United Airlines has begun rolling out its highly anticipated new Business Class product, United Polaris. Featuring an improved inflight dining experience, comfy custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue and exclusive amenity kits containing products from Cowshed Spa, this all-new Business Class is the airline’s most radical product tranformation in more than a decade.
United Polaris was announced in June and after much hype, the airline finally started rolling out the first phase of its reimagined experience on December 1st 2016. Business Class passengers travelling on intercontinental flights can now enjoy a new inflight food and beverage experience, new amenities, and the first United Polaris lounge at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Eventually United will introduce a new seat too, although this won’t be introduced until 2017, when it will make it’s debut on the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The seat will subsequently be introduced on United’s Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as on Boeing 767-300 and 777-200 retrofits.
Spotlight on sleep and relaxation
In order to come up with a reimagined experience, United conducted over 12,000 hours of research, discovering that sleep is the single most important priority for Business Class passengers. United Polaris has therefore been designed with sleep and relaxation in mind, featuring custom-designed bedding by luxury store Saks Fifth Avenue. Designed to provide the best sleep in the sky, the new bedding collection includes plush duvets, lightweight day-blankets and a large and small pillow for each United Polaris customer. In addition, mattress cushions and gel-cooled pillows will be available upon request.
Slippers will be available on all flights, and customized United Polaris pajamas will be available by request on flights longer than 12 hours. The new amenity kits feature ergonomically designed eye shades, calming pillow mist and additional products from Soho House & Co’s Cowshed Spa.
Even the inflight entertainment system has a focus on sleep and relaxation, featuring a dedicated channel loaded with Slow TV, soothing nature scenes and guided meditation sessions from Headspace.
Improved Dining Experience
Upon boarding the aircraft, United Polaris customers will be welcomed with a pre-departure beverage and gourmet chocolate. On morning flights, passengers can choose a sweet and bubbly Mimosa or create their own savory and spicy Tito’s Handmade Vodka® Bloody Mary. On afternoon and evening flights, passengers can create their own wine tasting menu, with a customized wine flight with options curated exclusively by United’s Master Sommelier.
After take-off, customers will enjoy regionally influenced menus developed in partnership with The Trotter Project and its critically recognized chefs, including Chef Bill Kim of Chicago restaurants Urbanbelly, bellyQ and Belly Shack and Chef Jesse Dunford Wood, chef-owner at Parlour in London.
For dessert passengers will get to savour made-to-order signature ice cream sundaes and a dessert cart with a variety of mini dessert options. On daytime flights longer than eight hours and on all flights longer than 12 hours, hot mid-flight snacks such as lobster macaroni and cheese will be available.
One-Of-A-Kind Lounges
United will also open a series of United Polaris business class lounges in nine locations around the world that will feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers, bespoke art and installations by artist Wolfgang Buttress. The first lounge to open to the public is at Chicago O’Hare International Airport near Gate C18. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow will follow.
Hot meals will be served in a boutique restaurant setting, enabling passengers to relax and dine in comfort before their flight. Premium sparkling wines and spirits, refreshing snacks and bottled water will also be offered.
A new seat
In order to create a truly unique Business Class experience, United Airlines decided to create an exclusive, custom-designed seat as opposed to selecting a design already available in the marketplace. Designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and PriestmanGoode and manufactured by Zodiac Seats United Kingdom, each United Polaris seat will offer direct aisle access, 180-degree flat-bed recline and up to 6 foot 6 inches of bed space.
Passengers will be able to relax in their own suite-like pods, which feature feature a “Do Not Disturb” sign, mood lighting, one-touch lumbar support, several storage areas and multiple surfaces for simultaneous working and dining. Each pod will have a 16-inch HD entertainment screen and electronic privacy divider so that passengers can watch movies or TV in complete privacy.
Want to experience the all-new United Polaris for yourself? Call SkyClub on 0207 255 1234 to get discounted private fares you won’t find anywhere online.
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