Just one of them (N670UA) is in the most premium-heavy Polaris configuration, with 46 business seats. The main coach cabin had just a handful too. On Business Class, United wins. At least the Christie Cookie Company snickerdoodle cookie was good! At Newark airport, United’s supposedly “elevated pre-packaged food offerings” consist of shrink-wrapped pretzels and cookies. Each window seat is either flush with the window (my preference) or the aisle. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. The Polaris business class cabin was deserted, and the Premium Plus cabin completely unoccupied. I was given a laminated card showing my PreCheck status, allowing me to keep my shoes on and my laptop in my bag. One of the first things I noticed when I boarded was how clean the plane was. Hand sanitizers were readily available, and the reception and customer service counters were equipped with plexiglass shields. Going forward, you’ll find me in the last row of the cabin in the single seat flush with the window. I kept snapping pictures of the cabin and aircraft. The selection included gummy bears, pretzels and kettle chips — much more limited than before the pandemic. Featured user comments. There is no lounge for connecting passengers. Options were “beef, fish, or pasta”, with Economy undertones. Expect lie-flat seats with plenty of personal space on the 777 and 787-10. As for United’s “goal of disinfecting seats after each use and upon request”, it was indeed merely an aspiration. That doesn’t make too much of a difference for transcon UA flyers. United re-opens first non-hub lounge at Honolulu airport . If you’ve got PlusPoints to burn, now’s a great time to consider using them — especially since international travel is largely off-limits for the foreseeable future. The entire meal was presented wrapped on a single tray, express style, to minimize health risks. I was flying on a Wednesday afternoon, and the airport was empty. The JetBlue Mint review has already published. And so was the cookie (which is traditionally served at the end of the flight.) The flight attendants—who outnumbered paying business class passengers—were truly gracious and attentive, and did their best with what they had to work with. At the time, the airline started taking delivery of new planes with these top-notch biz pods. The two things I missed most were the old fashioned and Saks duvet. After staying mum on the topic for months, United released late July a video highlighting the new United Club experience. In addition to the United Club near gate C74, United normally operates a luxurious Polaris Lounge for intercontinental business class customers, a modern, full-service lounge in Terminal A, and a temporary pop-up club near gate 93. BA (2-4-2 or 2-3-2) still charge for seat selection in business class unless you’re an elite. But they’re not shedding much ink on service cutbacks, and especially those that impact intercontinental premium cabins. We're very excited about our brand new international premium cabin service — United Polaris SM first and business class — which offers comfort and relaxation for restful sleep in the sky. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates on airport lounges! You’ll now find a mix of Boeing 757s, 767s, 777s and 787-10 Dreamliners flying cross-country. United has eliminated roughly half of the seats. Every airline is making adjustments to the meal and snack service. The entire Economy Plus section had just one passenger. United is trailing behind competitors in virtually every regard when it comes to the lounge experience—in terms of lounge availability, food offerings, and showers. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. Seats are arranged in an alternating 1-2-1 configuration. Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. The bathrooms, however, were abysmal, just like in pre-pandemic times: old, cramped, and of questionable cleanliness. The security officers’ workstations just received a major upgrade. United will also open an exclusive portfolio of United Polaris business class lounges in nine locations around the world – the only lounge of its kind offered by a U.S. airline to business class customers – that will feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers, bespoke art installations by artist Wolfgang Buttress, and chef-inspired hot meals served in a boutique restaurant … Before the pandemic, the major U.S. airlines competed fiercely on some of the popular and lucrative routes between the New York area and Los Angeles and San Francisco. We have so many questions about this meal. Well, the hard product is still the same — and that’s a great thing. Upon entering the plane, every passenger was given a sanitizing wipe and gloves by request as part of United’s CleanPlus initiative. Contact the business for more information about recent service changes. Onboard dining in Polaris business class is at economy class levels, and nothing can justify serving breakfast directly on a tray table without a tray or linen. Now, due to JetBlue’s Newark expansion and the depressed travel market, flights have dropped to $399 each way. For one, I chose to fly midweek with the hope that it wouldn’t be too full. Unlike pre-pandemic, there was no menu available at the seat. Along with a revolutionary onboard product, JetBlue also upended the legacy pricing strategy for the transcon market. The club was so quiet that it was almost unrecognizable from its former incarnation. United is staying clear of making any groundbreaking adjustments, focusing instead on the fundamentals: mandatory masks, touch-free check-in, social distancing, cleanliness and electrostatic spraying, plexiglass shields at the bar and reception counters, shrink-wrapped snacks, and hand sanitizer dispensers. Flying United’s best domestic product was exhilarating. There were no other options available. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The new acrylic barriers on display at SFO are currently being installed at airports across the country. While the Polaris Lounge remains shuttered, he explained that Polaris passengers are eligible for enhanced amenities, including “top-shelf alcohol” and additional food options such as a cheese plate. The only available wines were mini-bottles from Economy (other airlines manage to open regular bottles without a health risk.) United Polaris business class offers aisle access to every seat and full beds to every passenger ... WHO commits to ensuring equal access to COVID-19 vaccine. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The arrangement is a much more effective measure than signage encouraging customers to keep seats open. Economy Plus passengers used to be served a small meal on this flight, but that’s been temporarily suspended. First Class customers benefit from a dedicated area in London with a higher-end menu. The airline is also building a new flagship club near gate C124 in a bid to permanently mitigate crowding. Read user reviews for United Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 5. One option is the United Polaris lounge in Houston, the airline's luxe international business class lounge. Polaris passengers are treated to limited complimentary libations, but the lounge isn’t cleaned regularly, mask usage is spotty, and pre-flight dining and showers are all distant memories at this time. Dinner, however, was a simple affair. To make sure you know what to expect with United Polaris travel, see below for a few key reminders. Image zoom You don't have to wait. To be fair, the salmon was tasty. Related: The one major social distancing challenge I’d like to see airlines fix. There was no cleaning staff in sight, despite the fact that the club has many touch points. Welcome … Expect to see reviews of American Flagship First and Delta One shortly. © 2021 THE POINTS GUY, LLC. In addition to the new cabin, United is unveiling Polaris business class lounges in eight airports around the world, including Chicago O’Hare’s lounge, which opened in December. Our United Polaris® business class service is designed to bring a new level of quality to every aspect of premium cabin travel - from lounge to landing - and provide the best sleep in the sky. (It paid off; we departed with just 32 of the 50 Polaris pods taken. While domestic travel in the US is slowly ramping up—flights are increasingly full, and security lines have returned at most airports—COVID-19 has decimated international travel. Seats are staggered, which means that the window seats alternate between being closer to the aisle and window. Much to the chagrin of my sweet tooth, the ice cream sundae cart has been temporarily removed. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Visit our COVID-19 resource center for information on how the pandemic is impacting airport lounges. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. United isn’t providing meals for most domestic flights (even if you’re sitting up front). Unlike American Airlines, United doesn’t admit premium transcon flyers to its business-class-only Polaris Lounges. In Europe, British Airways, who typically doesn’t shine in the lounge department, has rolled out a-la-carte service with mobile ordering and at-seat delivery, for all guests. The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly altered international travel, and it’s still unclear when the situation might stabilize. The 777-200 is configured into four classes; United Polaris business, Premium Plus, Economy Plus and Economy. Most stores and restaurants were closed, so the majority of passengers were sitting by the gate. 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. This is the perfect place for distancing — far from others and limited crew disruptions. We will use information provided on this form to be in touch with you. Five months later, the Star Alliance carrier is trailing domestic competitors with regards to re-openings: Polaris Lounges are still closed, and only a few United Club locations remain in operation at key hub airports. Priced at $32.99 for the entire flight, speeds were some of the best I’ve experienced in recent memory. However, some COVID-19 measures are cost-cutting moves that masquerade as hygiene enhancements. I’ve always slept great in the Polaris pod. Related: The ultimate guide to United Polaris. « Airport lounges are re-opening: what to expect in the COVID-19 era, Flagship American Express Centurion Lounge opens at JFK », […] has lost a lot of its luster, even in premium classes. Once the first group got off the plane, the crew called for another. As a Premier 1K, I’ve had plenty of experience with United’s often unreliable Wi-Fi network. Clear and PreCheck queues were open, but I was funneled into the main security line after the ID check. Travelers flying United will soon be able to enjoy a bit more room to catch some inflight snooze time. Most guests snack and drink and therefore have a legitimate reason to take their mask off. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. Related: 7 ways the United Club experience has changed due to the pandemic. Learn more about our focus and commitment to our customers, dealers, employees and communities EN-CA The lie-flat seats are 52cm wide and 198cm long, made all the more comfy by those velvety Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, specifically that irresistibly cloud-like pillow and baby-soft light… The United Airlines Fleet Website. In coach, United offers an all-in-one snack bag with two snacks, a bottle of water and a sanitizing wipe. United’s transcon product has been pretty consistent over the past few years. Unlike American Airlines, United doesn’t admit premium transcon flyers to … By clicking on Subscribe, you acknowledge that information that you submit will be transferred to MailChimp in accordance to their Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. That doesn’t make too much of a difference for transcon UA flyers. (But, so much for “any top-shelf alcohol.”) The bartender opened a mini bottle, poured into plastic cups, and promptly stashed the bottle away. On transcon flights, you used to receive a pillow and Saks duvet. How does the airline fare with a single, capacity-restricted club? share Read Article. The sesame to this world of bliss: a (dated a numbered) card, to be presented to the bar tender. Edit. Members of the loungereview.com team report on their recent experience traveling in United Polaris business class from Newark to Paris. On the brighter side, the traditional liquor selection is available. In United Premium Plus ® and United Polaris ® business class, your entrée, bread and single-serve cup of ice cream will be served together. At Newark airport, the United Club near gate C74 offers a quiet place to work, but not much else. We passed. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). They also have a serve yourself snack bar on the plane, that includes wine. Fortunately, it worked well on my flight. However, UA is making an exception for premium transcons. United Polaris Lounge This lounge is temporarily closed. We use MailChimp as our marketing automation platform. Polaris Lounges nationwide remain shuttered, and all eligible passengers are invited to use the standard United Club. ” in 21 reviews “ If I ever need another 6 hr layover in Chicago, I wouldn't hesitate to book the flight. 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