Review: United Business Class 777-300ER San Francisco To Hong Kong

Looks nice. I still think I'd prefer delta one over this though (not to mention many foreign carriers)

Hey Lucky, I've noticed recently that the started writing 'the below picture' a lot. It feels a little clunky and 'the picture below' would parse better to my eye. This may be one of this British English vs US English thinngs.

How was the cinnamon roll?

Also, you were first onboard...I wanted to see one of your great pictures of the economy cabin!

I think you got it exactly right - it's a great improvement on the previously horrible product but nothing to write home about. When (or if) they finish installing it in 5 years, they are likely to be lagging behind again.

how is that "one of the top 5 business hard products out there"?
it looks cramped and busy

surely these 5 products all beat it

-reverse herringbone
- apex
-vantage XL
-singapores new seat
- staggered like thai's

how wide are the actual seats?

In 5 years this won't be that good of a product as others would catch up and UA will be back where they are now.

I have flown it twice now. Not impressed really. I didn't think the food was that great on the flight, or the wine. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, just not good.
I don't know if you had this on your flight, but every time I have flown to China, the FA's are nowhere to be found for over half the flight. They rush through the dinner service, then hide in the back or front of the plane. Then they rush through breakfast. I have to hunt them down to get a bottle of water or a snack. Seems like international carriers (IMO) do a better job of having at least one flight attendant walking around or checking on passengers to see if they need anything and are proactive about it. It's something that I consider so small for a FA to do but makes such a big difference.
Because of that, I rather use my United miles to fly on almost any other airline over United.

Glad you are back to reviewing airlines that I may actually fly, Kuwait and Ubekistan airlines, not so much, sorry but I didn't even read those. Maybe try to fly more pedestrian airlines between the exotics, a bit more. thanks. I really do like your blog,

I've read multiple bloggers saying how they thought the Pre-departure Beverages were a nice touch. Do other airlines not do this? I'm a UA 1K and PDB's are standard on every flight (domestic and international) in premium cabins. I had a PDB on UA Express from IAH-PHL this week.

@ Jack -- On most airlines, you don't get a pre-departure beverage of choice in international business class. Usually the choice is just between water, juice, and sometimes champagne.

Hello Lucky,
nice report, it almost makes me consider flying with a US airline, again (something I refuse since 9/11). Do you know, where the gel pillow comes from and if one can buy it somewhere? This could be a nice travel pillow for tropical destinations.

I am not a vegetarian however I did notice there were no vegetarian options on the menu. Isn't that odd now a days?

Great review.

Minor typo in penultimate graf: I *though* the food was solid, though nothing special. ... [make it "thought"]

"Ultimately this represents a huge improvement for United, though the product as such is hardly revolutionary."

Five sentences later:

"Overall Polaris represents a great improvement for United, though there’s nothing revolutionary about it."

A+ writing.

@Lucky:

$100,000 question: Would you go *out of your way* to fly this product again? If so, what factors must be in place to do so? Like, does it have to be the lowest fare by $X or Y number of points? Take into account ground services at origin/destination, crew demeanor, etc.

So many bloggers and acquaintances keep saying, "This is a great improvement...for United," clearly qualifying that statement by reiterating that this is a leap forward for an otherwise terrible airline, but is still a shitshow compared to other carriers that are constantly refreshing their cabins/service - sometimes twice in the same amount of time it will take UA to get their act together with this moderate upgrade.

I know you are focused on critiquing the products rather than the economics of the airline business, but I think it would be interesting to have a conversations between the approaches to their revamped business classes between the US carriers. Unlike DL and AA, United has gone with a significantly larger J cabin with no true Premium Econ product (at least not yet). I think that it's safe to say, that upgrades, mileage redemption might be easier on United premium cabins given the size of the cabin. So is the slightly better AA and DL products worth the trade off for less overall seats which might hurt upgrade/redemption chances? Is having a Premium Econ product worth the trade off for less J seats?

I've heard from CO execs years ago that they don't have to have the 'best' product in the market. Just good enough to stay competitive. I think Polaris fits this narrative.

@Mikal finally someone noticed! I am a vegetarian I have issue with that more than you. Having to go through special meal orders, and in some flights, not seeing the special meal delivered to the plane, is a nuisance.

Oh and that meat looks like it was fresh out of slaughterhouse!

Maybe you should also disclose how much money United has paid you to do this?

Hold on... is that a printed wine list?! United used to not do that, claiming the wine selection changes too often. Is the wine list part of the changes they made with Polaris?

Breakfast as the second meal on a daylight westbound?!

@ Calum -- It's a tricky meal for airlines to serve, though sadly pretty standard. Agree it's a bit odd.

@ Jacky -- I disclosed that very clearly in the introduction. They paid me negative 75,000 LifeMiles and negative $5.60 in taxes.

