Although it is hit or miss, if you have flown United Polaris Business Class lately you may have received this cute stuffed animal–
I received one on my flight home from Frankfurt last week.
If you notice, the bear is named Ursa (stitched on the left leg of the bear with the United Polaris logo on the right side). On the back is a cape with the “New Spirit of United” slogan on it.
These bears may just be marketing gimmicks but the name Ursa was the result of a contest among employees. Why Ursa?
Meet our limited edition United Polaris bear, officially named Ursa – after the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper), anchored by the star Polaris. Features her name embroidered on her paw as well as a special cape showcasing the “New Spirit of United.”
The Secondhand Market for Polaris Bears
Check eBay and you’ll see this bears are going for between $40-50:
I’m certainly tempted to sell my two bears. Gotta love the stolen blanket on eBay as well in the first listing. If I were United I’d flag that listing as stolen items.
It makes me wonder if we sometimes fail to see these Polaris bears onboard because FAs figure they can make a couple hundred dollars each by dividing the “booty” among themselves…
Sensing the popularity of these bears, United is now selling them to employees for $7.99 each. I suspect that if supplies last, they will eventually be offered to the general public at the United Shop, probably for a bit more than $8.
CONCLUSION
If you take one thing from this post, take this–don’t buy them on eBay, yet. The prices are going to drop.
On the media preview flight for Polaris from Chicago to San Francisco, I told Oscar Munoz that United should get out of the transportation business and just sell bears. Much higher margin. He said he’d consider it.
Seriously… I haven’t seen a polaris bear on eBay go for less than $50. United sold their March of Dimes / Olympic bears for $25, why not do the same for the Polaris Bear and help some worthwhile cause. They did have the bears and onboard items (blankets, amenity kits, pj’s) on the United Exclusives auction site, but are sold out.
I’m surprised how much they are going for. I wonder how much longer United will keep them on the flights?
Do you want to sell yours? My daughter is thrilled that her cousin gave this to her as a gift. However her cousin changed her mind to take it back couple days later.
Just flew to NRT BC and no Bear 🙁 just an old looking basic make up kit looking bag. I am saddened.