First Hand Look at the New United Polaris Business Class Experience
I like to fly business class for long flights not because I'm super fancy, or need caviar and champagne at the ready, or because I want to feel elite or special...I fly it (usually on miles) because I want to get as much sleep as possible on the flight to maximize my time on the ground. And though it probably sounds bizarre and maybe even Silver Spoon-ish to some, I also like my kids to be able to lay down and get as much sleep as they can, too. I don't need an Etihad Residence or Apartment in the sky in order to get some decent hours of sleep at 36,000 feet, but I do need to lay down, and preferably have a pillow and blanket. Anything on top of that, is just icing on the in-flight ice cream cart sundae.
Because I don't need over-the-top luxury in the sky, I live at a United hub in Houston, and I want to business class award costs as reasonable as possible, I have flown United BusinessFirst far more often than other premium airline products. It's a million times better than coach, but as far as premium airline seats go, it's not the fanciest experience out there. The seats are lie-flat, which is the most important aspect, but the rest is relatively perfunctory. I am totally okay with that.
First Hand Look at United Polaris Business Class
However, I am also more than okay with United stepping up their game. I wrote about their total overhaul of United BusinessFirst into a new United Polaris experience when it was first announced, but today I got to experience what Polaris is all about first-hand at a media event at the Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
It's more than a new business class seat, though there will (eventually) be that, too. It's really a whole new concept that touches everything from lounges, to the type of plates they use on-board, to the drinks served, to the in-flight menu, to the pillow selections, to of course the seat itself. Based on what United is saying, and what I saw today, this is not a new name to an old product, it's a new direction for their international premium cabins that they are deservedly very proud of.
New United Polaris Lounges
The experience starts before you take-off with the nine new Polaris Lounges that will begin to open on December 1, 2016, with the first opening to be the Chicago Polaris Lounge near gate C16. Eventually they will be located in all of the United mainland hubs (other than Denver), as well as London Heathrow, Tokyo Narita, and Hong Kong. Some will be total new spaces and some will be conversions of existing United Clubs or United Global First Lounges. The Houston Polaris Lounge will be on the third floor of the current United Club in Terminal E with its own private entrance and elevator. Access to Polaris Lounges will be solely dedicated to those flying Polaris and not granted to those who simply have United Club membership, Star Gold status, have one-day passes, etc.
In the new lounges there will be full service sit-down meals available in case you want to eat first and then sleep more on the plane (or eat twice...). There will also be sleeping pods, a "mother's room" (though it doesn't sound like there are any family rooms), a bar with top shelf selections, nice showers, and more. The virtual reality tour they had of the lounge concept was really pretty impressive. It isn't Lufthansa First Class Terminal impressive, but it is certainly a couple notches above the current United Clubs.
New United Polaris Business Class Seats
Even though the Polaris soft products take-off on December 1, 2016, the new Polaris business class seats will be on a different time table. The first brand new Boeing 777-300 with the Polaris seat gets delivered to United in December 2016, and will reportedly do some domestic runs for a couple of months before entering international Polaris service in early 2017. And I very much hope to be on one of those first flights. It will take until around 2021 to complete the Polaris seat uprades, so be patient with this part of the overhaul. The new 787-10 and A350-1000 aircraft in the future will come with the new Polaris seats and some of the existing 767-300 and 777-200 fleet will be retro-fitted.
Some things I liked about the new seats are that they all have aisle access in a 1-2-1 layout, they offer under foot rest storage, the tray table, and side table, and cubby allow for ample in-seat storage, and the seat felt roomier than some of the United BusinessFirst seats I have flown in. It is 23 inches wide and extends to 6 feet 6 inches, so even my husband should be able to stretch out for sleeping. That said, it will probably still feel a bit cramped to some - especially if you aren't a side sleeper.
There are other nice touches with the new Polaris seats such as retractible privacy dividers between seats, a simple dial to put the seat into sleeper mode and back again, some nice soft lighting, a "do not disturb" indicator, 100% forward facing seats, and an overall great mix of privacy without claustrophobia overkill. Again, the seat will be the slowest part of this project to finish, so don't count on that being a definite on your United Polaris flight for a while to come.
I was also told that there will be bassinets in the new Polaris cabins, which is great news for family travelers. Sorry to those who hate the idea of babies in premium cabins...
United Polaris Bedding
The in-flight bedding will be available on December 1st, and it is pretty exciting. The bedding is from Saks Fifth Avenue and will feature a mattress cushion, a light day blanket, a heavier duvet, and a menu of pillows that includes a memory foam type cooling pillow that feels great - it's the blue one shown below. The seat I tried out today with the new bedding was really, really enjoyable. Even the old seats with the new bedding should be great.
They will also offer soft cotton pajamas and fleece slippers upon request on flights longer than 12 hours. The amenity kits on all Polaris flights will feature upgraded socks, a much-improved eye mask, and Cowshed products.
United Polaris Food and Beverage Service
I didn't get to sample any food or drinks at this event, but the new Polaris menu will reportedly be much improved and designed in conjunction with Charlie Trotter-affiliated chefs. There will be fun touches added like a mimosa and bloody mary cart during the morning portion of the Polaris flights, an in-flight self service bar and snack area, and a chocolate truffle served with your pre-flight beverage.
As a United flyer and miles and points collector, I am genuinely excited by the direction United is taking with Polaris. I think the several years they put into designing a totally new premium cabin experience will pay off in terms of a new fun and enjoyable way to travel United. I'm glad I have United miles and Chase Ultimate Reward points at the ready to experience this new product sooner rather than later.
If you want to learn tons more about Polaris you can head to United's Polaris website or even check out my clips on SnapChat from today's event. I'm also more than happy to answer questions based on what I saw today.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.