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 the inaugural flight to Singapore. Festivities including a dedicated check-in counter and special menu at the United Club heralded the new flight, currently the longest nonstop flight to/from the USA.
Uniformed military member and United Global Services members were invited to board first, followed by Polaris Business Class passengers.
United 37
Los Angeles (LAX) – Singapore (SIN)
Friday, October 27
Depart: 9:25PM
Arrive: 6:20AM+2 (actual arrival 4:51AM)
Duration: 17hr,55min
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Seat: 7B (Business Class)
United 787 Seating
Although called “Polaris” the business class seats aboard the 787-9 are United’s traditional 2-2-2 business class seat we have seen for years. They are quite comfortable, but some will complain that window seats do not have direct aisle access. These seats will not be updated to the new Polaris seating (no United Dreamliner will be updated).
I’ve discussed my philosophy about these seats before — I’ll just reiterate here that all I need is a comfortable lie-flat bed and I’d rather climb over a neighbor or have a neighbor climb over me than miss out on an upgrade. For a “luxury budget” traveler like myself, I appreciate denser business class cabins.
I took a look at economy class as well and counted nine across in economy. It looks tight, but the seating configuration is optimized for open middle seating when the flight is not full.
Anyway, I settled in and was welcomed aboard by purser Shauna McDonald. She stopped by each seat in business class, introducing herself and wishing passengers a special flight. I learned that the crew onboard (LA-based, ex-Continental crew) was hand-picked and also operated the San Francisco to Singapore inaugural last year. It showed. Each member of the crew was excellent.
United 787 Bedding
Like all United longhaul flights, excellent bedding from Sak’s Fifth Avenue is provided. On each business class passenger’s seat is a pillow, light blanket, and heavier blanket. Mattress pads and cooling memory-foam gel pillows are available upon request. Quantities are limited so ask right away.
United 787 Amenity Kit
Menus and amenity kits were distributed prior to departure. Pre-deapture beverages and chocolate were also offered. For the next few months, United is honoring its 747 with a specially themed amenity kit. It’s contents include 747 trading cards and 747 socks!
United 787 Pajamas
Pajamas are not proactively offered, but available on all United flights over 12 hours. I noticed nearly every passenger in the cabin changed into pajamas, something that I have never seen on other ultra-longhaul flights I have been on. Slippers were already present at each seat.
United 787 IFE + Wi-Fi
As we took off precisely on schedule, I checked out the IFE for the long journey ahead. United has a great selection of movies, games, and TV programming. I ended up watching Alien: Covenant, a sequel to Prometheus. Although I’m not quite sure why I’m drawn to this particular sci-fi genre, I enjoyed it.
I also connected to wi-fi, which was $36.99 for the entire flight and unfortunately worked quite poorly. When wi-fi doesn’t work well or is down for long periods of your flight, request a refund with United–they will not argue. As an aside, the wi-fi worked well on my return journey.
United offers noise-cancelling headphones in business class:
United 787 Dining
Dining began after takeoff. Today’s flight would feature two meal services, dinner after takeoff and breakfast prior to landing. For those still hungry, hot and cold snacks were available in the galley throughout the flight.
Here’s a look at the menu and wine list.
I began with a “Wine Flight”, tasting all three white wines and choosing a very nice Resiling from Washington State. Wine was served with mixed nuts.
The appetizer contained two cold Thai lemongrass shrimp. I was happy to see a return to green salad instead of the noodle blend or coleslaw we’ve seen masquerading as salad on international flights over the last several months. Garlic bread and a pretzel roll as well.
For the main course, I tried spicy chicken in a coconut-ginger broth. I’d heard good things about it, but was a bit hesitant about it. Turned out it was delicious. I highly recommend this if you like a nice spice. You know me: I rarely order any sort of Asian cuisine, but I really enjoyed this.
That was followed by a cheese course:
And finally an ice cream sundae with petit fours. United still uses paper cups to serve the sundae after discovering its specially-made glass bowls cracked under the pressure of sub-freezing temperatures.
> Read More: For Your Protection, No Ice Cream Sundaes on United Airlines
Between meals, snack carts in the galley offered additional snacks. Hot grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup were also available upon request.
Sickness Strikes
I reclined my seat and went to bed, managing to sleep for about eight hours (thankfully). Note here United has individual air vents on the 787-9 which help tremendously. But when I woke up I felt sicker than I’ve felt in years…perhaps sicker than I’ve ever felt.
I outline the details here. No need to rehash them here, except to say it was a rough seven hours to Singapore. I appreciated that the crew 1.) noticed I was sick (I must have looked really horrible) and 2.) kept constant watch over me for the remainder of the flight.
