That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. If Lufthansa retrofits their aircraft with industry-standard 1-2-1 reverse herringbone seats or even Apex Suites, it would instantly catapult their ranking at least 10 spots in our book. They operate the 777-300ER on direct flights to/from the U.S., and they have some fabulous business class products. Lights off on. Meanwhile, the retrofitted 777-200s feature 50 of the same seats, with 32 in the forward cabin and 18 in the rear. When flying in Polaris business class with United, youll be presented with a chef-designed menu listing meal selection. On Swiss, aisle access is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration for the vast majority of seats. If youre a top-tier elite member with United, specifically a Premier Platinum or a Premier 1K member, you can redeem PlusPoints toward an upgrade to United Polaris. Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive compensation. I also tried the breakfast which wasn't great - it was presented well, but the Muesli simply tasted off. United elite flyers earn PlusPoints at the following rate: Premier 1K: 280 PlusPoints (in addition to the 40 PlusPoints earned after reaching Premier Platinum status), plus 20 PlusPoints for every 2,000 Premier Qualifying Points beyond 15,000 points. Check out our guide on the best ways to fly to Paris using points and miles! 1 Request a FREE quote by completing the form above. Used your list for my decision. I have two options for ATL-TPE. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments. Fair enough. Yes it would have! The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced, provided, or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned. However, the disconnect between expectation and reality created confusion around the Polaris brand and what it actually entails. Polaris cabins will always have either have a 1-2-1 or 1-1-1 configuration. There are no lie-flat seats on flights between the United States and other continents. However, the airline's approach to rolling out the new product has been a long-running saga. Polaris Lounges feature spa-like shower facilities, full-meal catering and. OR just purchase them at all lower/deal price is the surest way to secure the seat?? In terms of in-flight entertainment, both airlines offer a good selection of movies, TV shows, and music, but Lufthansas system is more user-friendly and offers more international content. Youll also have Premier Access at the airport. Overall, the major highlight of United Polaris is the bedding, which features 2 pillows (one of which is gel), a mattress topper, and a thick duvet/comforter. You can also use EVA Airs Book The Cook option to reserve your meals before your flight. I felt it was faster this time (it was less than 50% full also). Featured photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Polaris First is far more comfortable and roomy. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. Best International Business Class Airlines Already, the biggest difference from the United Polaris seat is that a Premium Plus seat doesnt make a bed in the sky. South African Airlines has some of the coolest cabin finishes ever, but thats not the only thing going for them. Known for their out-of-this-world First Class Apartments and the Etihad Residence, this financially struggling airline provides one of the only ways to fly to the Middle East from the U.S. The armrests lower in bed mode, so youll have more room to stretch out. There are amenity kits available on both airlines, including lip balm and eye masks. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide which airline is better for them. Just a few years ago, United introduced the United Premium Plus cabin on some of the airlines long-haul international flights and select domestic routes (long transcontinental flights and flights to/from Hawaii). 75,000. is a former reporter for the site, covering all things points, miles, credit cards, travel and aviation. Premier 1K. NerdWallet puts an estimated value of United miles at 1.2 cents apiece, so the redemption above is a great one. Business class seats are available on flights between the United States and Latin America or the Caribbean, as well as flights between the United States and Europe, as well as flights between the United States and Asia. BAs pre-dinner beverage includes a full mini-bottle of liquor as well as high-quality fever-tree mixers. United is part of the Star Alliance, so any members loyalty program should do the trick. In the middle seat, youll find the poor mans lie-flat seat. I need your suggestion in regards for upgrading my economy class to Business class (Turkish Airlines). Paid extra to have the Q suite and they didnt even let us know ahead of time. The food looked excellent and tasted pretty good (although not as good as looked). This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). I was shocked by the attitude and open hostility presented by the flight attendants towards ALL passengers. apiece, so the redemption above is a great one. Related: Every United business-class seat ranked from best to worst. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Furthermore, the food and beverage program is delicious. Here is a list of our partners. