After a few hours in the LAX United Airlines Lounge we boarded our United Dreamliner flight to Melbourne. The Dreamliner service departs LA at 10:30pm so we ere very excited to get onboard to check out United's Polaris bedding by Saks Fifth Avenue.
United have been investing a lot in their business class product over the past couple of years, there are still only about 10 routes that have the new Polaris business class seat, but all of the long haul flights have been updated with the Polaris soft products.
United Airlines Polaris
United Airlines Polaris
The United Dreamliner business class cabin has a 2-2-2 configuration, so passengers travelling alone should choose middle seats to avoid awkwardly crawling over other passengers in the middle of the night. People travelling together will enjoy the privacy of the window seats which are angled away from the aisle.
Waiting in your seat is the highly anticipated Saks Fifth Ave bedding consisting of a soft mattress topper blanket and pillow.
Saks Fifth Avenue bedding is provided upon boarding.
Also in your seat is your Amenity kit featuring Cow Shed products, eye mask, socks, ear plugs, and Colgate teeth cleaning kit. Pyjamas and Slippers are also available however you'll need to ask your flight attendant for these.
United Polaris Amenity Kit
United Polaris Amenity Kit
The seat, although not the new Polaris seat, is still very spacious at 22 inches wide with plenty of leg room. The controls for your seat/bed are in the centre console of the chair, conveniently positioned to reach when seated or reclined. Your seat can be converted to a fully flat bed at the touch of a button, and also individually adjusted to your preferred seating position.
Plenty of leg room onboard.
Seat controls to convert your bed to a fully flat bed.
Also in the centre console is your control for the entertainment system and a magazine storage pocket.
Storage pocket and entertainment control.
There is another storage shelf underneath your screen which is convenient for books/tablets/laptops etc that you want easy access to.
Book/Laptop shelf under your entertainment screen.
A third storage area is located in the top of the seat, slightly behind your head. Its a somewhat awkward spot to reach from your seat, but a nice large space that contains a pocket for your noise cancelling headphones, a pocket for your water bottle and connectivity plugs for charging devices.
Storage shelf with your noise cancelling headphones.
Connection options in your seat.
Shortly after boarding and settling into our seats we were presented our menus and offered a welcome drink, including champagne, as we waited for the rest of the plane to board.
Welcome drink onboard United Business Class
A full 3 course meal was served after take off, an express service is also available, however with a lack of food served in the lounge (the LAX Polaris lounge with full pre-boarding dining is yet to open) we were ready for a proper meal, I didn't notice anyone around me ordering the express service either.
United Polaris Menu.
United Polaris Menu.
United Polaris Menu.
The 3 course dinner started with seared tuna with kale and quinoa, served with a side salad, which I thought was delicious, however I did think it a bit of a risky choice to serve to everyone.
United Airlines Business Class inflight meals: Seared Tuna started with kale and Quinoa
Following was a choice of main meals (or Entree's in American terms) including a beef, chicken, fish and vegetarian option. I chose the Spicy Chicken, which was served in a Thai Curry style thick coconut broth with Udon noodles.
United Airlines Business Class inflight meals: Spicy Chicken in Thai coconut broth
Following main course, the dessert trolley was presented with the choice of ice cream sundaes made to your specifications as well as a selection of tarts and cakes. Throughout the night an a la carte menu of snacks including sandwiches were available to request from the flight attendants, and trays of water and other drinks were brought around and offered to those awake.
United Airline Business Class inflight meals: Ice cream Sundae trolley
After dinner I converted my seat to a bed and settled in for the night. The bed on United is extremely comfortable at close to 2 metres long and 55 cms wide, with only a slight narrowing of the bed in the footwell. The bedding includes a soft mattress topper which adds to the comfort of the bed.
Saks Fifth Avenue Bedding onboard United Polaris.
Saks Fifth Avenue bedding includes a soft mattress topper.
The Saks Fifth Avenue bedding all Set up
The United bed only slightly tapers in the footwell, providing a comfortable bed and sleeping position
Breakfast was served a couple of hours before landing and included a choice of Omelette or fruit and cereal. I chose the Omelette which was served with breakfast potato along with a side serve of fruit, yoghurt and a cookie.
United Airline Business Class inflight meals: Omelette with a side of fruit and yoghurt.
The United Polaris business class is very focussed on providing a good sleep on their long haul products, which is evident in their bedding, and in doing so they've moved their focus away from the extended dining you experience on other airlines. This philosophy will be further enhanced when the Polaris Lounges with pre boarding restaurant style dining are rolled out, and when the new seats are rolled out on more long haul flights.
Overall the United experience was a very positive one with good onboard dining, product and service, the airline has made huge strides to improving their reputation and continue to do so. With direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne, United are an excellent option to get to the USA west coast.
To book your United business class airfares contact our Flat Beds Airfare Consultants.