United’s third Boeing 777-300ER will go into service between San Francisco and Tokyo.(Photo: United)
As United takes delivery of more 777-300ERs, it will be bringing its new Polaris business cabin to additional international routes – and it just released word of a big transpacific change coming in a couple of months.
Routesonline.com reports that United will put a 777-300ER with the new cabin onto the San Francisco-Tokyo Narita route effective June 14. The new aircraft will be used for UA 837/838, replacing the current 747-400; United’s other daily SFO-NRT flight uses a 787-9.
The Tokyo service will be the third international route to offer United’s new premium cabin and service. Last month, the new aircraft started flying between San Francisco-Hong Kong, and in early May, it will be used for one of United’s two daily Newark-Tel Aviv flights. The aircraft going onto the Tel Aviv route is temporarily being used for Newark-San Francisco flights.
A window seat in United’s “real” Polaris cabin on B777-300ER (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
“Real” Polaris? United rebranded its entire business class experience (both old and new) last fall and now calls both Polaris. This has led to a lot of confusion and misplaced excitement when passengers book business class on United and see “Polaris” on their itinerary or boarding pass. Many mistakenly think that they are going to get the new seat (seen above) when in fact they will get the old business class seat, but the new “soft” Polaris products like upgraded pillows and blankets, more elaborate food & drink offerings like wine flights or bloody mary carts.
So remember that for now and the near future, you’ll only get the new or “real” Polaris business class seat if you are flying from SFO to Hong Kong or Tokyo, or from Newark to Tel Aviv.
Current “old” business class onboard United’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner is also called Polaris (Photo: United Airlines)
United has ordered 14 of the new 777-300ERs, all due for delivery this year, but it hasn’t yet said where they will be used beyond the routes mentioned above. They are expected to go mainly onto transpacific routes.
A few weeks ago, word came out that deployment of the new planes might be pushed back later than the original timetable because of a supply problem. Specifically, the European manufacturer of the new Polaris seats is having trouble producing them on time.
Here’s our first look at the interior of the 777-300ER, including all classes of seating, with plenty of photos. United eventually plans to remake the premium cabins of its other long-haul aircraft models with the same new Polaris lie-flat seats that are going into the 777-300ERs.
ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here
In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you.
Don’t miss out! Join the 200,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!
This is not Global First. Have you flown the Polaris since its roll out? Not sure you’re aware how much planning and training went in to the soft experience, but it was a LOT, down to very small details. Give it a chance. But most people just like to get on the “I hate United” bandwagon which is so popular these days
I think it’s wrong and misleading to call this”Polaris” service. You are mostly buying the seat and frankly for United to take the name in December and in May only have three planes with true Polaris service is wrong.
Why does this airline continue to screw it’s passengers, in lies and terrible service. I strongly feel that if they brand it “Polaris” then they should tell you that your flight does not have the seats that are a major part of the new service.
How many times does United Airline have to shot themselves in the foot with terrible service and lying to get passengers???
Lipstick on a pig. Seats and cabins are only part of the travel experience. I’ve flown UA Global First many times…horrible experience. UA’s international routes are seniority based, so you’re more often than not, stuck with old-old FA’s that have as much attitude and customer experience enthusiasm as DMV clerks.
For this slow roll out UA’s supplier must be taking a beating?