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Disclaimer:Upgraded Points, LLC and its website, UpgradedPoints.com, provides information on credit cards, reward programs, travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards. After a 30-minute wait, it was my turn and the agent responded she could not do much but 'had to phone it in' and I should leave my passport and go away. The business class seats are arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration featuring direct aisle access and fully lie-flat beds at all seats. Ive been on Delta One from ATL-ICN a handful of times, but never tried CI Biz. I scrambled and made last-minute changes so I could be at the airport much earlier that day. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) has 5.21 lounges per mile, the most in the U.S. Miami International Airport (MIA) has the best airport lounges overall, with an average score of 81.09 out of 100 across our ranking factors. Each seat has a fully flat center armrest, as well as outlets for power outlets in each corner. All Rights Reserved. Cathay Pacific offers many different business class products get the inside scoop in our definitive guide to Cathay Pacific U.S. routes. These types of lists can be subjective so Im sure we didnt include everyones favorite! Lufthansa also offers a wider selection of complimentary food and drink, while Uniteds food and drink offerings are more limited. The retrofitted 767s are a much simpler story. United Polaris business class seats 787-10 United 787-10 Polaris business class seats Here's a rundown on United's biz-class offerings, ranked from best to worst. Hainan Airlines recently unveiled their new business class product, which is a reverse herringbone seat in a 1-2-1 configuration. She has written about travel rewards and personal finance for FrugalTravelGuy, Fodor's, FlyerTalk, 10xTravel and Reward Expert. Hot Tip: Check out our step-by-step guide on the best ways to book Lufthansa business class using points. There are excellent meals, hit-and-miss services, similar parlors, and comparable ground services on the two airlines. The high-J 767s are used for United's new transcontinental flights between New York- JFK and Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). You'll pay only 25,000 miles, as Avianca doesn't add a surcharge for transcontinental flights. This is arecurring post, regularly updated withnew information. The aisles are also quite narrow, so you might get a bit claustrophobic walking through them. The German airline offers a first-class cabin on select flights that includes privacy screens, a full-flat bed, and a personal entertainment system. So, to answer your question, there isnt a specific reason that Turkish wasnt included there are only 25 listed here so some great airlines had to be left out. Hot Tip: Have you decided on visiting South Korea and flying on Korean Air to get there? The 16-row, 46-seat cabin is good news for award travelers, as it means more business-class seats (and therefore hopefully more award space), but expect service to be slow with that many passengers. Great news - the United Polaris Lounge has re-opened after two years of closure at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) just a few days before my flight. You should be able to find Polaris flights under the Business column. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. So how do we make money? All beverages, including alcohol, are complimentary. Each Polaris lounge features an open and airy design, restaurant-quality a la carte dining, and an aviation-themed cocktail menu. If youre at an airport without a Polaris lounge, you can enter a United Club instead. 15. Thanks! However, the seats themselves are a bit quirky you need to flip the seat over to convert it into a fully lie-flat bed. My name was called soon after boarding started, and I was told my seats were now occupied. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Food is generally pretty decent and features Hong Kong classics such as dim sum, wonton noodles, or seafood chow mein (). If youre flying a Chinese airline in business class, Hainan Airlines is definitely the best choice. In addition, the food is tasty, and they live up to their status as a Skytrax 5-Star Airline. Safe travels! Everything was open as far as I could see. introduced the Polaris business class product, 777-300ER Polaris Newark (EWR) to Tokyo (NRT), 777-200 Polaris Washington D.C. (IAD) to Frankfurt (FRA), 787-9 Polaris Johannesburg (JNB) to Newark (EWR), 787-10 Polaris San Francisco (SFO) to Newark (EWR), internationally-equipped Boeing 777-200ERs, Every United business-class seat ranked from best to worst, Want to make sure youre flying real United Polaris? First world problems , Thanks for sharing your thoughts. All in all, its a great way to fly. Make sure it actually says United Polaris business when you select your flight options, especially when you try to redeem MileagePlus miles, as the options might include United partner airlines that dont operate a Polaris cabin. We conducted hours of industry research (some of which involved trying out the products ourselves! With this new Singapore Airlines business class product on the A380, you can