• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home  >  Flight Reviews • United Airlines  >  Review: United Airlines 787-10 Polaris Business Class [2021]
Flight ReviewsUnited Airlines

Review: United Airlines 787-10 Polaris Business Class [2021]

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 12, 2021March 12, 2021 6 Comments

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 to CLEAR (free for United 1K members) and was soon past security and heading down to gate 77. Business class customers on flights from LAX to both JFK and EWR receive access to the United Club.

Although airports are beginning to fill up again, most concessions remain closed in California. With numbers strongly trending in the right direction, we may see a resumption of indoor dining in Los Angeles County as soon as this weekend.

Boarding began on-time. United continues back-to-front boarding, though premium cabin guests can board at their leisure.

United Airlines 1165
Los Angeles (LAX) – Newark (EWR)
Monday, January 18
Depart: 11:00 PM
Arrive: 06:33 AM
Duration: 04hr, 33min
Distance: 2,454 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 787-10
Seat: 4D (“Polaris” Business Class)

This was my trip to Washington, DC for the inauguration and I had booked it very last minute. As a result, I still got my upgrade, but all the window seats were taken. Still, this gave me an opportunity to try one of the center seats while traveling solo.

These first three cabin photos are from a prior trip report, courtesy of reader Mark

With the partition up, I never even noticed my seatmate.

The 787-10 business class cabin, called “Polaris” by United, features 44 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Rows 1-11, all between door 1 and 2, constitute business class. Seats are 20.5 inches (52 cm) wide and recline into a fully-flat 6’6″ (198 cm) bed. All Polaris seats include direct aisle access.

Seat controls

Flight attendants were cheerful and welcomed passengers onboard. Although no pre-departure beverages were offered, large water bottles were distributed shortly after takeoff.

An amenity kit was waiting at each seat which contained a dental kit, eyeshade, earplugs, and socks.

Sadly, United has removed it larger duvet from these premium transcontinental flight and now offers only a Saks Fifth Avenue throw. The blanket itself is very comfortable, but I find it far too small (and I even sleep on my wide in the fetal position). Thus, I bring my own blanket.

The goal of this redeye flight was to sleep. One upside to the pandemic is that meals are now served quickly after takeoff and on one tray, which was quite appreciated considering actual flight time was only four hours.

United Airlines offers hot sandwiches on most flights over two hours in domestic first class, but offers a larger meal on premium transcontinental routes. Dinner choices were cheese ravioli with asparagus or buffalo chicken with cauliflower risotto. I have had both dishes before and went with the chicken, which is served in a spicy sauce. The risotto compliments the dish nicely. Also on the tray: a salad, packaged bread roll, and mixed nuts.

Gelato was served for dessert and a Biscoff cookie prior to landing.

The full bar is also available and I had an Old Fashioned with dinner.

United offers noise-cancelling headphones, wi-fi, and an extensive in-flight-entertainment library of movies, TV shows, and games. I skipped all of that to go to sleep.

Prior to landing, I freshened up in the lavatory. Even during the pandemic, United has maintained its shared toiletries in the lavatory, including a Sunday Riley face mist and hand creme as well as a garment groom (like an instant cleaner) from Murchison-Hume.

We landed early in Newark.

CONCLUSION

Flying United Airlines during the pandemic remain virtually unchanged, almost a year later. Overall, the meal was tasty, flight attendants lovely, and I slept for over three hours undisturbed. I’d say United’s biggest room for improvement is bringing back the larger duvet/blanket on these routes, as the current blankets are simply far too small. It would be nice to have real glasses back as well.

Previous Article Horrible: Uber Driver Attacked By Vicious Female Trio
Next Article Texas Grandpa Receives Sweet Offer From Waldorf Astoria

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Lufthansa Panorma Lounge Review

    Review: Lufthansa Panorama Lounge Frankfurt (FRA)

    September 25, 2023
  • Delta 97 Diversion

    Delta SkyMiles Changes: Crazy Like A Fox Or Just Plain Crazy

    September 17, 2023
  • space perspective space tourism balloon assembly 700 foot table

    Space Tourism: Behind The Scenes At Kennedy Space Center

    September 17, 2023

6 Comments

  1. Andy Reply
    March 12, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    In two of your pics of the cabin (empty) – pics #9 & 10 – I noticed a male crew member not wearing a mask ???

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 12, 2021 at 2:02 pm

      If you note the caption, those first three photos were taken last March, just before that mask mandate went into effect. I should make that clearer.

  2. Joe Chivas Reply
    March 12, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    The pictures with the maskless crew made me uncomfortable.

  3. Greg Reply
    March 12, 2021 at 3:35 pm

    I wonder if they maintained the lav amenities because they were in there in early March 2020 and everyone is so afraid to touch them they haven’t been used for more than a year…

  4. kerrigjl Reply
    March 12, 2021 at 4:30 pm

    Side instead of wide?

  5. Island Miler Reply
    March 12, 2021 at 6:53 pm

    Huh. Polaris seats use a similar wheel selector as Hawaiian’s lie-flat product. Interesting!

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for September

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 60,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Boxing Exit Row
    “Rocky” Practices In-Flight Boxing In Exit Row September 28, 2023
  • Bread Basket Returns In United Airlines Polaris Business Class September 28, 2023
  • SkyMiles Program Modifications
    What SkyMiles Changes Will Delta Air Lines Roll Back? September 28, 2023
  • Delta CEO SkyMiles Changes
    Delta CEO Admits Carrier Went Too Far, Too Fast With SkyMiles Changes September 28, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Lufthansa Panorma Lounge Review
    Review: Lufthansa Panorama Lounge Frankfurt (FRA) September 25, 2023
  • Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport Review
    Review: Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport September 25, 2023
  • Pervert American Airlines Flight Attendant
    Update: Teenage Girl Found Hidden Camera On American Airlines Aircraft Toilet (Photo) September 18, 2023
  • Dine And Dash Shame
    Genius: Florida Restaurant Owner Shames “Dine And Dash” Customers September 6, 2023

Archives

September 2023
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  
« Aug    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss

Privacy Policy

© Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.