United Airlines has today announced what it’s calling ”the largest overhaul since 2016 of United Polaris.” I wouldn’t say that these changes are all that substantial, so perhaps it reflects how little has changed about United’s international business class product (well, other than the reduction in food quality). Let’s go over the details of what’s…
Continue reading: United Polaris Gets New Therabody & Saks Amenities
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@ Jason -- No changes have been announced regarding those, so I'd imagine they're the same as before.
Unrelated, Ben are you going to cover the big SAS leaving Star Alliance (at a later time) and joining SkyTeam news?
While I like the Away ones better, content wise this seems to be a positive change.
Oppose to Delta which is completely trash and a huge fall from Tumi.
Consider the prices Tim Dunn approved for Delta One and how Delta is treating its customer, we should have all noticed it. The writing was all over Someone Somewhere.
Makes me feel bad from all those hard working artisans from Michoacan and Oaxaca that are forced to knit trash for a greedy corporation.
@ David -- Yep, working on it right now! Sorry, am in Japan and woke up a bit ago, so always a bit of a rush when waking up. Stay tuned, and thanks for the interest.
ages ago I put a pencil to the hard cost of all those, minus the samples of "beauty" supplies, way under $1. Dinky little bag, maybe another $1. And United is proud of that?
While the contents of the amenity kit, the kit itself is a small "bum bag" with a strap to go around one's waist - a virtually useless bag except for, perhaps, carrying a pair of sunglasses.
Normally, I find uses for the amenity kits themselves after I use the toiletries, toothbrush, etc. I use them to pack electronic cables, medication bottles, and other small items. However, I received the new kits on a recent round-trip to Japan, and the straps just got in the way while onboard and the bag was useless in real-world terms. I kept the toiletries and threw away the kit bag itself. Their previous "Away"-branded kits were much better.
Has Tim Dunn analyzed what the EBITDA impact is of locally sourced amenity kits?
I know we are all worried about the proxy statement impact for delta if United starts locally sourcing amenity kits. Are they grass fed?
Agree - strap on bag is annoying. Product is meh except for lip balm - the most important thing in the kit for me - is AWFUL! Blanket is fine.
The only useful amenity kit case I’ve gotten in recent times is on LH. The case doubles as a reusable shopping bag to do your groceries.
completely agree. Flew MAD-IAD on Saturday and the food was disgusting. The steak was uneatable and the 2nd meal was "crispy" chicken sandwich that was even worse.. It was my first and last time flying United...
It's not a bum bag. It's a cross body bag which is in fashion now. If you google it you'll see how it is intended to used. Hope that helps.
Which is weird, right? Since it was reported in recent weeks that they were running out/out of stock on many of the 12+ hour flights and it was surmised it was because new pajamas would be part of this refresh. I guess it's just poor planning/supply chain issues.
Who really thinks Saks Fifth Avenue is premium or luxury. They really need to find a new and more current brand to partner with. Saks Fifth Avenue just screams 1980s to me.
This can't be Polaris 2.0 because no one has been complaining about the bedding nor the amenity kit. United customers want better quality food. We want to see restoration of the FA position in business class for better service.
The new bedding is fine, just flew iah to nrt. The pillows are very similar if not the same. The new blankets are an improvement. There was no mattress topper and no pajamas on a nearly 14hr flight. That is a big miss if you ask me. The amenity kit is solid, nothing great. I preferred the hard away case more.
Flew Polaris for the first time post-pandemic in June - it seemed like the food in particular had gone from quite good (particularly in the Polaris lounges) to questionable.
It made me wonder if Polaris wasn’t too far away from a refresh. If this is what’s counting as that refresh, it’s not terribly encouraging for the future outlook of the product.
I flew lax nrt ten days ago and they had the therabody amenities and sax blanket. I was given a mattress pad but no pajamas.
The food and wine was a big improvement from the last time I flew Polaris which was pre pandemic. The short rib was well cooked and in addition to the normal wines the had 2019 Groth Cabernet which I love and costs $75 a bottle. The service was friendly and attentive. Only complaint is the seat is a bit narrow.