United Airlines is conducting test runs for its new Polaris business class, unveiled in June and set to debut in December.
These mock flights are using existing equipment — which looks to be a mixture of aircraft — yet much of the soft product seems to be in place.
In a decision matching their ever-increasingly mobile, vocal and social passengers, the airline is encouraging the crew and staff on these flights to share their experiences. Let’s take a look.
To start off with, there’s an impressive amount of new cutlery, crockery and servingware that the airline’s Newark food service team is getting to grips with.
EWR Food Services team getting an overview of the Polaris menu and equipment enhancements #goewr @weareunited pic.twitter.com/y2h0EVZ6eI
— Todd Traynor-Corey (@ttrayco) September 6, 2016
Station Tokyo Narita, too, is getting into the flow with attractive new dishes that really pop off the plates. The “doggy dish dinner” seems to have met its end on United.
The Food Services team sharing our new Japanese Polaris menus with our coworkers in NRT…#yum @weareunited pic.twitter.com/giuj3dW8JV
— Todd Traynor-Corey (@ttrayco) August 10, 2016
There’s a great looking noodle soup dish — a laksa, perhaps? — that really looks like it hits the spot.
The experience POLARIS @weareunited #beingunited pic.twitter.com/vwzbxLNnR9
— Bea (@BUZZBEAA) September 14, 2016
Even the beef dish, which always has a tendency to look messy and grey on planes, looks tasty and inviting.
Enjoying the Polaris experience from IAH, ORD to EWR #dressrehearsal#wegothis#weareunited pic.twitter.com/nNE6mVkZPw
— Janet Clay (@ClayJanet) September 8, 2016
Airplane chicken that I might actually want to eat? Surely not!
Wow! Amazing fresh, regional, and seasonal food coming to @united Polaris! Culinary delight! @weareunited pic.twitter.com/aMvmqf796e
— Jimmy Samartzis (@JimmySamartzis) September 8, 2016
Fresh garnish and in-galley dish assembly is top-notch business class presentation.
@weareunited UA employees making it happen on our successful Polaris dress rehearsal #Polarisdream pic.twitter.com/BVPIyVwxf0
— Brenda Gyory (@bagyory1) September 9, 2016
I’m less convinced by the doggy dish breakfast, however.
New Polaris arrival service simple but nice! @weareunited #UAIFS #dreampolaris @united pic.twitter.com/iukcDp0E2D
— Maxwell Fisher (@FlyGuy7683) September 11, 2016
This duck starter with interesting grains, together with a salad featuring pomegranate seeds, gives Polaris a premium feel. And just look at those little round salt and pepper shakers. I have a feeling those will be the must-pinch souvenir for frequent flyers.
Great job Newark team on the Polaris Dress Rehearsal. #being the brand @weareunited pic.twitter.com/A3qZBfrqH3
— George Bellomusto (@GeorgeBellomust) September 9, 2016
Smart new trolleys are used for a new signature Bloody Mary service (yum — the umami of tomato juice makes these an ideal airborne drink), wine and dessert.
You have to try the new Polaris menu in December: Bloody Mary/Desert/Wine carts 😋 #WeAreUnited #unitedairlines pic.twitter.com/ZJmw5smdx8
— yana (@OOo_Yana_oOO) August 5, 2016
Little shakers of hot sauce in your plane? Swag.
Experience UA Polaris @weareunited #beingunited #dreampolaris pic.twitter.com/Uh6fSxBBqy
— Iraida Edye Paz (@Continental1996) September 8, 2016
Fear not, flyers: the famous ice cream sundae doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, although little pots of delicious extra options give the down-home American favorite an elegant fine dining twist.
Jared and Kimberly on the dessert cart during the 757 POLARIS Test Flight at ORD. @weareunited #UAIFSBaseORD pic.twitter.com/S53zwnD9x5
— ORD DEVELOPING U (@OrdDeveloping) September 16, 2016
I’m afraid I can’t say the Saks Fifth Avenue branded bedding is growing on me. The brand hasn’t felt any less fusty in the months since the announcement of United’s partnership.
#beingunited#UAIFSbaseLHR Enjoying a preview of our fab new Polaris service , it's truly awesome 😃 pic.twitter.com/WmkbCiJmWQ
— Paul Garforth (@warsaw2727) September 8, 2016
I’m loving the bubbles flute, though, and all the glassware feels upmarket — the kind of product that international business class passengers might actually have in their own homes.
Polaris comes to #UAIFSbaseDEN…very impressive. #weareunited pic.twitter.com/5endsMRg5w
— Russ Gahagen (@russ_gahagen) September 16, 2016
I also like the look of the silver tray used to present passengers’ drinks. This has always been an Emirates signature, and seeing United moving towards that kind of market positioning is a real plus for the airline and its passengers.
Another successful round of our ORD United Polaris test flights! @weareunited #beingunited #UAIFS #dreampolaris pic.twitter.com/THNBVmyfP3
— Marcel Kimbrel (@MarcelK_UA) September 15, 2016
The flights seem to be rounded off with “arrival chocolate” from Belgian KC Chocolatier — a lovely way to round off a flight.
Arrival chocolate from polaris! Quality at the best! @weareunited #UAIFS #dreampolaris @united #flightattendant pic.twitter.com/Et46s6s9lI
— Maxwell Fisher (@FlyGuy7683) September 11, 2016
It seems from the cameras mounted to trolleys that United is filming these initial attempts, likely for product refinement and training. Smart.
#Polaris Wine service through the eye of the camera lens. @weareunited pic.twitter.com/Jm6pQWRI2v
— Arty (@arty_martins) September 8, 2016
“Be predictable. Be gracious. Be the solution. Be the brand” says a training display. All smart advice to up the airline’s service game.
United Polaris on deck @ #UAIFSbaseEWR FABC!!! ✨ @weareunited #beingunited #UAIFS pic.twitter.com/iqdnKxU2Xb
— Marcel Kimbrel (@MarcelK_UA) September 17, 2016
Overall, this soft product looks great. I might not be convinced by all of it, but the branding is on the dot and really feels up to an international standard.
Indeed, it strikes me that the proposed Polaris soft product actually exceeds the standard of the Zodiac Aerospace Skylounge hard product that United is debuting this December on its first 777-300ER. It certainly knocks the existing United Global First product, let alone the BusinessFirst service, out of the park.
Clearly, the airline is prepared to invest in order to make itself the carrier of choice for the core business class market as it transitions away from offering a first class product. United and its clearly enthusiastic, excited crewmembers are to be congratulated.