Back in 2017 we wrote About Polaris, United’s next-generation premium cabin product. In the early days of Polaris I tried I flew on a trans-transport route in a shiny new 787-10, but I haven't been on a real international flight since. I finally managed to incorporate long distance Northstar into my travels. The timing is perfect, as the past few months have been a newsworthy time for United's inflight products.
Back when it launched Polaris, United emphasized key features such as direct aisle access, seating consistency across its fleet, improved in-flight service elements, a strong focus on sleep and potentially best-in-class airport lounges. So on this flight from Newark to London, I paid close attention to how well Polaris was delivering on those promises nearly a decade after its launch.
Read on for the full report on whether the flight lived up to Polaris' promise, plus plenty of the usual photos and window-seat videos. We'll also tell you about some of the big announcements United just made about its short-haul and long-haul fleet, including its next-generation flagship business class experience.
Author's Note: The flight experience in this story actually happened last year. I’m writing this now because it’s a great starting point to talk about United’s recently announced cabin updates.
Polaris Lounge in Newark
Newark’s AirTrain is in dire need of an update (luckily it got a) but it still offers some beautiful views to get you excited about arriving at the airport.
There is a separate (but very basic) area for check-in for Polaris and United 1K passengers.
It’s crazy to think that my favorite part of the airline business class isn’t on the plane. But honestly, the fantastic flagship lounge is probably the best part of the Polaris package.
The Polaris Lounge differs significantly from the standard United Club in terms of space, décor, dining and other features.
The main seating area is large but still busy before departure on the main transatlantic bank. United recently cut Polaris Lounge access for many of its Star Alliance partners and also introduced a basic business class fare class that does not include Polaris Lounge access. The changes may help ease crowding, but will be upsetting for those who lose access to the lounges — more on that at the end of the story.
There is a gorgeously lit bar in the center of the lounge.
I walked past an impressive array of buffet food.
But the best part about this lounge (and North Star Lounge in general) is the full-service restaurant. Last summer, Manchester United launched a new restaurant in the EWR Polaris Lounge. Apparently someone on the design team was an AvGeek, because there's a row of single dining tables along the windows, facing the ramp. I made sure to sit at one of the tables and had a fantastic time enjoying the view while enjoying a three course meal.
I love the food here…
I like the view here:
Another advantage of the Polaris Lounge is the option of showers.
More than seven years after my first visit to the Newark North Star Lounge, it's great to see this experience still exists.
Know your seat
I lined up to board the 767-300ER flight to London.
Although this is a fairly old aircraft, United has equipped its 767-300ER sub-fleet with a very high-end layout. You have to go all the way behind the wing to see the economy seats.
All Polaris seats are located in a massive cabin that takes up the front half of the plane. Even-numbered rows and odd-numbered rows of seats are staggered, allowing direct passage through the aisle.
Nearly a decade since Polaris was first introduced, its design and finish still feel fresh.
I sat in one of the odd-numbered rows of window seats. These seats are close to the windows and further from the aisle, making them the best seating option in the cabin. There are no seats in the 767 Polaris cabin for couples who want to chat during the flight. On the 777 and 787 Polaris cabins, there are paired center seats that are ideal for this purpose.
Each seat has a locker with a door.
The flight attendant brought pre-departure drinks. There are only 167 seats on this low-density 767 aircraft, and boarding ends quickly.
Although EWR is sometimes criticized for its location, I think flights in and out of Newark offer some of the best views of the city. The skyline makes a beautiful backdrop as you watch the action on the ramp and track.
The views from this takeoff were stunning, with close-up views of the active runway during taxi, a lap around the airport after takeoff, and a climb above New York City.
Start on-board services
Our staff started dinner service quickly and came over for a glass of wine.
Manchester United have made a big effort to upgrade their wine list over the past year. They occasionally load up on red wines that retail for nearly $200 a bottle, although these wines tend to be rarer than regular wines. To its credit, United's wine list on my flight included a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon for around $100.
In recent years, the restaurant industry has generally not been viewed as a North Star strength. Frequent flyers agree that the situation has been embarrassingly bad in recent years, even as United says it is investing in the area. The meals I had on the flight were at least good enough to exceed my low expectations.
This is the menu for the main meal service.
The steak entree was solid, although less visually appealing and less memorable.
Of course, the Manchester United experience wouldn’t be complete without an ice cream sundae to end the meal. To its credit, United does a great job with sundaes on board.
