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San Francisco-Tel Aviv Will Be United's Next Polaris Route

Brendan Dorsey
Articles
Brendan Dorsey is an Associate News Editor at TPG who covers nearly everything for TPG including aviation, credit cards, points, miles, ride-hailing services and more. He previously worked for TIME.
Jan. 21, 2018
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3 min read
United 777-300ER 77W Polaris Business Class Preview
San Francisco-Tel Aviv Will Be United's Next Polaris Route
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After a slow roll out of Polaris, United's new business class product, the airline has announced the next route that will feature the new seat. The carrier will debut a new 777-300ER with Polaris on the San Francisco (SFO) to Tel Aviv (TLV) route starting May 23, 2018. United currently flies a 787-8 between the two cities.

I'm using my extended upgrades to fly Polaris to Taiwan.
United Polaris on a 777-300ER.

The move comes just weeks after El AL announced they would be operating their new 787 on the same route, which features El AL's new hard product that is quite similar to Polaris.

United is dramatically increasing capacity on the route with the replacement of the Dreamliner with the 777, and it will continue to operate the flights on a daily basis. The 777 features 60 business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, versus only 36 on its 787. Economy on the 777-300ER will be quite cramped, with 204 seats in a 10-across, 3-4-3 configuration.

It won't be a particularly comfortable trip to Tel Aviv if you're in economy on United's 777-300ER.

While the airline says it has "Polaris" on many of its flights, it's really just the soft product with upgraded bedding, amenity kits and food. United has been slow to actually offer the new hard product — better seats all with direct aisle access. It's taken delivery of only 14 777-300ERs with the new seats and reconfigured two 767s with them.

Currently, United is flying its new 777-300ERs with the Polaris hard product on these routes:

  • Newark (EWR) to Tel Aviv (TLV)
  • Newark (EWR) to Tokyo (NRT)
  • San Francisco (SFO) to Auckland (AKL)
  • San Francisco (SFO) to Beijing (PEK)
  • San Francisco (SFO) to Frankfurt (FRA)
  • San Francisco (SFO) to Hong Kong (HKG)
  • San Francisco (SFO) to Taipei (TPE)
  • San Francisco (SFO) to Tokyo (NRT)

There appears to be good award availability when the product debuts on the San Francisco-Tel Aviv route this summer.

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Polaris awards on the new route will cost 75,000 MileagePlus miles plus $5.60 for a one-way flight when booking through United.

H/T: Dan's Deals