Our Marketing Manager, Blake, flew United Airlines Polaris Business Class on his journey from Sydney to Miami. The long haul sector was operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, flying from Sydney to Houston on a 15.5 hour flight. From Houston, Blake connected onwards to Miami on a narrow body Boeing 737 MAX 9, travelling in United Airlines United First.

United Airlines is a strong and well-regarded American carrier, connecting Australia with North America and offering onward access to more than 300 destinations worldwide. Their United Polaris Business Class is a modern and highly regarded hard product, known for its comfort and consistency across the fleet. The addition of the United Polaris Lounge further elevates the premium experience, giving business class travellers a dedicated space to relax, dine, and refresh during their American connection. As a Star Alliance member, United Airlines Business Class travellers can also access Star Alliance lounges at their departing airport.

You can view our United Airlines Business Class deals to North America here. Keep reading to see Blake’s full experience and in depth review of United Airlines Polaris Business Class.

First Impressions and Cabin Layout

United’s Polaris Business Class is a modern, bright, and thoughtfully designed product. The cabin uses an alternating layout, with some seats closer to the aisle and others closer to the window, striking a good balance between privacy and access.

I selected Seat 1A, a window seat with the side table and storage console positioned on the aisle side. This layout offers excellent privacy from passing passengers and foot traffic. In the centre of the cabin, there are paired seats designed for couples with a privacy divider, while other middle seats are separated by the centre tables/consoles, making them better suited to solo travellers.

Another reason I chose 1A was its location. On this plane, it’s positioned back further from the galley and bathrooms, which meant less noise, congestion, or light disturbance compared to a typical 1A seat.

Pro tip. Seat 1A is also a bassinet position. As I was not using it for that purpose, the large flat surface in front of the seat became bonus space, giving noticeably wider legroom and extra storage. A great perk if you can secure it.

Welcome and Bedding

Shortly after boarding, I was offered a welcome drink of either Laurent Perrier La Cuvée champagne or water. Waiting at my seat was an impressive lineup of comforts.

• Memory foam pillow
• Plush standard pillow
• Duvet and additional blanket
• Slippers
• Amenity kit

United does not hold back when it comes to sleep comfort. Everything you need is already waiting at your seat.

Pro Tip: The Polaris pyjamas were handed out towards the start of the flight. Make sure to grab one as soon as you board. Additionally, mattress toppers are available onboard but are not placed at your seat by default. I would also recommend making it known to a flight attendant that you would like a mattress topper, as there are limited numbers and they can run out, especially on night flights.

Amenity kit

The Polaris amenity kit comes in a Brooks Brothers pouch and includes an eye mask, socks, ear plugs, tissues, dental kit, and a pen.

The skincare range is by Perricone MD and includes a facial mist, cleansing wipes, eye gel, lip balm, and hand cream. As a whole, I thought this amenity kit and the products provided were quite generous and a well-considered selection. I used most of the skincare products and amenity kit items throughout the flight, and they were all of great quality.

Dinner service

Meal service began with a bowl of warm nuts, followed by drinks. The beverage selection is extensive, with champagne, rosé, white and red wines, beers, spirits, and a small cocktail list.
Leaning into the festive season, I chose the Sleigh Bell Spritz, a holiday-themed cocktail that felt like a nice seasonal touch. For my starter, I selected the dolmades with hummus and green salad, served with a warm olive bread roll. The hummus was excellent, and dipping the warm bread into it was a highlight.

For my main, I had pre-ordered the chicken on the bone with vegetables. United offers several dishes exclusively via pre-order, so it is worth checking the United app a day or two before departure to lock in your preferred option. I paired it with another glass of champagne.
Dessert followed soon after with United’s well-known ice cream sundae cart. Naturally, I went all in with every topping, which was the perfect ending to an already enjoyable meal.

Seat, Storage, and Technology

The Polaris seat is highly functional with plenty of storage. There are multiple compartments, including a small cupboard for the Meridian headphones and TV remote, a coat hook, under footwell storage, and a generously sized footwell.

Power options include two USB ports and one international power outlet. However, A few hours into the flight, the power outlet and USB ports on the side table stopped working, leaving only the USB port beneath the TV screen. Unfortunately, this was a slow charger, which made it difficult to keep multiple devices powered. As someone filming and creating content onboard, this was a little frustrating, but understandably, not something they can fix during the flight.

The tray table is sturdy, well-sized, and slides away smoothly. My seat also had two well-positioned windows, a reading light, and intuitive controls for recline, footrest height, and lumbar support.

Entertainment and Wi-Fi

United offers free Wi-Fi for messaging if you are a United MileagePlus Member, including iMessage and WhatsApp. Full Wi-Fi access is available for USD $7.99 for one hour or $19.99 for the entire flight.

The entertainment system is excellent, with a wide selection of TV shows, new release movies, Apple TV content, and more. You have a pair of Meridian noise-cancelling headphones which are very comfortable and have great sound quality. There was more than enough to stay entertained for the full journey.

Fully Flat Bed Experience

After dinner, the cabin lights were dimmed and I changed into my Polaris pyjamas, I converted the seat into a fully flat bed.

The bedding setup is genuinely impressive. A mattress topper, duvet, two pillow options, and an extra blanket made the seat feel super cozy.

Even though it was around 3pm Sydney time with another 12 hours to go, I followed my usual wind-down routine, tried out the skincare from the amenity kit, and watched a movie or two before attempting sleep. While I rarely sleep much on daytime flights to the US, the bed was comfortable enough that I managed around six hours, which helped significantly with adjusting to US time.

Crew Service

The crew onboard were genuinely outstanding. From the moment I settled into my seat, they introduced themselves and made a clear effort to ensure the journey was relaxed and comfortable.

Service pacing was spot on throughout the flight. They were attentive without being intrusive, regularly checking in but never rushing the experience. This stood out in Seat 1A, where being served first can sometimes feel hurried. That was not the case here. Each course was delivered thoughtfully, with care taken to ensure I had finished before moving on.

Every request was met with a warm smile and a willingness to help. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble. Overall, the service felt polished, professional, and delivered by a clearly experienced crew, elevating the entire Polaris experience.

Summary

United Airlines Polaris delivers a strong long-haul business class experience, combining a comfortable and private seat, excellent bedding, solid dining, and genuinely standout crew service. A few minor tech hiccups aside, it is a product I would happily choose again, especially for long flights to the US, where quality sleep really matters.

View our United Airlines Business Class deals here, or get in touch with our team to start planning your next trip in United Airlines Polaris, from Australia to North America.