All in all, it was a pretty good meal, although again it benefited from some initial lower expectations.
Be prepared for the long term
Polaris offers large seatback screens for the entertainment system.
Since I flew last year, United has introduced improved Meridian headphones in business class. The picture below is old.
Just once, I'd love to fly on a flight with the “From the Flight Deck” audio channel turned on. Alas, I can only continue to dream as there is no internet on my flight.
The Polaris amenity kit is well stocked and another area where United has made some updates since my flight. The set is now branded Brooks Brothers and includes Perricone MD skin care products.
The washroom is the 767 washroom. Nothing special.
Here, we take a look at Polaris’ biggest advantage: sleep. Enjoy a great night's rest with Saks Fifth Avenue's twin pillows and blankets.
Seat in fully flat position:
The width of the bed and the size of the footwell are about average for business class seats.
The transatlantic flight from New York to London is not long. I usually wake up and eat all my meals in order to get the most enjoyment out of the flight possible, but it's objectively smarter to eat dinner in the lounge and then go straight to bed after takeoff.
An hour before landing, I woke up just as the sun was rising.
I managed to squeeze in a brioche French toast breakfast, simple but delicious.
As the sun finally rises above the horizon, we begin our descent into Heathrow Airport.
The map is very detailed, but annoyingly the flat icons don't zoom out when you try to zoom in, thus obscuring much of the map. I know, small complaint.
There are a lot of transatlantic flights arriving at Heathrow at this time of day, so we got to hover above the clouds for a few minutes before arriving.
So ended my Polaris adventure.
A verdict on today's North Star
This flight didn’t come with any surprises, which was a good thing! Polaris performs in its known areas of strength, namely:
- Ten years after its debut, the seat design still feels quite fresh. Consistency across the fleet is also a big plus compared to other major airlines that have wildly different business class seats on different planes.
- The bedding in particular is arguably the best of its kind.
- United has been making specific investments in certain areas of its inflight product, such as wine lists, headphones and amenity kits.
- The Polaris Lounge is great, offering restaurant-quality dining, shower suites, and other features that differentiate it from standard domestic airline lounges. The row of plane spotter tables by the window in the newly expanded dining room of the Newark Lounge is probably one of my favorite AvGeek happy spots.
There are some disadvantages to be aware of:
- Polaris has a relatively dense business class cabin with less space per seat than some other airlines. Additionally, without a privacy door, Polaris cannot compete with Elite Business Class. At least not yet – more on that in this section.
- Catering service using carts and trays improves efficiency and pace of service, but at the expense of a premium feel. While United says it's working to improve Polaris' in-flight dining, it's starting from a pretty bad start. On a short transatlantic red-eye flight like this one, it objectively makes the most sense to have dinner on the ground in the Polaris Lounge and focus on sleeping on board.
- While the Polaris Lounge is overall a strong point, there are some drawbacks. Crazy crowding during peak hours is a major problem. Crowd factors should improve with the new restrictive access policy in place, not all Star Alliance Business Class passengers will have access to the Polaris Lounge, and some United Business base fares will not include Polaris Lounge access. But these restrictive policies are a drawback in themselves. While the Polaris Lounges are also great, they are outdone (at least in New York City) by Delta Air Lines' newer Delta One flagship lounge.
Major United Fleet Updates for 2026
A major impetus for revisiting flights in 2025 is that United recently unveiled some major updates to the passenger experience.
The headline news is a new sub-fleet of 787s with an “elevated” interior design. Business class seats are suites with doors, the first update to United's long-haul premium cabin seats since Polaris debuted.
The front rows of both business class cabins are equipped with a “Business Class+” product called “Polaris Studio”. These feature 25% more space with a footrest for a second passenger to while away time, larger screens and soft product enhancements such as improved convenience suites and caviar service.
United is also introducing A321neo and A321 XLR aircraft into its fleet, each with its own special purpose and new onboard products to match. At least some A321neos will be designated as “coastalliners” on premium transcontinental routes. The XLR aircraft are expected to fly routes to Europe and South America. Both fleets will include a new lie-flat suite-style product.
Coastliners will have a self-serve snack bar.
Another big update for United is that it will offer new basic packages for business and premium economy. For example, the basic business class package will prohibit flight changes, seat selection, and only provide standard United Club access, not Polaris Lounge access. It’s not fun to think about, but basic packages are becoming a trend in today’s aviation world.
Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