> Read More: When You Get Sick in the Middle of an 18hr Flight…
Pre-Arrival Breakfast
I was extremely sick, but asked that my breakfast be delivered just so I could take a picture of it. I didn’t touch it, which is a shame, but here it was–
CONCLUSION
Obviously my sickness made an otherwise enjoyable flight absolutely miserable. My trip report on the return flight will be a better gauge for what service is like. Nevertheless, I love being able to fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Singapore and will continue to defend United’s “outdated” business class as the best possible compromise between comfort and cabin density. I always sleep well in United Business…even when I’m sick.
Upon landing in Singapore, we were met with music and celebration.
All passengers onboard the inaugural flight received a complimentary passport case with the United Airlines branding on it.
But plastic cups? That is horrendous!! Even on premium economy I have received glassware.
Plastic cups are only for pre departure while boarding.
I’ll take SQ business with a stop over United every time. Matthew, I just don’t understand your love for United. I really don’t love ANY of the US carriers…. I’ve g9tten so spoiled that I can barely stand a 4-hour flight without a lay flat seat!
somehow everything looks like it’s 1997, not 2017… too much cheap plastic and chinese made fabrics…
What is wrong with Chinese fabrics? 90% of everything and anything is made in China these days..
Ah so this was the flight you got food poisoning on!
Wow that’s what polaris looks like? The new praised polaris? Looks exactly like LOT business. New business product and they still go for 2-2-2? excuse me while I practice polatis to step out of my seat. Looks like EU and Asia carriers have nothing to worry about.
To be clear, United now calls all business class “Polaris” but these seats are not the new Polaris Business Class seats. So far those are only on 777-300ER and a single 767-300 aircraft. I did mention this in my review.
“Polaris” is an all time great bait and switch example
Wow! I’ve never seen one of those UA passport cases before!
Will be doing this flight later this month. I saw the 17 hour and 55 minute estimated time. I may bite the bullet and buy wi-fi just to keep sane! Although, if it doesn’t work as well, I’ll be sure to take your advice and bring it up with UA customer service. The joys of being Premier!
Did you get a chance to see what they were serving in economy?
(albeit yet to be done) but….STILL not Polaris seating? Why do I see the new Polaris seating on a SFO-EWR flight recently but United can’t put the new (actual) Polaris seating on the longest flight ?? What is (always!!) wrong with them ?????
The white wine selection should have been better in Biz class!,! What was the champagne brand?
So sorry you were sick the last part of the flight! I had a similar run on the SFO-SIN route and had a very pleasant flight. Yes, I agree that Polaris is a bit ahead of its time in that most people won’t get a chance to sample the hardware but I did get to go the Polaris club in Chicago after a flight from London and it is pretty good. I do prefer SQ over UA on Asian runs but dislike having to change airlines on the West Coast, so only do SQ from Europe on point-to-point or layovers in SIN.
Thanks also for the note on the sundae glasses. I had not not noticed that 🙁
Respectfully, I couldn’t disagree with you more regarding your assessment of United purser/lead flight attendant Shauna McDonald (or is it Shauna MacDonald?). She was part of the crew on a recent flight in which I was a passenger, from LGA to ORD. It was either in late 2016, or early 2017 (I think early 2017). For one thing, she talked A LOT…and even average or mediocre pursers/flight attendants know the skill of using an economy of words when addressing the cabin. If anything, it respects the peacefulness of the experience, not to mention letting passengers comprehend just what they need to know in terms of details, safety, etc. But in Shauna’s case, it was evident she mostly loved hearing herself talk, and…get this..seemed to have a big ax to grind. This LGA-ORD flight, if I recall correctly, was a mid- to late-afternoon departure (say 4:00 pm since I’m usually on that one), and, sure enough, taxi time at LaGuardia was extensive during that peak period. Shauna’s tone when policing the fasten seat belt decree was very negative and you could say even mean-spirited…which, while never appropriate, certainly isn’t on a flight with a long taxi time, on a marquee route with some of your best customers. I was thankful I didn’t have to get up, but I felt sorry for those who did, and sorry for myself to have to repeatedly listen to this unnecessarily over-cautious tone. Especially late in the day when we’re all a bit tired to begin with. And please, don’t tell me she was just being safety conscious. Again, the best flight attendants know how to both enforce and relax rules, given an extreme circumstance…and they certainly find it’s better to be more effective to be succinct when doing so.
Every once in awhile, on every airline, you get one of these (bitter? power tripy?) flight attendants who love to hear themselves talk and police the lavatories like their life depended on it. Every one has a bad day, but is sure seemed like Shauna McDonald/Shauna MacDonald was full of herself. Maybe she’s taking these ‘promotions’ to inaugural flights a little too egocentrically?