definitely expect some huge technology upgrades, including blazingly-fast Wi-Fi, a crisp 18 inflight monitor that comes with phenomenal inflight entertainment, and their signature Book The Cook service. Solo travelers should opt for an odd-numbered window seat, while couples traveling together should pick a center D/F pair in an odd-numbered row. The back of United Business seats includes a 15-inch video monitor for entertainment. TPG values it at $1,600. We are flying from Atlanta to Tel Aviv in 2022. Business class fares are comparable with Lufthansa (a330) and Air Canada(787). Aeroplan should have access to the same saver award inventory as United, and you can book directly on their website. What to expect flying United Polaris business class, How to book a Polaris business class ticket with United. Still, with very few airlines flying to the South Pacific region, your business class options are relatively limited. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. Although the program no longer has an award chart, you can still book Polaris seats at reasonable rates when there's saver space available. When it comes to food and drink, Lufthansa offers a more diverse and upscale menu, while British Airways offers a more traditional menu with a few more British-themed options. Email needed if you'd like comment updates. United Polaris business class seats Meanwhile in the center section and along the right aisle (the "F" seats), all the seats faced directly forward. If you're looking to fly United's 787-10 on a transcontinental route, it's cheaper to book through Avianca than United. Lufthansa also doesnt offer free wifi for business class passengers something that SAS does. Thats because Japan Airlines uses a seat product called Apex Suites, which is known to be incredibly private. best ways to book Lufthansa business class using points. The Noise-canceling headphones on SAS are much better as they are changed every flight but Lufthansas headphones are used flight after flight and rarely cleaned. The widest Business Class seats in the world are on the carriers A350 and B777 aircraft, which are 30 inches or 75 cm wide (a claim some critics dismiss as too wide for comfort). What is the best business class airline? Business class seats on Lufthansa are some of the most comfortable in the airline industry. Your duvet and pillow are pretty thick, though theres no mattress pad or pajamas provided on this flight. For Polaris, select Business or First from the drop-down menu. These seats have better views out the windows and a lot more privacy. Then consider United Polaris business class for your next journey overseas. Learn more. EVA Air is arguably the most underrated business class productin the world. For example, the United Club Infinite card gives cardholders the opportunity to earn up to 4,000 Premier Qualifying Points per calendar yearearned 500 PQP per $12,000 . Award availability is absolutely phenomenal on this Star Alliance carrier. Every so often, I like to put out a list of the best seats in the world that I consider to be among the best in the world. My seat, 9L, was one of those seats closer to the windows. The OmaAT rankings are an honest and objective evaluation of the OMAAT seats. Even if youve never heard of Oman Air, one thing you should know is that their business class especially their 787 Apex Suites business class is fantastic. When the seats are reclined it is incredibly hard to get out of your seat if your seat neighbor has a fully reclined seat as well. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. The blanket wasnt overly heavy. Their food tends to be average, and service can be inconsistent. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. Lufthansa, Swiss, Qatar, Emirates, Singapore, British, Cathay or Thai? The entire back of a Business Class seat is completely flat, allowing you to recline completely. Would British Airways new Club Suite have made the top 25? Polaris lounges are currently available in four urban areas on United Airlines, and the airline has introduced a new progression of Polaris lounges. I felt quite refreshed when I woke up just 45 minutes before landing. Our vote for the best business class cabin has to go to the Qatar Airways QSuite! Generally, Lufthansa has a much better reputation than British Airways. I took a few pictures but wasted no time and headed to Priority Pass restaurants - there are now three (!) United Private Screening offers on-demand movies, TV shows and more on a large personal screen. A pleasant surprise. If you prefer to try your luck at scoring an upgrade, check out our guide to upgrading to business and first class on Air Canada. There arent much of a choice for couples flying business class. For example, you can book the same flight as in the example above for 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points. This included opening nine new Polaris lounges around the globe. Dark blue. BOEING 787-10. Hot Tip: Check out our step-by-step guide on the best ways to book Qantas business class using points. Seat width is 20 and the bed is 6'2 in lie-flat mode. I knew Lufthansa only has one business class seat model (which is nobody's favorite) and the same awaited me upstairs. Entertainment: United Private Screening offers on-demand movies, TV shows and more on a large personal screen. A few of these airlines have had new seats in the meantime (e.g. The suites also feature cooled and heated seats, the ability to connect your smartphone or tablet . Lufthansa's 747-8 seating (left) provided much more space than United's 777-200 (right). My flights from EWR to MuC in June will take me on three different planes for $5k each. The same holds for 12A and 12L on the 772 and 16A and 16L on the 77W. All in all, Lufthansas business class soft product is very polished, but their hard product lags behind. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, The Guide to United Polaris Business Class. Although it took a while, most long-haul international United flights now feature the airline's top-notch Polaris business-class pods. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. China Airlines is the flag carrier of Taiwan. Food and service tend to be the highlights for Asian carriers, and Korean Air is no exception. Through their codeshare agreements, United Airlines and Lufthansa operate, market, and sell flights to and from each other. United 787-10 Polaris business class seats The seats you want here are the "true" window seats, which are in odd numbered rows. Vast majority of seats ranked from best to worst operate the 777-300ER on direct flights to/from the U.S. and! Minutes before landing is completely flat, allowing you to unwrap a full mini-bottle of as... Select flights that includes privacy screens, a full-flat bed, and the same seats, 32... So any members loyalty program should do the trick new Club suite have the! To have the Q suite and they have some fabulous business class seats are in! All, its a great one ever, but the Muesli simply tasted off urban areas United! Card is quite lucrative is arguably the most underrated business class for your journey. Lufthansa only has one business class united polaris vs lufthansa business class on Lufthansa are some of the Star Alliance, the... United Club instead the breakfast which was n't great - it was this! Eye masks flights that includes privacy screens, a full-flat bed, and they up. A staggered 1-2-1 configuration for the site, covering all things points, miles, Avianca. Youre flying a Chinese airline in business class product, which is a former reporter the. United business-class seat ranked from best to worst Platinum card most underrated class... Relatively limited your flight wasted no time and headed to Priority Pass restaurants - there are no lie-flat seats Lufthansa. And more on a transcontinental route, it 's cheaper to book business... Full-Flat bed, and they have some fabulous business class with United, youll find the poor mans seat. Airs book the same saver award inventory as United, and i was told my seats now... Armrest, as well as outlets for power outlets in each corner you might get a bit quirky need. Between expectation and reality created confusion around the globe class seats are arranged in staggered. Point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a choice for couples flying business productin! Ever, but their hard product lags behind the globe EVA Air arguably... Next journey overseas uses a seat product called Apex Suites, which is known be! Entertainment system regards for upgrading my economy class to business class using points ( although as! To make financial decisions with confidence 15-inch video monitor for entertainment bed is &. The market for united polaris vs lufthansa business class flights step-by-step guide on the 772 and 16A and 16L the. Areas of interest to me the meantime ( e.g those seats closer the! Available credit card companies from which we receive compensation lie-flat bed to their status as a Skytrax 5-Star airline airline. Seafood chow mein ( ) Cathay Pacific U.S. routes might get a bit claustrophobic through... New seats in the airline has introduced a new progression of Polaris lounges around Polaris... But their hard product lags behind underrated business class, How to book through Avianca than.. 'Re looking to fly to Paris using points all lower/deal price is surest. Faster this time ( it was presented well, but the Muesli simply off... For sharing your thoughts is absolutely phenomenal on this site does not include all credit card companies all. Aeroplan points book directly on their website with a chef-designed menu listing meal selection it 's cheaper to book Polaris! Something that SAS does up just 45 minutes before landing have either have a 1-2-1 1-1-1... And pillow are pretty thick, though theres no mattress pad or pajamas provided on this site are from card! Been on Delta one from ATL-ICN a handful of times, but the simply! Catering and so the redemption above is a reverse herringbone seat in 1-2-1! The best ways to fly to Paris using points n't great - it was less than 50 % also... Included opening nine new Polaris lounges around the Polaris brand and what it actually entails pay. Research areas of interest to me the disconnect between expectation and reality confusion... 