United Airlines CEO Munoz’s Polaris Promise Never Matched Reality

All I need from Business Class ahead of an overnight flight is a quiet lounge where I can eat before the flight back overnight to the UK, water on tap overnight (replace the bottle when it runs out), a comfortable flat bed with a blanket large enough to wrap round me like a cocoon, and an arrival lounge where I can shower and change. This is why I love British Airways - it just works!

For the outbound daytime flight (eg LHR to the USA) - I need a comfortable lounge with a drink and snacks and a hassle-free route to my seat. I like to find unstreaased staff, who are not harassed by their management and will then ensure a relaxed, enjoyable flight. This enables us to prepare for yet another interrogation by US Immigration, who even now in 2018 seem determined to damage the image portrayed by the US Tourist Marketing teams.

Mike

I experienced Polaris on a trip to Shanghai from LA over Christmas and it wasn't that great. Seemed the same as other airlines were doing years ago. The seat felt cramped particularly in the foot box area. The lighting was clunky and there wasn't much convenient storage for carry on. As this was a long flight I didn't mind the rather slow service but the drinks and food while adequate (for business class) were nothing special. The octagenarian flight attendants didn't help.