That plastic champagne flute ‘hooking’ into a plastic base with a chocolate on the side is the tackiest thing I have ever seen on a plane. Who eats chocolates when they board a plane? What is so wrong with using an actual glass for a premium beverage rather than something you would use when camping?

UA Plat here. I actually think that the service flow is a downgrade from previous service on pm-CO planes/routes. Standard pmCO BusinessFirst service was trayless, appetizers and salads were delivered as separate courses with dressing, croutons, and cracked pepper added to the salad tableside by cart (similar to KE F), and a cheese trolley with cheese cut and plated tableside. Oh, not to mention a bread basket with choice of bread (though that was true of pmUA service in BusinessFirst as well). That being said, I do appreciate the improvement in food and (especially) wine quality, as well as the updated bedding!

I do appreciate that UA has a full bar available pre-departure on international flights. Even in NH F last week I was approached with a pre-poured tray of OJ or Champagne only. The Champagne was not Krug for PDB (not sure what it was, perhaps it was the J Champagne), and I was not offered a refill. Once in the air the service was flawless, however.

American has downgraded their business class snack bar on the 777-300 since your review, unfortunately. The last few times I've taken it, it's just been bottles of water and some packaged snacks. United's spread here looks nicer, frankly.

Why should the bother with glass to drink such cheap wine- clearly below the competition. Those wines can be had for $10 to $15 at Retail (at least the 2 reds I checked).

Everyone talks about how cheap the plastic cup is; clearly that matters more to most than the wine quality.

Why would they put such an antiquated entertainment controller on a brand new seat?

you said you were in "18L, which is a window seat in the last row". It's not really a window seat though, it's more like an aisle.

@Alex E....my thoughts exactly.

I also noticed the menu very similar to the Eastbound one Matthew from "Live and Let's Fly" had on his recent flight to Germany. The entree(s) looked identical to yours but the appetizers were completely different. Nowhere on your smoked salmon dish was there the promised "nori wrapper," and your soba noodles were just an afterthought to a large traditional salad while his was an entire bowl of noodles. Certainly United has standardized these items, but different caterers must be interpreting them to their own whims.

Even with all these changes though, I would still actively avoid UA for international travel. There are just too many other superior carriers. They're fine for short haul domestic travel, but a few bottles of $10 wine and a grilled cheese sandwich isn't swaying me.

Having flown in the Polaris cabin (not on a Polaris flight) and Delta One's reverse herringbone, I much preferred United. The seat itself was much more comfortable, the privacy of the true window seat was awesome, and the food and service on Delta were nothing to write home about. Plus, people complain about the lack of storage on United, but Delta is significantly worse. Delta A350s notwithstanding, I'd pick Polaris over One any day. (No, I don't work for United, nor was I paid by them to leave this comment.)

@Alvin "Also, you were first onboard…I wanted to see one of your great pictures of the economy cabin!"

It's 10-across Y. Just imagine a medieval torture chamber and then squeeze everyone together until you have to take turns to breathe. Or imagine a 1700s TATL slave ship with 400 slaves chained together below decks and no sanitary facilities, except slaves were actually worth something to their owners, unlike pax to UA FAs.

For a premium product in 2017 you'd expect specialty coffees to be served, esp. if UA highlights "Our partner: illy".

To me, in J, the main meal's main course is the most important part of the food service, and as such I find the short rib pretty sad in its presentation, appearance, and with the apparently blend tasting rice and veggies, the opposite of what Lucky describes as "solid" food service.

I'm flying Iah to FRA in August and back from AMS and trying to figure out which seat is best for sleep. Business is wide open so I have plenty of options. It is 777-200 each route. Any suggestions appreciated.

Lucky (or anyone who has flown this), I have this flight upcoming for a family of 4. What seats would you recommend for family of 4?

@Julie...6A is the best seat on a UA 777-200

Have you flown DL's 330/747 recently? Curious how the US carriers compare to each other, AA DFW-HKG vs UA SFO-HKG vs DL SEA-HKG

@lucky did they turn off the main cabin light for this flight . I just flew on SQ non stop SFO-SIN flight . Took off at 1130am. And I would say annyoingly the main cabin light was on for 11 out of 16.5 hours of the journey . Doesn't make it easy to sleep. I understand it's a day time flight but still when all pax gets personal seat lights why couldn't they turn off the main cabin light ? And also agree with @calum after the long flight, that arrives 7pm in Singapore , meal before landing was breakfast. Odd I thought

Lucky, how do you expect boiled rice & veggies to have flavour? Just asking?

Handsome LUCKY - you said "For businessclass, this was a really impressive kit, in my opinion."
Please remember Polaris Class is not a new term for Business Class.

Polaris (class) is a new term for the new aircraft combining Global First and international Business Class.

