United Airlines is running an auction this week for two seats in Polaris (business) class on a special Chicago to San Francisco flight debuting its new 777-300ER and Polaris Business Class seats. But how much is too much?
The Auction
Here’s how United describes the auction, currently going on here with about 48 hours left–
Reserve your seats on the invitation-only preview flight aboard our first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. You and a guest will immerse yourselves into the world of United Polaris(SM) business class and enjoy the one-of-a-kind offerings typically reserved for the world’s top international fliers.
Featuring the new United Polaris direct-aisle-access-lie-flat seats, high-end amenities from Saks Fifth Avenue, luxury products from Soho House & Co’s Cowshed Spa products and culinary creations by The Trotter Project and United executive chefs, United Polaris business class is truly luxury reimagined.
Beginning in the United Polaris lounge at Chicago O’Hare, you will enjoy the entire United Polaris experience, from lounge to landing. The flight will depart from Chicago and land in San Francisco, and while you’re in the air you’ll have access to United AirlinesSM representatives as well as the partners who helped bring United Polaris business class to life.
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of aviation history and experience firsthand United’s shining new star of business class.
The package includes:
- Two tickets to experience United Polaris business class on United’s first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft
- Depart Chicago O’Hare on Monday, February 13, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. central time
- One night hotel stay in San Francisco (double occupancy)
- Check in: Monday, February 13, 2017
- Check out: Tuesday, February 14, 2017
- United Economy domestic airfare for two to Chicago O’Hare on Monday, February 13, 2017
- United Economy domestic airfare for two from San Francisco on Tuesday, February 14, 2017
The Fine Print
The bidding is currently at 243,000. The fine print specifies you must 1.) 21 years old to bid 2.) you cannot check a bag on the Polaris flight and 3.) you won’t earn miles for the ticket.
No word on whether you’ll be staying the luxurious Red Roof Inn at SFO or the St. Regis.
No Bids From Me
I think it is nice United is doing this and I would love to be on the flight. Nevertheless, the price tag is absurd and my mantra on inaugural flights is this — I hope to fly on the launch of every new aircraft type, like I did when Qatar launched the A350. I also plan to be on certain retirement flights, like United’s last 747-400 flight this fall. But I’m just not all that interested in this inaugural flight because I know I’ll get many chances to review the seat and the new 777-300ER in the months ahead.
Thus far there have been 13 bids, six of them from the current high bidder. Will you be bidding?
Ummm…nope. No way that’s worth 250k miles. You can buy a seat in F for $650 to fly from SFO to EWR a couple of weeks later. That’s what I’ll be doing. (I tried to get on the official launch on the 16th, but they wanted $2k+ for an F ticket.)
Jeez, they can’t even include first class positioning flights? Pony up, United!
While I want to try the seat, thats not worth it. The Polaris soft product isn’t even that great compared to what GlobalFirst use to be (sushi cart, setting your tray, etc.). On a SFO-HKG flight I got beef short rib and grits. Don’t get me wrong, it was fine, but I also got the same exact thing in domestic F on SFO-PHL.
I wonder why you can’t check a bag on the international flight….
The day that I will make a bid for this flight will be the same day that hell freezes over…