If you’ve ever been in the airport and seen the shiny lights of the United Polaris lounge or been on a big airplane and wondered what those seats up front are really like, this is the post for you! We had the absolutely JOY and privilege of traveling with United Polaris over the summer to Europe. I’m here to give you a breakdown on what traveling Polaris entails & if it’s really worth the price tag!
What is United Polaris?
United is one of the big 3 airlines that we all know and (sometimes) love. They, like most other airlines, have different categories of ways to travel. There’s economy, economy plus, first, and business class options. For United, their super duper upgraded category of travel is called Polaris. This category isn’t available for every flight, usually just international or cross country flights. If you fly United Polaris you would be in the mac daddy seats on the flight and have access to the Polaris Lounge, which is a bit more exclusive that the typical United Lounge.
Keep reading for details on the lounge and flight accommodations!
The United Polaris Lounge
To be clear, any airline lounge is a nice upgrade to sitting at your gate waiting on your flight. However, the United Polaris lounge has a few amenities that make it really special!
Nap Rooms
One of those amenities is the nap rooms available! These are specific rooms where you can nap on a long layover or after a tough flight in. They are private, lockable, and the perfect way to spend your time in between flights
Showers
Not all lounges have showers, but the United Polaris lounge does! These aren’t like a gas station shower either, but upgraded and elegant rooms for you to get clean in. With fancy soaps and shampoos, this is the only way you would want to get clean in an airport!
Bathrooms
This might seem silly, but one of my favorite parts of the Polaris lounge is the bathrooms! They are all extra large, individual bathrooms that make it easy to change clothes if necessary. Also, it’s just nice to have some privacy in the restroom!
Food & Drink
The buffet options in the Polaris lounge are excellent with hot and cold food options. There is also a full bar (sometimes 2) where you can order drinks while you wait for your flight. Seating areas throughout the lounge offer views of the runway or a cozy option for you to settle in.
The Polaris Seats
Flying first or business class is something new to me, and I get giddy just thinking about it. Before flying United Polaris, the only other experience flying in business class had been a relatively short flight on Delta One from Iceland back to the U.S. Our flights to Europe were 9-10 hours each, so I knew I was going to have lots of time to experience these Polaris seats!
The Details
Aubrey and I booked seats next to each other so that we could enjoy each others company on the flights. The seats are extra roomy and have lots of space to store any carryons you don’t want to place overhead. There is a large screen for entertainment and an upgraded amenities kit waiting for you when you arrive. Pillows and blankets are also provided because, you guessed it, these seats lay all the way down flat!
Without a doubt, THIS is why you pay the gigantic price tag. Imagine flying 10 hours through multiple time zones and still arriving awake, alert, and refreshed because you got REAL sleep on the flight. That’s what these seats allow and is the top reason I recommend flying this way if it’s an option for you.
Food and Drink
One of the fun parts of being in the pricey seats is you get upgraded food and drink options. It’s now become a tradition that if we’re lucky enough to travel this way, Aubrey and I takeoff with a glass of champagne. We’ve tried different options for food like burgers, steak, chicken, etc. on the couple of flights we’ve been lucky enough to be in business class. I will say, the food is better and being able to order a glass of champagne to celebrate is a blast!
Is It Really Worth It?
Truthfully, only you will be able to answer this question. But, you’re here for my opinion and that opinion is YES! I understand that paying this price for seats on an airplane can be a big ask and might seem ridiculous to some. Aubrey and I don’t have kids, and travel is a passion we share. For us, if it’s a long flight or something international we save specifically to afford traveling this way. The lounge access, upgraded food and beverage, and arriving well rested are the top reasons we would suggest this option. United Polaris is by far the best experience flying we’ve ever had!