United Airlines Upgrades Business Class

United Airlines has commenced the roll-out of its all-new United Polaris business class, the airline's most significant product transformation in more than a decade.

United Polaris began service at 12:01 a.m. local time on 1 December 2016 in all of the airline’s markets.

The first phase of United Polaris features an elevated inflight food and beverage experience, custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, exclusive amenity kits with products from Soho House & Co's Cowshed Spa, and the opening of the first of nine United Polaris lounges around the world, at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

“In our quest to be the best airline in the world, we are rethinking and reimagining all we do. United Polaris offers an elevated customer experience and redefines the meaning of premier business travel,” said Oscar Munoz, CEO of United. “The high quality of amenities United Polaris provides is matched only by the service and care our employees demonstrate from lounge to landing.”

In rethinking the international business class experience, United conducted more than 12,000 hours of research, and sleep emerged as the single most important priority for international business class travelers.

To address this, United has worked with Saks Fifth Avenue for custom-designed bedding. All designed to provide the best sleep in the sky, the new bedding collection will feature plush duvets, lightweight day-blankets and a large and small pillow for each United Polaris customer. In addition, mattress cushions will be available upon request.

Slippers will be available on all flights, and customized United Polaris pyjamas will be available by request on flights longer than 12 hours. Flyers will also be able to request a gel-cooled pillow.

New amenity kits will feature ergonomically designed eye shades, calming pillow mist and additional products from Soho House & Co's Cowshed Spa.

With the introduction of United Polaris, the airline intends to donate tens of thousands of pillows, blankets and other inflight service items to Fisher House Foundation, which United and its employees have long supported.

Lounges

United will open a portfolio of business class lounges in nine locations around the world that will feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers, bespoke art installations by artist Wolfgang Buttress, and chef-inspired hot meals served in a boutique restaurant setting so customers can refresh and dine before boarding their planes.

Premium sparkling wines and spirits, refreshing snacks and bottled water will also be offered.

The first United Polaris lounge opens at Chicago O'Hare International Airport near Gate C18 and lounges in eight other locations – Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow – will follow.

United Polaris Business Class Seat

The all-new United Polaris business class seat will first take flight in 2017 on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and subsequently on Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as on Boeing 767-300 and 777-200 retrofits.

Designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and PriestmanGoode and manufactured by Zodiac Seats United Kingdom, each United Polaris seat will offer direct access to the aisle, 180-degree flat-bed recline and up to 6 foot 6 inches of bed space.

Crafted as individual, forward-facing, suite-like pods, each customer's personal suite will feature a "Do Not Disturb" sign, mood lighting, one-touch lumbar support, several storage areas, multiple surfaces for simultaneous working and dining, a 16-inch high-definition entertainment screen and, for seats in the center of the cabin, electronic privacy dividers.

Complementing the new seats, United and PriestmanGoode have also conceived an all-new look for the United Polaris cabins.

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