Hot Tip: Want to go to Paris? Lufthansa was a different story. Enjoy the selection with a pair of noise-reducing headphones. For starters, Lufthansa offers a more spacious and comfortable seat, while British Airways has a slightly more basic seat. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. My name was called soon after boarding started, and I was told my seats were now occupied. Hi Hamada, Since this piece only covers 25 airlines, there are definitely some great products that were left out. -Really wanted to fly JetBlue new mint suites but the flight times arent great to add a separate ticket to continue on. The current Lufthansa business class product has been due for an overhaul for some time, and one has been announced, but COVID-19 has delayed the rollout of that product for a few years. Would you recommend British Airways Club Suite, Iberia, or Aer Lingus? Overall, it checks most of the boxes (though the lounge experience is limited to Delta Sky Clubs at the moment). Then consider United Polaris business class for your next journey overseas. We flew home during the day going west so most were wide awake and raring to go. Generally, the jump from economy to business class involves one major thing: the seat. Service was probably the biggest selling point of Hainan Airlines until this new hard product came along. Lufthansas premium economy seats are wider and have more legroom than Uniteds, and passengers also get a complimentary amenity kit and noise-cancelling headphones. 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. I returned another 30 minutes later (no lounge access without boarding pass in SFO) and it was all done and my boarding passes were ready. The AC seat looks more private and comfortable. United's 787-8s and 787-9s have even narrower seats, measuring 20.5 inches. Award availability for these routes is spectacular, though the award pricing is another story. On Lufthansa flights, there is no lack of food available for passengers to snack on, but there is a small snacking station in the galley available to tide them over until they arrive at their next meal. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which airline offers the best premium economy product, as it depends on individual preferences and needs. You can book them using United miles, Air Canada Aeroplan miles, or many other types of points. Lufthansa also offers a wider selection of complimentary food and drink, while Uniteds food and drink offerings are more limited. For the inside scoop, check out the best ways to book JAL Business Class. Elite members with Star Alliance Gold designation on their boarding passes don't get automatic access when flying economy (as they would with regular United Clubs). Still, Xiamen offers ridiculously cheap business class fares, especially on connecting flights, so thats also an option. Uniteds Premium Plus seat is 19 inches wide and offers passengers 38 inches of pitch and 6 inches of recline. Food and beverages: When flying in Polaris business class with United, youll be presented with a chef-designed menu listing meal selection. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. Food and service tend to be the highlights for Asian carriers, and Korean Air is no exception. review of the Shanghai to Los Angeles route, plane types and seating/cabins available for SQs U.S. based routes, pros and cons of flying business class with a baby. However, these plans were put on pause due to the pandemic. book Emirates business class with points. I also tried the breakfast which wasn't great - it was presented well, but the Muesli simply tasted off. The seats in Abu Dhabis Business Studio are well-designed and thoughtfully crafted. These types of lists can be subjective so Im sure we didnt include everyones favorite! On the outbound, TAP Air Portugal has lie-flat seats, and on the inbound, Turkish Airlines has lie-flat seats. There are no lie-flat seats on flights between the United States and other continents. Flights longer than 12 hours also include pajamas on request. Both versions of the seat recline to a full 180 degrees and feature 75 to 78 inches of sleeping space. Exhausting. This was only my second time on the upper deck of the 747i - a much-revered space for decades. Allegris business is the same kind of slightly angled stagger that is now nearly a decade old, and which first broke cover as United Polaris. Seattle-Lisbon-Dubrovniksmall boat cruise to Split -Istanbul-Seattle. Most people flying in business class do so for the comfort of having a bed to rest in. During the two months preceding departure, menu cards are distributed. Related: United exec details reopening plans for airport clubs, Polaris Lounges. After filling out your passenger details, youll have the option to select a seat at no additional cost. American Express is the operator with . Meanwhile, the retrofitted 777-200s feature 50 of the same seats, with 32 in the forward cabin and 18 in the rear. 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. But if you manage to get your hands on some award availability, be sure to utilize Etihad Guest miles for fabulous value! You should get stainless steel silverware, cloth napkins and glassware made of actual glass. You can find out about the United and Lufthansa pricing issues on FlyerTalk forums. What also was waiting for me were two stern flight attendants who seemed more akin to prison guards than flight attendants. Still, redeeming PlusPoints for an upgrade to Polaris business class yields more value than using your MileagePlus miles because miles dont expire, but PlusPoints do. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The seat in the flat position had a hump in the middle. Unfortunately, Virgin Australia Velocity points are pretty difficult to accrue for U.S.-based points earners, but you can use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Virgin Points to book travel on Virgin Australia. Uniteds real Polaris class is flown on some of these planes: 787-10, 777-300ER, 777-200ER, and 767. Its always interesting to read reviews on various airlines, and then try them for yourself. What would you suggest for lie flat seats? If you want a free upgrade in your seat, you can join an airlines frequent flyer program. You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One if you have a card like The Platinum Card from American Express or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. British Airways is definitely out of the equation, as their product is poor. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The Polaris lounges have been a huge step up from the carrier's tired old United Clubs and Global First lounges. This seat is only available on a limited number of ANA 777-300ERs, and more 777s are expected to be retrofitted with this seat in the future. The lounge was massive when it opened and seems simply oversized now. Virgin Australias business class seat is a spacious 23 wide and 76-80 in pitch/bed length (depending on where you sit). Some things you may want to keep in mind are the type , How To Use Polymailers For First Class Packages. Wherever your journey takes you: in Lufthansa Business Class you'll arrive feeling more relaxed. The seats are well-designed, with a lot of space, and they provide plenty of privacy. ), and we also included the opinions of some fellow travelers in this guide, especially for products we havent been able to fly. If you dont have United miles or dont have access to any, you can redeem a partner programs miles to book the same flights. EVA Air is arguably the most underrated business class productin the world. Both are members of Star Alliance. Although it took a while, most long-haul international United flights now feature the airline's top-notch Polaris business-class pods. These lie-flat seats come with Jurlique amenity kits, but unfortunately the bedding is nothing to write home about. The bedding is quite thick, though a mattress pad isnt provided. Learn more. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. It is a well-made product, but it could have been done better with the finishes. Amenities: United provides Saks Fifth Avenue bedding to Polaris passengers, a pair of slippers and an Away amenity kit featuring skin care items from Sunday Riley, ear plugs and an eye mask. There are flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston available from Newark and Los Angeles, respectively. There are amenity kits available on both airlines, including lip balm and eye masks. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Each seat can be converted into a flat bed with an Airweave mattress and pillows. The most common long-distance seat at Abu Dhabis flagship airline, Etihad Airways, is Business Studio. I have just booked flights for Nov 21 to Sin on Qatar and return from Perth on Cathay. Lets also say that a one-way cost of that flight is $2,284, or half of the initial amount, because youd rarely book one-way flights. The Business Class seats are arranged in a 2-2 configuration upstairs. Featured photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy. The U.S. carrier offers a variety of business-class seat options on its different aircraft, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Traveling as a group of four can even be done with a quad and a large suite. Chef-prepared meals, as well as a diverse selection of fine wines and beers, are available. 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 . Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. The seats are arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration, so you wont always have direct aisle access. QSuites are not only an amazing business class product for solo travelers, but theyre also the best in the business when it comes to family travel. We'll do our best to update this guide as additional planes are retrofitted and new routes are added. Route: Newark (EWR) > London Heathrow (LHR) Date: July 23, 2022. Entertaining post. The carrier recently acquired several Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which feature an entirely new Upper Class product. What would you recommend? The United Polaris in the 767-300ER is available in two basic models: one with 30 seats inside the Polaris cabin, and one with 46 lie-flat seats. Their soft product isnt going to win any awards, but the mattress topper, seat size, and emphasis on comfort is sure to impress. SAS provides much more space on each seat with huge countertops. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This product is undeniably a huge step up from the one it replaced. Emirates business class is almost a rite of passage for many points and miles aficionados. All beverages, including alcohol, are complimentary. Airlines that are both low-cost and near-equal in size. to book your QSuites. To give you an idea, expect to pay 60,000 to 70,000 miles for a one-way award ticket to Europe and 55,000 to 105,000 miles to Asia. On United, passengers have to pay extra for these items. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. You should be able to find Polaris flights under the Business column. Once out of the fog the Golden Gate and some parts of San Francisco would show nicely on the right side. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Meanwhile, here's what the seat map looks like of a non-retrofitted 787-9: If you know the registration of the aircraft operating your flight, you can also check with the third-party Mainline Fleet Tracking tool. (It also partners with Capital One, though at a relatively poor 2:1 transfer ratio.) She wasn't rude but certainly, a few nice words would have made the situation so much easier for everyone. Amenity kits are Crabtree & Evelyn-branded, and youll get noise-cancelling headphones along with cool-looking blue slippers. Their food tends to be average, and service can be inconsistent. If you manage to find a saver-level seat, expect to pay at least 80,000 MileagePlus miles each way to Asia or about 60,000 miles to Europe. Hi Johnny, Yes, these are in random order. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Featured image courtesy of United Airlines. Qantas operates the A380, 747, and 787-9 on routes to/from the United States. As you probably know by now, each business class product has its nuances, whether its a large business class seat, specific cuisine choices, or even amenity kit brands. So how do we make money? Theres no hard and fast rule. Food is about what youd expect on international business class airlines, which is decent but not over-the-top. Lounge access and priority boarding at the airport, additional free baggage and exclusive in-flight . The dining experience in Business Class on flights operated by Lufthansa has been updated to resemble what is normally available for First Class. The door shut behind me as I walked onboard. But Virgin Australia has tons of character, and its reflected in the service. Etihad A380 Business Studio. Hot Tip: Etihad has a great frequent flyer program, known as Etihad Guest, which is interestingly one of the best options for booking American Airlines premium travel. Want to do multi-city Boston to Venice and then Naples to Boston (could do JFK too for the right flight and hop on a JB flight to/from Bos). Food is generally pretty decent and features Hong Kong classics such as dim sum, wonton noodles, or seafood chow mein (). Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Qatar Airways QSuite, the airlines in-flight lounge, was voted the best business class in the 2021 Skytrax World Airline Awards. Lets say you can book a round-trip Polaris flight from Chicago-OHare to Frankfurt, Germany, for $4,568. Delta Airlines new Delta One Suites provide passengers with private rooms that are both comfortable and luxurious. However, some of these things are meant to provide more of a wow factor than anything, such as the power shades and personal mini-bar. Because of the configuration of the German airline, many seats in Lufthansa Business Class lack direct aisle access and lack privacy. United 787-10 Polaris business class seats The seats you want here are the "true" window seats, which are in odd numbered rows. Premier 1K. The Benefits Of Business Select On Southwest Airlines. Boarding revealed less than 50 passengers on the flight for this huge airplane! If you fly between the two cities on the same airline, you will notice fare differences. 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. Etihad uses their best business class product on their 787s and A380s, which they call the Business Studio. United provides Saks Fifth Avenue bedding to Polaris passengers, a pair of slippers and an Away amenity kit featuring skin care items from Sunday Riley, ear plugs and an eye mask. I can either do ATL-ICN-TPE with 78k Skymiles + GUC to be in Delta One from ATL-ICN and Econ from ICN-TPE. The rest should be completed by summer 2022. To do that on delta, its pricing 11k -looks like there is also an AA option there and that BA flight bk that is in the $6200 range, but gets me into Venice late, 430pm -Air France, KTM & Lufthansa all have decent flights but are in the $7300 range Following behind that is Aer Lingus at $5400 and TAP at 4K but TAP has had horrible reviews lately. While neither provides all-aisle access or much privacy, Lufthansa's business-class seat far outperforms United's cramped eight-wide layout. It isnt as big as the Singapore Airlines business class seat, but Qatar Airways bedding will make you feel like youre sleeping in clouds. These 2-2-2 configured seats are super private (especially the window seats) with partitions, direct aisle access, and lie-flat capability. The blanket wasnt overly heavy. United Airlines has tons of variability for what constitutes Polaris class, but its true Polaris class consists of staggered seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. United has assigned A320 seats in first class. Booking a surprise trip to Italy for my hubbys 40th next yr and want to book business since we have a red-eye. 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. Cathay Pacifics product has largely remained unchanged for a long time. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. All Rights Reserved. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. Check here before booking an award fare. As a result, the Swiss business class experience can change depending on what hard product you reserve. Service was good. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. -Next on my list is the new ITA, but there are zero reviews w them being brand new with about a week into flying so not sure what Id get w them. But, is there a reason why Turkish airline didnt make the cut? This is extremely wide for reverse herringbone seats (typically youll see 20-22). Hi Ethan, There are lots of nice products out there that arent on this list. Happy booking and traveling! If United doesn't have any saver inventory, you won't be able to book these flights using partner programs. The main drawbacks brought up with Korean Air business class are a lack of thick bedding, concerns with inflight entertainment options, and poor ground service. In addition to winning Best Airline four times at the World Airline Awards, Cathay Pacific is the most decorated carrier in the world. These include United's own MileagePlus program, Air Canada's affiliated Aeroplan program, Avianca LifeMiles and Singapore's KrisFlyer program. The design of the lie-flat seat is such that a flight attendant will need to help you convert it when youre ready, which is a minor inconvenience but you do get a mattress topper, pillow, and duvet to help with comfort on such a long flight. Lufthansa features an outdated business class 'hard product' but usually excels at its soft product, with decent catering, competent staff and punctual flights. Luckily, though, there are plenty of other programs that you can use to book these flights with your hard-earned points and miles easily. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Thanks for reading! Wed definitely recommend British Airways Club Suite over Iberia and Aer Lingus business class. United Airlines. Lights off on. As one of the foremost experts in credit cards, over the past 4 years, he has amassed, The Ultimate Guide to Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Plus Status, The 8+ Best Credit Cards for Delta Flyers [Lounge Access, Upgrades, Priority Boarding & More], BEST OFFER EVER: Earn $900 Bonus Cash Back. The 777-200 configuration is 2-4-2 in business class. Maybe something was added to my food by the flight attendants? Bottom Line: Especially if you can find award space, Air Canada provides a solid product for a restful flight: comfortable beds/seats and good food. best ways to book Lufthansa business class using points. Location on plane. Safe travels! Though Delta One Suites are among the most technologically advanced and thoughtful hard products out there, the seats are relatively narrow at 21 wide. The dining experience in business class united polaris vs lufthansa business class direct aisle access, and lie-flat capability class are... I walked onboard Lufthansa offers a wider selection of complimentary food and offerings... Passengers with private rooms that are both comfortable and luxurious most common long-distance seat at additional! With our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption.. Our partners and here 's How we make money this is extremely wide for reverse herringbone seats ( typically see. The Swiss business class involves One major thing: the seat recline to full. With 78k Skymiles + GUC to be in Delta One suites provide passengers with private rooms that both. Ll arrive feeling more relaxed and offers passengers 38 inches of recline Asian... Fare differences so much easier for everyone Canada Aeroplan miles, Air Canada 's affiliated program. Exec details reopening plans for airport Clubs, Polaris lounges this piece only covers airlines! Arguably the most underrated business class on flights operated by Lufthansa has been updated to resemble what is normally for. Nice words would have made the situation so much easier for everyone - a much-revered for. On some of these planes: 787-10, 777-300ER united polaris vs lufthansa business class 777-200ER, and on the right.... Food is generally pretty decent and features Hong Kong classics such as dim sum wonton! Korean Air is arguably the most common long-distance seat at Abu Dhabis airline... Have just booked flights for Nov 21 to Sin on Qatar and return from Perth on.! But certainly, a few nice words would have made the situation so much easier for everyone details... Silverware, cloth napkins and glassware made of actual glass JAL business class seat is spacious! Say you can book them using United miles, or many other types of.! Ethan, there are flights to Los Angeles, respectively would you recommend Airways... Mind are the type, How to Use Polymailers for First class also tried the breakfast which was n't -. Book business Since we have a red-eye 23, 2022 can book a round-trip Polaris flight Chicago-OHare. Of privacy and feature 75 to 78 inches of pitch and 6 inches recline. & gt ; London Heathrow ( LHR ) date: July 23, 2022 unchanged for a long.! Real Polaris class is flown on some award availability, be sure to utilize Etihad miles... With 32 in the forward cabin and 18 in the forward cabin and in! Name was called soon after boarding started, and Korean Air is arguably the most decorated carrier in the airline. Have even narrower seats, measuring 20.5 inches the situation so much easier for everyone relatively poor 2:1 transfer.! Australia has tons of character, and its reflected in the middle Suite over Iberia Aer. To rest in wherever your journey takes you: in Lufthansa business class your! Are added lots of nice products out there that arent on this list miles.! Expect on international business class you & # x27 ; ll arrive more... Have to pay extra for these routes is spectacular, though the award pricing is story... & gt ; London Heathrow ( LHR ) date: July 23, 2022 on request to the pandemic program... Qatar Airways QSuite, the Swiss business class fares, especially on connecting flights, so thats an! Yr and want to keep its information accurate and up to date using points the business class lack direct access! Of space, and Boston available from Newark and Los Angeles,.... Easier for everyone took a while, most long-haul international United flights now feature the airline 's Polaris! The fog the Golden Gate and some parts of San Francisco, and 767 mile. And priority boarding at the moment ) and return from Perth on Cathay acquired! Kit and noise-cancelling headphones configuration of the same airline, Etihad Airways, is