Each Polaris lounge features an open and airy design, restaurant-quality a la carte dining, and an aviation-themed cocktail menu. But at this point, with roughly 100 Polaris-equipped planes in its fleet, United is doing a much better job delivering on its hefty marketing promises. If youre a business owner, see our list of the best Chase business credit cards. United used to offer a Polaris tracker for fleet and lounge updates but is no longer updating it. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. The airline had plans to open Polaris lounges in four more locations, including United's hub at Washington Dulles (IAD) and three international locations: London (LHR), Hong Kong (HKG) and Tokyo (NRT). United also retrofitted all internationally-equipped Boeing 777-200ERs, though it won't be installing the new seats on its domestic-configured 777-200s, which typically fly within the mainland U.S., and select flights to Hawaii and Guam. The industry standard flight tracking platform for business aviation (BA) owners and operators. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. 48 flat-bed seats in United Polaris Business Class, 88 in United Economy Plus, and 116 in United Economy. The retrofitted 767s are a much simpler story. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.). Im sure that would be helpful for a lot of people. Did you know that FlightAware flight tracking is supported by advertising? @Matthew Im not a UA hating troll either. You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One if you have a card like The Platinum Card from American Express or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Register now (free) for customized features, flight alerts, and more! The first is AwardWallet. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. There should be greater loyalty to American workers, because it affects all of us in the United States when our good jobs are sent packing. Find addresses, hours of operation, and product capabilities for our cargo facilities. The Polaris lounges have been a huge step up from the carrier's tired old United Clubs and Global First lounges. Several features will be offered at the Polaris lounge at Dulles, including: A private dining section, where you'll be able to order la carte items Related: Want to make sure youre flying real United Polaris? Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Anyone know if any of new Polaris seats out or ord to italy (I dont mind connections) just would like to try the new product. (Happy anniversary and birthday to us!). Im glad not to likely sit in any more 2-4-2s. Editors note: This post has been updated with additional fleet information. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card, click here. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. That would drive the demand to open the Polaris Lounges (and justify one in HNL). Mainline Config by type. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. Uniteds business class product has not had a good reputation for quite a while, so the upgrade to the new Polaris product is a much-needed improvement. I quickly changed our reservation back to a middle pair of seats, but without AwardWallet's help, I might have missed this important change. 777-300ER - All 22 aircraft have Polaris (60 seats) and installation of Premium Plus cabins (24 seats) is complete. We may be compensated when you click on links from one or more of our advertising partners. Please understand that a flight listed as "Delayed" may, depending on the . Weve removed that link from our article. The 767-400, which is returning to service for the ramp up in summer travels, will not be retrofitted at this time. The mid-sized 787-9 is the only Dreamliner type with a mix of new and old seats. United's older configurations always had two seats on the sides. Here are the one-way cost for Polaris award tickets booked through Singapore: While these costs are relatively higher than United and Aeroplan, especially for trips to Europe and Asia, the ability to mix and match your transferable points (by transferring some Ultimate Rewards and some ThankYou points, for example) is a nice option to have. Thank you. The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax or legal advice. There are also a bunch of ways to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to Air Canada and used to book this product. With China and Hong Kong flights currently grounded, the 77Ws typically appear on the following long-haul routes from Newark (EWR) and San Francisco (SFO): Meanwhile, the 787-10s are currently being used for premium transcontinental service between Newark and Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco, in addition to a number of international routes: If, on the other hand, you're flying on one of United's 777-200ERs, 767-300ERs, 787-8s or 787-9s, you might not be as lucky. The seats in even-numbered rows face the aisle and do not have quite as much privacy. ), Hot Tip:Check to see if youre eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card! Polaris cabins will always have either have a 1-2-1 or 1-1-1 configuration. While some people like surprises, I'd much rather know exactly which plane I'll be flying before I leave for the airport (as well as its tail number, recent flights, safety record and more, but I can be a bit nerdy like that). It is nice to hear that the final 767-300s, 777-200s, and 787-8s are now undergoing modification. Find the right card for you. REALLY disappointing. This website uses cookies. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Since then, United has had repeated delays in expanding its new flagship product, but most aircraft are finally equipped with the new seats. We'll do our best to update this guide as additional planes are retrofitted and new routes are added. Is there any place we can complain to? Although it took a while, most long-haul international United flights now feature the airline's top-notch Polaris business-class pods. United currently has 33 aircraft with the Polaris seat installed. $189 CLEAR Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. Crocs vs. 'Stocks: Which is the superior travel shoe? No United product is nearly good enough to be worth the extra flying, layover, border crossing and potential delays at ORD. 788, 10 complete, last 2 now in mod And thankfully, there are no fuel surcharges when you redeem KrisFlyer miles for United-operated flights, so expect to pay less than $10 in taxes. What you're hoping to see instead is the 1-2-1 configuration shown below: This tells you, at the very least, that this flight is currently scheduled to be operated by a Polaris equipped jet, but as we'll talk about in a minute even that isn't a 100% guarantee. Hi Cindy. The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced, provided, or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned. Quickly purchase historical reports delivered via email. View container compatibility with our aircraft. In fact, Im a Star Alliance loyalist (not blindly Ive been lucky to have fabulous service and experience on so many SA carriers including UA). I am sure some planes have the Polaris seats now, but I have not seen them on 787s, nor the 777s or 767. Editorial Disclosure:The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced, provided, or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned. Connect to our Wi-Fi network. With several ways to earn points and book award flights, you can take numerous approaches to try out United Polaris. We have an extensive network of lounges around the world for you to visit. And I say that as a 1K for many years, and currently a Plat. United has since taken delivery of all 22 of the 777-300ERs (also referred to as "77Ws") that it had on order. Thankfully, United has come a long way since those early days, taking delivery of new aircraft equipped with the sleek Polaris cabin and retrofitting dozens more even during the pandemic. There are a lot of aviation mechanics in the United States, too. Hopefully that will change soon. Thus, I doubt it will. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. Since you'll find Polaris primarily on long-haul flights to Europe, Asia and South America, we'll focus on those destinations. 3. When you say they arent on the upgrade list, if, after calling United, have they verified theyre showing on the list? The original plan was not to retrofit the 789s. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content. By using and further navigating this website, you accept this. Products. For IAD, I long was under the impression that the reason was that most of the transcon traffic to DC was governmental/ corporate contracts, so unlike NYC, they did not think they needed to make it attractive, just direct. United also maintains a subfleet of 777-200 aircraft dubbed HD for high density that it uses for leisure markets like Hawaii. On the results page (which may take some time to load), you'll see the bad news: on a number of future dates, including Feb. 19, 2020, UA881 appears to be operated by the old eight-across configuration, a far cry from the sleek Polaris seats. Domestic business class and first class passengers (including to and from Hawaii) wont have access either, even if the flight is marketed as a p.s. This will fast-track your check-in process. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card. Although the program no longer has an award chart, you can still book Polaris seats at reasonable rates when there's saver space available. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. Passengers on a Star Alliance partner booked in business or first class on an international long-haul flight can also access the Polaris Lounge, but only if they are departing from that airport. (premium service) flight. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. In many cases, these cards will be the fastest way to earn tons of United miles. Check out our guide on how to upgrade to business/first class on United Airlines here. The amenity kit includeslip balm, hand cream, eye shades, socks, a pen, and more. Let's start with the good news: If you're flying on one of United's 21 777-300ERs or 11 new 787-10s, you are absolutely certain to get the new seats. United Airlines will do everything practical to ensure we provide the most accurate flight status information at all times. Related: The best ways to maximize Air Canadas Aeroplan program. Uniteds new Polaris amenity kit comes in a small Away luggage case, which is really cute. FlightAware Firehose Streaming flight data feed for enterprise integrations with real-time, historical and predictive flight data. The update on their website has not been updated in a year or so. An important point to remember is that United Club memberships do not gain you access to the Polaris Lounge. For more information on the Polaris experience, you can check out the following TPG reviews: While the Polaris soft product (food, service, amenities) rolled out a little early, the full