During my trip to the United States, I set out to fly on United Airlines (UA) 757-200 from Newark to Chicago and straight back, and that was the plan right up to 24 hours before takeoff time.
Follow me as I try out United Airlines’s domestic First Class product
An unexpected and welcome change of aircraft
When I checked in for my flights, I realized that the aircraft had been changed from a Boeing 757 to a 777-200ER.
While I was initially disappointed that I would not experience an increasingly rare aircraft, the feeling quickly washed away when I realized that the inbound leg from Chicago to New Jersey’s United Hub would be on the brand-new business-class complex product Polaris. But there is a significant catch. Keep on reading to find out what it is.
I arrived in Chicago on the same aircraft but in Economy class, way at the back on seat 47L. I might cover this in another article at some point in the future. But here is a quick overview: the seat was very comfortable, and the IFE system was very modern (despite the aircraft nearing 25 years of flying service). It’s a product worth trying when flying long-haul.
Waiting on the ground at ORD
Once at ORD, I waited an hour at the United Club Lounge. Here, it is important to stress that, contrary to most of the world, US domestic First Class usually does not include lounge access, despite being the same sort of service as Business Class in Europe or Asia. To gain access, I bought a pass through the app for 30$.
I wanted to take photos inside, but as it was peak time for European and Asian departures and the Polaris lounge was closed for refurbishment, the space was overcrowded, so taking pictures was not an option (I even had to have my breakfast standing up to tell you how crowded the space was). I will say, however, that the space was much more relaxing than the otherwise dark and gloomy waiting area by the gate.
Like in the rest of the world, First Class allowed passengers to board in Group 1; this is also why, unlike my flight to the US with Lufthansa, I did not book special assistance. Being in Group 1 in a larger, more private space allowed me more than sufficient time and space to get all of my belongings ready, calm down, and relax ahead of the flight.
So, I sat in seat 1A, my space for the 1h30-minute hop down to the New York/New Jersey area. My seat can be considered an “upgrade” compared to what I was initially booked on.
I should have flown on the 757’s 2-2-2 configured “classic” business class seat found on flights to secondary cities in Europe and Central America.
Instead, I went to experience the flagship product, Polaris, which features a brand-new, very spacious seat. It does lie flat, but on a daytime sub-2h flight, it wasn’t necessary, I mainly just used the leg rest to rest my legs and be in a sofa-like position.
I have one minor inconvenience about the seat: the shoulder strap can be uncomfortable for those who may feel claustrophobic. However, it’s optional after takeoff and before landing. So, if you feel uneasy, unbuckle the shoulder strap and keep the lap bit on in case of turbulence.
The onboard service – a look at drinks and snacks
Before departure, I enjoyed a drink, which is a nice touch on short-haul flights, which, as far as I’m concerned, isn’t Europe seen in Europe, where, at most, you will get a bottle of water (although you do have lounge access, up to you to decide which is more important)
I opted for both water and Prosecco. One area for improvement is using glass instead of plastic cups for the pre-departure drink, as the latter feels cheap.
Onboard service included a drink—Sprite served in a glass—and snacks consisting of popcorn, almonds, and a flapjack. European business class offers a better experience with cold meals served in actual tableware. Polaris would significantly enhance the domestic experience if it combined European-style meals with US seating.
A good selection of video entertainment
Besides that, the flight was pretty uneventful; I decided to watch a documentary about the Navy Aerial Demo Team called the “Blue Angels,” which was very informative and enjoyable. The excellent sound quality of the headphones complimented this.
The only negative feedback I have about this flight is that despite calling the cabin crew for service, they never actually came by. I was quite thirsty, so instead of a complimentary bottle of water I could have brought from the plane with me on my travels back to my hotel, I had to buy one myself.
Some overall thoughts on the flight
The flight experience was otherwise on par with most of my expectations for a premium cabin.
The only feedback I would give is to give a more consistent snack to passengers in first class. This may be a sandwich, a soup, or a small dish, but I understand that due to the short nature of my flight, maybe this was logistically challenging.
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