When we booked this trip, United Polaris was still called BusinessFirst. Last summer United unveiled Polaris and our reservations eventually updated to reflect the new branding on our Houston to Frankfurt flight.
We knew of course that United had only launched the Polaris soft product and that the new seats wouldn’t start appearing for another few months, but still felt kind of lucky to get to try the new service within the first month or so of its debut.
Coincidentally, we had flown United BusinessFirst across the Pacific during the last days of November, right before Polaris launched. That was unlucky. But it gave us a recent reference point with which to compare the new offering.
And that’s what I’m going to focus on in this review — the aspects of the flight relating to the new Polaris soft product. That’s why I’ve put Polaris in quotes in the title to reflect the fact that this isn’t the real Polaris, but it’s what you’ll get if you fly Polaris today.
This flight was also special as my wife — who is an entrepreneurship coach — would become a United Million Miler. I can think of worse ways to celebrate.
We had selected seats in the front of the forward cabin. Specifically, our family of five had the first two seats on the right side of the plane, and the two seats behind them. Then we also had one of the center section seats in the first row such that we were sort of in a cluster.
l like the first row on the 787 as there is a flat space above the screens where you can put stuff during the flight. Like your dinner tray if they don’t come around to collect it promptly, not that that would ever happen on a United flight.
The other advantage of this row is that the cut-out for your feet is rectangular and twice the size of the other rows.
United Polaris business class row 1
United Polaris business class row 1
United Polaris business class foot space in row 2
Each of our seats had an amenity kit in a sealed package
United Polaris business class amenity kit
With two pillows and two blankets, the bedding now takes up pretty much the entire seat.
United Polaris business class bedding
United Polaris includes two blankets and two pillows, all of which are Saks Fifth Avenue branded.
United Polaris business class bedding
So if you used to struggle with finding a place to stow your bedding, expect that to be worse now. For a family of 5, we could have pooled our resources and built a proper pillow pit!
One of the blankets is a soft comforter, kind of like the deep blue ones that United has offered in business class for years. It came tied in a bundle. The other blanket seemed like a heavier version of what you’d find in economy. I didn’t use it. I am a big fan of pillows though and would surround myself with them in bed if my wife would let me. So I appreciate the second pillow more than the second blanket.
Shortly after stowing all of our bedding, the flight attendant came around to offer a pre-departure beverage. My wife ordered a champagne, while the rest of us had still or sparkling water. They were served in funky plastic cups that basically can’t stand on their own, and instead require a special base.
United Polaris business class pre-departure beverage and truffle
United Polaris business class base
On the plus side, this base provides a place for them to serve a chocolate truffle.
United Polaris business class pre-departure drinks
I can only presume it was good because my daughter stole mine while I wasn’t looking.
Prior to take-off, I had mentioned to the international flight service coordinator that it was my wife’s million miler flight and that she would cross the threshold 500 or so miles into this flight. Mostly, I was hoping that perhaps he could get a signed souvenir from the captain. He said he’d let the captain know.
Well, sure enough, about an hour or so into the flight the captain came on the intercom and announced that one of their fellow passengers had just become United’s newest million miler. She was surprised, as I think she had forgotten that this was the flight. (I have no idea how one can forget such milestones in life, but I guess some people do.) I’m really just glad she crossed the threshold before dinner, because I’m not sure the entire plane would have appreciated being woken up for that sort of news.
United’s newest Million Miler
Moment at which my wife became a United Million Miler
With the celebration out of the way, it was time for dinner.
United Polaris business class features five entree choices. The menu is below, though I can summarize the options as beef, fish, Asian chicken soup, pasta, or a chicken salad. At least that’s how I explain the choices to my kids.
United Polaris business class menu
United Polaris business class menu
United Polaris business class menu
United Polaris business class menu
United Polaris business class menu
United Polaris business class menu
The drink menu is an insert in the main booklet.
United Polaris business class menu
United Polaris business class menu
We opted for executive dining on this flight which is where they basically bring everything to you at once. We often do this to help the kids (and us) get as much sleep as possible, and with the delay, it was going to be their usual bedtime shortly after take-off anyway.
The flight attendant seemed a bit confused as to whether we wanted all five of us to have executive dining (yes, please!) or just the kids. After we tried to clarify, she was concerned that they didn’t have enough space in the ovens for five meals. I got confused about the logic and just asked her to bring whatever she could as soon as she could. It worked out in the end.
