United's new Raise Polaris business class
The Points Guy reviews United's new Raise Polaris business class, finding spacious suites with doors and upscale service, though doors await
United's new Raise Polaris business class offers spacious suite-style seats with closing doors and an upscale food and beverage service. The Points Guy reviewed the product on a 16-hour flight from Singapore to San Francisco in April, noting the doors were not yet certified for use.
Senior aviation reporter Sean Cudahy was among the first to fly the enhanced Studio version of the suites. The reviewer flew the standard seat, booked for 90,000 United MileagePlus miles plus $74.23 in taxes, a redemption that beat the site's valuation. A paid fare for the same one-way trip was $4,148.
Cost and booking with miles
Award availability for the new cabins appears strong, especially on the Singapore-San Francisco route. The 90,000-mile redemption rate, however, was only accessible to the reviewer because they hold a United cobranded credit card. Without such a card or Premier status, the same ticket would have cost 250,000 miles.
Upgrading from a standard Polaris seat to a premium Studio seat cost $599 in advance, though the price dropped to $499 at check-in. The following United credit cards offer bonus miles on United purchases, which can help accumulate points for redemptions.
| Card Name | Bonus Miles per Dollar on United Purchases |
|---|---|
| United Gateway Card | 2 miles |
| United Business Card | 2 miles |
| United Club Business Card | 2 miles |
| United Explorer Card | 3 miles |
| United Quest Card | 4 miles |
| United Club Card | 5 miles |
The cabin and seat comfort
The business-class section occupies the front half of the aircraft, configured with 64 seats in two cabins. This includes eight premium Studio seats in the bulkhead rows.
The standard seats feature a graphite-gray and navy-blue color scheme with faux-marble shelving and woodgrain paneling. Each has a sliding privacy door, though on this inaugural flight they were locked open pending certification. The reviewer measured the door height at 54 inches.
Key seat specifications and features include a 19-inch OLED 4K touchscreen entertainment system, a tray table that unfolds to 24 by 16 inches, and a lie-flat bed length of 78 inches. The foot cubby measures 12 inches tall by 16 inches wide. A touchscreen pad controls seat components, lighting, and color themes.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Seat door height | 54 inches |
| Gap between armrest and seat shell | 9 inches |
| Entertainment screen | 19-inch OLED 4K touchscreen |
| Tray table size (unfolded) | 24 by 16 inches |
| Lie-flat bed length | 78 inches |
| Foot cubby opening | 12" H x 16" W |
Storage includes a compartment for headsets and an amenity kit, plus an aisle-side armrest with a water bottle holder that adjusts up to 11 inches. The seat also provides a universal power plug, two USB-C ports, and a wireless charging pad.
The onboard experience
Pre-departure service for Polaris passengers includes dedicated check-in lines and Premier Access. The reviewer used the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Lounge in Changi Airport's Terminal 2 before the flight, which offered an extensive buffet with live cooking stations.
Boarding began 55 minutes before departure. The food and beverage service was described as upscale, with a pre-order option available. The reviewer noted the Wi-Fi was not free and was slower than Starlink service offered by some competitors.
A few bugs were observed in the seat's sound system. The center seats in the rear cabin are configured with footrests toward the aisle, which might be preferable for companions traveling together. All center seats have large privacy partitions that can be raised. The reviewer spent considerable time experimenting with the seat's touchpad controls for lighting and color.