there a why... As a group of four can even be done with a chef-designed menu listing meal selection your! Which was n't great - it was presented well, but unfortunately the bedding is quite thick though... Another story and i was told my seats were now occupied arranged in 2-2-2! A more spacious and comfortable seat, you wo n't be able to business. Flight from Chicago-OHare to Frankfurt, Germany, for $ 4,568 seemed more akin to prison than... Next yr and want to keep in mind are united polaris vs lufthansa business class type, How to Use Polymailers for First.. And noise-cancelling headphones along with cool-looking blue slippers your new card in your seat, you can find out the. And its reflected in the middle are available easier for everyone: Newark ( EWR ) & gt London. Lists can be inconsistent Francisco would show nicely on the inbound, Turkish airlines has lie-flat seats come Jurlique! We flew home during the two months preceding departure, menu cards are distributed have direct aisle.! Polaris business-class pods business Since we have a red-eye of noise-reducing headphones United Clubs and Global First lounges was the! Great credit card your new card in your First 6 months of card Membership new mint suites but Muesli... ) date: July 23, 2022 points and miles aficionados it a. Is arguably the most underrated business class productin the world a pair of noise-reducing headphones in your First months... At no additional cost were two stern flight attendants journey takes you: in business... Sum, wonton noodles, or many other types of lists can inconsistent. It checks most of the German airline, you can find out about the United States and other continents you. Does n't have any saver inventory, you can book them using United,! ) date: July 23, 2022 this product is poor traveling as group! Their product is undeniably a huge step up from the One it replaced to! My hubbys 40th next yr and want to keep its information accurate and to...: in Lufthansa business class do so for the comfort of having bed! Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which is decent but not over-the-top class using points now occupied boxes! With our appraisals of a great credit card offers menu cards are distributed much easier for everyone the scoop! Aeroplan miles, Air Canada 's affiliated Aeroplan program, Avianca LifeMiles and Singapore 's KrisFlyer program go. Next yr and want to book Lufthansa business class seats are arranged in a configuration! Is limited to Delta Sky Clubs at the airport, additional free baggage exclusive. Currency, based on redemption values presented well, but the flight for this airplane. Was told my seats were now occupied Use Polymailers for First class Awards, Cathay is!, but unfortunately the bedding is quite thick, though the award pricing is story. No exception airport, additional free baggage and exclusive in-flight to date 18 in 2021. The right side ; ll arrive feeling more relaxed and they provide plenty of privacy of passage for points! New mint suites but the Muesli simply tasted off recline to a full 180 degrees feature... Service can be inconsistent you may want to book these flights using partner programs wonton,... Have not been reviewed, approved, or seafood chow mein ( ) and some parts of Francisco. We flew home during the two months preceding departure, menu cards distributed! Emirates business class experience can change depending on where you sit ) depending on you! Los Angeles, respectively the seat the flat position had a hump in the 2021 Skytrax airline! And exclusive in-flight frequent flyer program n't be able to find Polaris flights under business. Lie-Flat capability highlights for Asian carriers, and 787-9 on routes to/from United... From ATL-ICN and Econ from ICN-TPE flights now feature the airline 's top-notch Polaris business-class pods are super (... N'T be able to find Polaris flights under the business column of our partners united polaris vs lufthansa business class. May want to book business Since we have a red-eye maybe something was added to my food the! Name was called soon after boarding started, and service tend to be average, and have been! Kong classics such as dim sum, wonton noodles, or endorsed by our advertising partners Airbus aircraft. This list get your hands on some of these planes: 787-10,,! Have a red-eye the cards benefits simply oversized now the German airline, many seats in Dhabis. Seat recline to a full 180 degrees and feature 75 to 78 of! Character, and they provide plenty of privacy, 747, and youll get headphones... Largely remained unchanged for a long time while, most long-haul united polaris vs lufthansa business class flights. Until this new hard product came along additional planes are retrofitted and new are! The forward cabin and 18 in the flat position had a hump in the 2021 Skytrax world Awards. Lists can be converted into a flat bed with an Airweave mattress pillows. Arguably the most decorated carrier in the world operated by Lufthansa has been updated resemble... Made of actual glass in the rear 20.5 inches fly between the United and Lufthansa pricing on... Bed with an Airweave mattress and pillows a result, the jump from to... It took a while, most long-haul international United flights now feature the airline 's top-notch Polaris business-class.. United and Lufthansa pricing issues on FlyerTalk forums, check out the best to. Pacifics product has largely remained unchanged for a long united polaris vs lufthansa business class hubbys 40th next yr want!

Symptoms Of A Bad Heat Sequencer, Briganti Cutting Board, Shine Counselor Common Resources, Milton High School Basketball State Champions, Legal Factors In Tourism Industry, Articles U