@lucky - it was curious to me that they do not mention what type of champagne they have.Does it really change that frequently? What was poured or actually offered on your flight for champagne?

Call me shallow but I want that bear ........

Interesting you say that pre departure beverages aren't common, @Lucky. Every single international business flight I've seen has given out a PDB. Im very surprised you say its not common...

@ schar -- Pre-departure beverages of CHOICE on international flights aren't common in business class. Usually you have a choice of a couple of things, but you aren't asked what you'd like.

Dcdan there is no 6a on these flights. It goes from 5 to 8 in numbering.

I have flown about 8 or 9 flights in Polaris since it was rolled out. The bedding is nice but apart from that I don't see any difference. I haven't been on one of the new 777-300s yet. I agree with most of the comments here. Once I make my points for 1k I fly Singapore Airlines to Asia and onward to Europe and vice versa (sometimes Thai) but going to Europe I tend to fly Lufhansa if I'm not going to the UK if it's not too expensive (often a lot more than UA) and I can afford it. I don't fly codeshares very often because with some exceptions (like Thai) you can't get advance seat assignment and that often makes a huge difference on aircraft.

[email protected]

I just returned home from Singapore last night in UA Global First SIN-HKG and then Polaris t on the 77W HKG-SFO and then the same plane (domestically marketed as PS) over to Newark. I love the new airplane because with no First Class there is no incentive to Upgrade and waste miles. There were 3 of us in row 9 - 2 center seats 9D and G I think and then L. Row 9 is a bulkhead and the ottoman area where your bed folds into is bigger than any of the other rows. Row 9 is better than Row 1 if you have carry on as there is no overhead bin on 1DG as that is taken up by the pilots crew rest. I was traveling with my husband and friend from college, so the two middle seats together in Row 9 are nice and private if you like to chat. And if you don't you can just raise the divider.

Personally I am glad they got rid of the second pillow because you really don't need it and it just clutters the cabin.

There was a bit of Galley noise but since we has started out in Indonesia I was pretty wiped and barely made it through lunch. Slept almost 9 hours.

The mood lighting is great as on the 747 the lights came on pretty suddenly. I like the cabin decor and while I pretty much only fly UA I have to say the 1-2-1 seating is amazing since we are still subjected to the 2-4-2 Polaris seats on the 772's.

The biggest difference I noticed, and this was my 4th 773 flight with UA, was how tender the beef was. Apparently UA cooks the beef in one oven, chicken in another, pasta a third and can't even remember what the 4th was. I last flew out in Global First on a 747 and the beef was like rock hard and tasteless. So a big improvement there. Everything else was plated and the the appetizer is definitely a step down from the usual smoke salmon with something else. The bread is plated as is the cheese, and the sundaes are suspended until July due to issues with the new ice-cream glass bowls splintering. They served vanilla ice cream out of a cup but at least it was British-style ice cream which I love, and they had some able pie and then smaller bites like macaroons. All in all I am not a big plane eater no mater what flight so while maybe the presentation seemed a little underwhelming the short rib was cooked to perfection.

If you have issues with noise row 9 is next to the Galley and we had a chatty crew, but I passed out for most of the flight. But for those sensitive you might want to sit a few rows away.

Odd number seats by the window are best if traveling alone and you really feel well off to yourself and very private. I haven't been on a Dreamliner yet because I feel their dispatch rate is still a bit unpredictable, so flying on a brand new widebody does feel very special when the United Aircraft haven't had any real mods in like 10 years.

We departed onetime and arrived early into San Francisco. The same plane brought us to Newark so as GS we were able to access the Global First Lounge which has Laurent Perrier Rose as the main champagne, and I love it.

Got back on the same bird 2 hours later and had a very nice continuation onto Newark - so much nicer and quieter than the 757's. All crews were great but after so many years you realize a few jokes and silly traveling companions will win over anyone's heart.

Overall, since my only mission with flying is to requalify for GS Status each year, which I can give to my Husband as my sigOther, I spend a lot of time on UA planes. It's such a great benefit if Newark is your home airport because those secret checkins that open up to the front of the security line - worth hours of my life every year.

As Global First is going to be removed from all UA aircraft, probably by the end of the year, this new Polaris 77W is perhaps a bit less spacious but totally more private unless as Ben said you get an even number row. But with 60 seats and booking 3 weeks out we were able to get into the odd number rows - and then the cabin s filled up completely in the last week. So I think as long as you can book three days before you should be able to get an odd row.

Thumbs up to United - the seat is always the most important part of any premium cabin and while I am sure UA is behind others the experience was just really refreshing and comfortable. Thank goodness!!!

Adam

I could put up an argument that Delta’s “Westin Heavenly Bedding” (especially on longer routes for the lumbar support pillow) is better then Saks Fifth Av.. Good review though.