experience, including the redesigned modern seats, launched in early 2017 when United took delivery of its first Boeing 777-300ER. Option 1: On the homepage, find the Recent Vehicle Order module. Its pretty embarrassing. We tried to challenge the charge and they denied it completely and didnt even address our issues. How Many United Airlines Aircraft Have Been Retrofitted To Polaris Business Class Cabin? This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). After that, our next choice would be a slightly less private even-numbered window seat, followed by a seat in the center section. We are continually looking to improve our flight tracking and the airports below are where new receivers will add the most coverage. The fact that UA revealed the then new Polaris product in June 2016 means its been nearly 5 years and aircraft are still waiting to be retrofitted is right on par with the how Berlin Brandenburg airport was rolled out. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. U.S. to Australia & New Zealand: 80,000 miles, U.S. to Asia: 105,500 - 115,000 miles (depending on final destination), U.S. to Australia and New Zealand: 130,000 miles. This was fun for a while, but Spencer was intrigued by the idea of flying in business and first class! Polaris Lounges are a part of the United Club lounge network, but they are only exclusive to passengers on Polaris flights. Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience. However, you can currently find them on several domestic routes, mostly to Hawaii. the infamous eight-across, "dorm-style" cabin, an A350-900 featuring Qatar's excellent reverse herringbone business class seats, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ask ExpertFlyer, flew a 772 retrofitted with Polaris seats, Where to sit when flying Uniteds 777-200 Polaris business class, Touring Uniteds first 787-10 Dreamliner (Polaris, Premium Plus, Economy), United just hit another major milestone in its Polaris retrofit program, United exec details reopening plans for airport clubs, Polaris Lounges, several different programs make booking United awards, transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points, How to get maximum value from the United MileagePlus program, Heres why you need a healthy stash of Avianca LifeMiles, The best ways to maximize Air Canadas Aeroplan program, Singapore's KrisFlyer program has undergone some devaluations in recent years, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. You can use it both as a standalone device and pair it with various fitness apps . Is there a Polaris flight from San Diego to Dublin and what is the approximate cost? United continues to change the Polaris catering offering so that a number of items from the original Polaris launch are now only available on request: Further cuts previously announced include: As we mentioned earlier, the Polaris inflight entertainment system comes with a 16-inch touchscreen monitor. United Express Fleet. Find a United Club location or other lounge using the tool below to enjoy free snacks and beverages, high-speed Wi-Fi and more. A personalized flight-following experience with unlimited alerts and more. UNITED Fleet Website. None of Uniteds 16 Boeing 767-400s sport the new cabins, though many are still parked in long-term storage due to the pandemic anyway. A lot of thought went into designing these seats, which include storage cabinets, side tables, and personal lamps. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. That said, United does a grilled-cheese sandwich with tomato . On a sidenote, I never understood why UA doesnt offer trans[continental] premium service to BOS and Dulles (and possibly MIA) at least on the red-eyes.. Note, due to United's approach with this roll-out, the information below is constantly changing. Alachua, FL, 32615. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Above the 16-inch inflight entertainment system, youll find a bar to help you stand up from your seat without rocking the person in front of you. United said it will start retrofitting its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with its new Polaris seats, replacing the current sub-par option that's been on the aircraft since 2014. While not a perfect indicator, a change in seat assignment often corresponds to a change in aircraft type. . Email needed if you'd like comment updates. We take your comments very seriously as they really help us to improve the site. The ultimate flight tracking suite for small aircraft/general aviation (GA) owners and operators. However, it generally still means you'll check in at a kiosk rather than with a United agent. When you book a business class seat on Singapore Airlines, for example, you will have an awesome meal that you can reserve before your flight to ensure you get exactly what you want. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. What you described happening last February is quite a long time ago. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Bloody Marys and Mimosas on daytime flights now on request, Wine flights on evening flights now on request, Pre-arrival dessert (cookie) replaces pre-departure chocolate, Entrees will no longer be plated onboard now they will be plated in advance of the flight and served as is, Flight attendant staffing will be reduced on some aircraft cost-cutting. Full-screen FlightAware TV maps for operators or FBOs. Thanks love this site! The new Polaris seats are swanky. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. The United Boeing 767-300ER version presented here is a fully refurbished aircraft. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. Hot Tip:Check to see if youre eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 150,000 points with the Amex Platinum card! has been a frequent flier for as long as he can remember. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card, click, For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card, click, For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, click, For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. 763 High J, 19 complete, last 2 now in mod United is a Star Alliance member, so several different programs make booking United awards easy. 5 For all United Economy tickets, Premier Gold members can check two complimentary bags at 70 pounds (32 kg) each for travel between the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Globe Evolution Progress. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. returning to service for the ramp up in summer travels, subfleet of 777-200 aircraft dubbed HD for high density, Ridiculous: Pregnant Woman Denied Glass Of Water On American Airlines For Safety Reasons, Review: Avelo Airlines 737-800 Burbank Santa Rosa Burbank. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. In the future, you can consider purchasing fully refundable tickets so that you dont need to pay such exorbitant amounts. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E, Nearly five years ago, I took a break from I, United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Currently, just 16 planes have the new Polaris seats, including the 14 777-300ERs United's already added to its fleet, along with one 767-300ER that underwent a retrofit this summer, with tail number N644UA, and a second that will resume service any day now. We purchased tickets last February from Columbus, SC to Venice. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. United Polaris business and domestic first class, Star Alliance and Premier elites, certain credit cardholders, and travelers who purchase Premier Access can use United's Premier Access check-in line. Avoid that at all costs! United used to offer a Polaris tracker for fleet and lounge updates but is no longer updating it. If your primary concern is locking in a lie-flat business-class award seat on a specific date to a fixed destination, the old planes will get the job done just fine. United Airlines MileagePlus Loyalty Program Review, United 787-10 Polaris Business Class Review - Los Angeles to Houston [Detailed], Full List of U.S. United Club Lounge Locations, Hours & Amenities [2023], United Club Infinite Card - Full Review [2023]. Thanks. Related: How to get maximum value from the United MileagePlus program. The rest should be completed by summer 2022. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Similarly, the Polaris Lounges are a significant upgrade to the current United Clubs. United has come a long way since the early days of the Polaris business class launch. See our Advertiser Disclosurefor more details. Just like there are certain planes (777-300ER and 787-10) that guarantee you the full Polaris experience, there are ones (787-8 and 787-9) that almost guarantee that you won't get Polaris seats, at least not yet. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Aircraft Daily Status. Fair point, but think how much the retrofit process has been accelerated during the pandemic. For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here. The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! welcome bonus offer of up to 150,000 points with the Amex Platinum card! Enrollment required. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. They should be able to accommodate your allergies if they know ahead of time. It's up to you to decide how much you care here and how much risk you're willing to take. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Your closest option would be flying non-stop to London with British Airways. Polaris Routes Operating with the B777-300ER San Francisco - Hong Kong New York/Newark - Tel Aviv Seats in odd-numbered rows will provide the most privacy since the window seats are truly next to the window, and the seats in the middle section are also set back from the aisle. Please please please include meal ingredients on each flight. Related: Touring Uniteds first 787-10 Dreamliner (Polaris, Premium Plus, Economy). Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. This means that on a given route, the exact same plane type may have a different seat configuration from one day to the next. Is there any chance UA will ever market the long haul Hawaii flights as Polaris? Aircraft specifications. The 787-10 has all 44 of its Polaris seats spread across 11 rows in a single cabin. With United's retrofit program nearing the finish line, chances are your long-haul international business class flight will feature the superior Polaris seats. I booked Polaris Business seats. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. United Mainline Fleet. Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This divider can even be up during takeoff and landing. We'll also cover some tips on how you can book these swanky flights. . 78X/77W, all delivered with Polaris/PP The aircraft contains United's Polaris, Premium Plus (Premium Economy), Economy Plus, and Economy product as of 2019. It replaced the old business and first class products that United previously used on many international routes.