it’s usually $29.99 — seems curious for such a long trans-Pacific flight.
I think this was a glitch. Lately is has been $19.99-29.99 on longhauls.
I flew this route 2 months after and the wifi was the same price. Very strange but wasn’t complaining,
Appears the people at the gate area brought heavy suitcases as carry-on bags . No-fly list for them .
@ Matthew– Thanks for the review! We look forward to giving this flight and the Philippines a try in 2024!
The Breakfast is exactly what I had in premium economy on UA2 from singapore. I liked it.
Doesn’t look like the service has improved; course by course would be much better, than having all served on one tray; mid flight snacks are still disappointing on such a long flight; grilled cheese sandw. is so low cost; soup in a cup with no saucer? They need to improve their catering so they can compete with SQ and Eva Air in the south Asia market; coffee served with no saucer & spoon? like a truck stop.
Comfort? 20″ width seat is just not comfortable; too narrow; too hard to turn around even if you’re only 5’9″, like myself. Much wider seats on SQ and Eva Air.
Oh Lord, Ken,
For an affordable business class class flight your expectations are too high. Enjoy the lie flat seat, and drop the other pretentious needs like your snack soup served in a special dish. Really!
“Aircraft: Boeing 777-200”
Should be 300ER
Yep. Thanks.
Loving this addition to the UA schedule. Avoiding PR with no legitimate mileage program or having to connect in Tokyo is a god send.
Just as an addendum, I flew United ‘Premium Plus’ the next level down, but above Premium Economy. Good experience, UAL does a very good job, very good service…I will definitely fly this route again.
PP is premium economy
A choice of appetizers on a US airline? Huzah! Is this because it’s one of their loner long haul flights?
I just flew the 2150 from Honolulu on 12/12 in the Polaris Business. It came from Guam, picked me up in HNL to my destination of SFO. I try to only fly 777-300ER on this route.
One of the endearing qualities of Filipinos is their generosity and they tend to bring lots of goodies back to their families in the form of Balikbayan Boxes of food and souvenirs and tons of luggage. For this reason expect the economy check-in lines to be time consuming. Getting into the business class/elite status line is a must if you can swing it.
You were correct on your impression of the beef kare-kare, that it seemed like Indian food. It was described on the menu as Filipino curry, but the authentic kare-kare does not have curry. Kare-kare is a peanut butter-based dish. I was not satisfied with the flavor of the dish, but the vegetables were well-cooked.
I’m shocked and amazed that the route started with a 77w vs 788 to stick a toe in the water
Good for United
Wow. The weird thing is how long this route took to start given how it’s starting so J-heavy
Wow 🙂
Great for UA!
This is a great flight for United because the Phillipine Air (PR) flights are not a great non-stop option. Business class is pretty bad….the seats are angle flat.
20 plus points?
Isn’t it 30 to go from O-J? Unless this is not a Polaris route
30. You’re correct. My bad.
Seriously…for such a long flight you have a cardboard menu with two sides?
It’s the same united did I flew from IAD to BRU. No effort to up skale food and drink offerings. United is the worst in the Star Alliance. Specially when people are paying money to travel on J.
I flew Brussels Airlines J from BRU to DAK which was a6 hour flight had a broad selection of beverages and food choices.
Just took the same flight in business class and I agree with all you noted. The flight arrived one hour early but my checked priority bag took one hour to come out. My wife’s came out five minutes after the baggage claim started.
That was not priority luggage service.
Rob H.
Great review, but too lenient on the stained pillow and frozen salad.
Are there any arrangements for a lounge in Manila since there is no Polaris lounge there on Terminal 3 MNL. Hoping they will have some type of reciprocal arrangement for the MNL-SFO return in Polaris later today .. also, what time do they allow baggage to be loaded in MNL for the return?
Just flew this service. UA use the SQ lounge in Manila. It’s just OK.
SQ lounge review:
https://liveandletsfly.com/silverkris-lounge-manila-review/
It’s more than “just OK”.
LOL ..
P/S I really like the nachos, contrary to what Mr. Klint said about it.
Just arrived in SIN from MNL on SQ J this morning.
Walked past the United gate for the flight to SFO.
It was super packed.
The SQ Lounge was once exclusively for SQ pax.
Now there are UNITED pax as well.
Lots of Americans .. meh
Why would one take UA from MNL to SFO when you have a choice of other airlines like JAL ANA SQ EVA etc.
Pretty sure UA charges more for the non stop direct but really .. would you wanna be on that flight?
Yikes.