One of the features of United Polaris is a wine tasting. I’m not much of an expert at these things, but I gave it a try.
Note that the photos of the wine tasting are from our return flight in Polaris because, well, I have kids.
United Polaris business class beverage service
United Polaris business class red wine
United Polaris business class red wine
United Polaris business class red wine tasting
Our meals arrived at once on a tray just as you’d expect for executive dining. Then again, it seemed like just about everyone was served this way, so I’m not sure if everyone ordered executive dining, if this is the Polaris norm, or if the crew just chose to do it this way.
I had the beef short rib.
United Polaris business class braised short rib
One quirk of Polaris is that there is no longer a breadbasket and instead you are served two pieces with the meal. The butter, though, is still hard as a rock. And the salt and pepper shakers look like golf balls.
United Polaris business class bread
United Polaris business class salad
United Polaris business chilled appetizer
The beef was perfectly done, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. And the grits. Oh my gosh. I don’t know if they put an entire stick of butter in them or what, but they were unlike any grits I’ve ever had in my life. Then I thought those green things were lima beans which are also on my no-fly list. But they turned out to be fava beans, lima beans’ tasty and not-at-all-mealy cousin.
Overall, my entree was great, best ever for United.
United Polaris business class braised short rib
One of the upsides of flying as a family is that we can do a once-around-the-menu. On this flight, I think we covered three of the five choices, as no one ordered the Asian chicken soup or the salad.
Here is the ravioli. It’s not that photogenic, but does look better in person.
United Polaris business class ravioli
And the seared turbot.
United Polaris business class seared turbot
Then came the cheese course.
United Polaris Business cheese course
Next it was time for dessert. There was the signature sundae or sweet treats, which include warm apple pie, salted caramel bar, and assorted dessert cups.
I had the sundae along with what is advertised as warm apple pie but turned out to be more like a cold apple pastry.
United Polaris business class dessert
The ice cream was surprisingly soft which is quite a change from the baseballs that United used to serve. In fact, I thought it was too soft, and it was also like this on our return flight so I’m thinking it might be a thing. The ice cream was served in a funky dish that seem a little too artsy to me, kind of like the pre-departure glasses.
We were also offered tea or coffee. United now has a selection of Stash teas to choose from.
United Polaris business class tea selection
With the meal service concluded, it was time to sleep. United offers pajamas on Polaris flights over 12 hours. This one, despite being one of United’s longer transatlantic routes, was only 9.5 hours. So basically, you’re not going to get pajamas on a flight to Europe.
To me that’s not such a big deal, but I do find it a little odd. There are, however, slippers available. But only upon request. I asked for a pair, but didn’t see anyone else with them.
United Polaris business class slippers
Another feature of United Polaris is that there are mattress cushions available. The flight attendants didn’t proactively offer these, but I did remember to request one, and it was delivered in a sealed bag for me to open and make my bed.
United Polaris business class mattress cushion
I’ve already mentioned the abundance of pillows and blankets. I liked the soft comforter and didn’t really have much use for the lighter one. It didn’t look particularly inviting to me anyway. I did appreciate the extra pillow, however. In fact, I very much enjoy pillows, and like to have enough such that I can surround myself with them. I’ll even borrow my wife’s in the middle of the night if necessary.
There was a basket of mid-flight snacks available, though I certainly didn’t need any.
United Polaris business class snacks
The Polaris breakfast is also slightly improved from before. The southwestern omelette sounded great, but the flight attendant warned us it was spicy, so the kids and I had cereal. My wife said the omelette was good though.
United Polaris business class cereal
Finally, the Polaris business class amenity kit is also a significant improvement over United’s previous versions. The case reminds me of one of my CD wallets, and is something I can easily imagine finding other uses for. It contains Cowshed products which are also found in the lavs.
United Polaris business class Cowshed products
United Polaris business class amenity kit
United Polaris business class amenity kit
United Polaris business class amenity kit
United Polaris Business Class Bottom Line
Overall, my impressions of the Polaris soft product are favorable.
The three aspects of note are the food and beverage service, the bedding options, and the amenity kit, and all of them are definitely better than before.
That said, there’s nothing here that’s going to make you go wow, this is amazing. Perhaps that’ll come when the new seats start arriving in a few months.
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