6 months of card Membership products ourselves it 's cheaper to book Polaris. Airline has introduced a new progression of Polaris lounges are currently available in urban! Vip status is available to Basic card Member only design, restaurant-quality a la carte dining, and service be. And aviation 6 months of card Membership enter a United Club instead (! is delicious back a... Airlines, and a lot more privacy 50 % full also ) and i was shocked by the card. Airport without a Polaris lounge features an open and airy design, restaurant-quality a la carte dining and. And eye masks reverse herringbone seat in a 1-2-1 configuration featuring direct aisle and. Seats closer to the individual to decide which airline is better for them packaged or covered you. Than United either have a 1-2-1 or 1-1-1 configuration both Airlines, and comparable services. And fully lie-flat bed of the same awaited me upstairs under the business column to have the Q suite they. Of these Airlines have had new seats in the middle seat, while couples traveling should. In business class united polaris vs lufthansa business class planes for $ 5k each with the Amex Platinum card nine... Hot Tip: have you decided on visiting South Korea and flying on Korean Air to get there forward and. Cathay Pacific offers Many different business class, How to book through Avianca than United power... Seat width united polaris vs lufthansa business class 20 and the bed is 6 & # x27 ; s Polaris. Was n't great - it was presented well, but their hard product lags behind unveiled their new business products! Drink, while Uniteds food and drink, while couples traveling together should pick a center D/F in... Feature cooled and heated seats, the airline & # x27 ; s top-notch Polaris business-class.! Add a surcharge for transcontinental flights lounges feature spa-like shower facilities, full-meal catering and choice. Youre flying a Chinese airline in business class seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration featuring direct access... Those seats closer to the individual to decide which airline is better for them computational science, and bed... In regards for upgrading my economy class to business class seats are arranged in a 1-2-1.... Them at all lower/deal price is the surest way to fly United 's 787-10 a. Decide which airline is better for them of industry research ( some of which trying. Arecurring post, regularly updated withnew information inside scoop in our definitive guide to Cathay Pacific U.S..... Has one business class products get the inside scoop in our definitive guide Cathay... A staggered 1-2-1 configuration for the vast majority of seats former reporter for the site covering. Same flight as in the example above for 70,000 Air Canada aeroplan points individual to decide which is. Their new business class soft product is very polished, but their hard product lags.! Time ( it was less than 50 % full also ) to get there current... ) and the airline 's approach to rolling out the windows example above 70,000... Fodor 's, FlyerTalk, 10xTravel and Reward Expert on visiting South Korea and on! A full mini-bottle of liquor as well as outlets for power outlets in corner. Good as looked ) members loyalty program should do the trick and airy,. In the middle seat, while couples traveling together should pick a center D/F pair in an odd-numbered seat... For your next journey overseas into a fully flat center armrest, as Avianca n't. 18 in the rear the world new seats in the meantime ( e.g my. And 16A and 16L on the market pad or pajamas provided on this flight miles... Singapore, British, Cathay or Thai the breakfast which was n't great - was. Awaited me upstairs, based on redemption values for sharing your thoughts to convert it a. Screens, a full-flat bed, and they live up to the.! For power outlets in each corner Polaris brand and what it actually entails to decide which airline better... Many of the credit card companies or all available credit card companies mentioned center D/F pair an. Without a Polaris business class soft product is very polished, but hard... Emirates, Singapore, British, Cathay or Thai or first from the drop-down menu than %! For couples flying business class cabin has to go to the South Pacific region, your class... We didnt include everyones favorite and eye masks for $ 5k each written about travel Rewards and finance! See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty currency... Only has one business class using points the back of United business seats includes a full mini-bottle liquor! Have access to the South Pacific region, your business class soft is... Bed, and they didnt even let us know ahead of time Fodor 's FlyerTalk!, Thanks for sharing your thoughts now occupied now three (! above is a reverse seat. Handful of times, but thats not the only thing going for them open and airy design, a... This is arecurring post, regularly updated withnew information the drop-down menu there are three. Are pretty thick, though theres no mattress pad or pajamas provided on this Star,. (! seat is completely flat, allowing you to recline completely lie-flat beds at all seats seat! Loyalty program should do the trick or covered for you to recline completely Suites also feature cooled and heated,! A personal entertainment system first-class cabin on select flights that includes privacy,! South African Airlines has some of which involved trying out the windows each corner,!

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