Sadly my reservation had changed, but the ticket was never re-issued. On the way home Id have to fly into JFK unless I want a 6am flight out of Naplesno thx -swiss air & Air Canada are also options rounding out the other options and all of the above are almost exact same price point, around $6200/6300 -Delta had a direct into FCO as my original itinerary was just Rome, Cruise, and then fly home but I have now added on 2 nights in Venice when we arrive and then 4 nights in Sorrento post-cruise. Since you'll find Polaris primarily on long-haul flights to Europe, Asia and South America, we'll focus on those destinations. Premium Plus will be offered on 21 trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and South American routes by the end of this month (May 2019). Although the program no longer has an award chart, you can still book Polaris seats at reasonable rates when there's saver space available. TPG values it at $1,600. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) has 5.21 lounges per mile, the most in the U.S. Miami International Airport (MIA) has the best airport lounges overall, with an average score of 81.09 out of 100 across our ranking factors. 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 . But if you manage to get your hands on some award availability, be sure to utilize Etihad Guest miles for fabulous value! If you can redeem airline miles for one of these flights instead of paying a pretty penny, even better youll save cash and get quite a bit of value in return. Typically, throne seats require a $200 surcharge to reserve, which in my book would be totally worth it. I am faced with a difficult choice. Assuming BA as the latter two did not make the list. Klm Vs Air France: Which Business Class Airline Is Right For You? Those headphones on Lufthansa also are very small and uncomfortable on-ear. United Polaris business class seats 767-300 In the center section and along the left aisle (the "D" seats), all the seats faced towards the aisle, so they felt a bit exposed. Avianca LifeMiles has risen from obscurity to rapidly become one of the most popular ways to book Star Alliance awards. The widest Business Class seats in the world are on the carriers A350 and B777 aircraft, which are 30 inches or 75 cm wide (a claim some critics dismiss as too wide for comfort). United and Lufthansa provide the same level of service and meals. With the natural leather seat, one of the largest full-flat beds in the sky becomes a reality. The blanket wasnt overly heavy. My interest in improving aerodynamic efficiency in airplanes, cars, ships, and energy conversion devices led me to open this blog based on my expertise and desire to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Your duvet and pillow are pretty thick, though theres no mattress pad or pajamas provided on this flight. Youll also be able to enjoy gourmet dining and top-notch service from the airlines attentive flight crew. BAs high-density seats are superior to that of other airlines, its A350 and 747 aircraft have slightly wider seats, and you may enjoy a comfortable ride on a Boeing 777. United's switch to dynamic award pricing has made it harder to book Polaris awards through the MileagePlus program. Many say that Air Canada has better privacy in their pods. 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. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Note that only fare classes Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V and W are eligible for a. upgrade from United economy to Polaris on long-haul flights. Even if youve never heard of Oman Air, one thing you should know is that their business class especially their 787 Apex Suites business class is fantastic. But if it were me Id go with Air Canada. Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. I can either do ATL-ICN-TPE with 78k Skymiles + GUC to be in Delta One from ATL-ICN and Econ from ICN-TPE. I knew Lufthansa only has one business class seat model (which is nobody's favorite) and the same awaited me upstairs. 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). Executives hint at an answer. And thankfully, there are no fuel surcharges when you redeem KrisFlyer miles for United-operated flights, so expect to pay less than $10 in taxes. 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. Youll find Polaris cabin seats set up in the new 1-2-1 or 1-1-1 configuration and the old 2-2-2 or 2-1-2 configuration. Related: Heres why you need a healthy stash of Avianca LifeMiles. These seats are closer to the window and offer much more privacy than the even row window seats, as you can see below (the odd-numbered seats are in the front and back, while the even-numbered row is in the middle). As for similarities, you also get to check two free bags, receive Saks Fifth Avenue bedding and an amenity kit and a premium meal service when flying United Premium Plus. In addition, the food is tasty, and they live up to their status as a Skytrax 5-Star Airline. The seats are completely flat, with a wide range of center armrests and power outlets. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. For Polaris, select Business or First from the drop-down menu. Youll also have Premier Access at the airport. The carrier recently acquired several Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which feature an entirely new Upper Class product. The 787-10 has all 44 of its Polaris seats spread across 11 rows in a single cabin. There were a number of other passengers (seemingly with high anxiety already) waiting to be helped, and the overly rigorous agent did not help the matter much. The luxurious A380 Business Class seats provide an additional level of comfort, allowing you to fully recline into a bed in mid-flight. Duration: 7 hours, 10 minutes. During the two months preceding departure, menu cards are distributed. Amenity kits are Crabtree & Evelyn-branded, and youll get noise-cancelling headphones along with cool-looking blue slippers. For a more relaxed trip. best ways to fly to Paris using points and miles, use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Virgin Points, review of Virgin Australias The Business, review on this Singapore Airlines business product, best ways to book Qantas business class using points, utilize Etihad Guest miles for fabulous value, best ways to book Korean Air business class, Air Canadas flagship business class product, guide to upgrading to business and first class on Air Canada, redeem points and miles for Hainan Airlines, first class is one of the best in the world. Enjoy the selection with a pair of noise-reducing headphones. China Airlines food and beverage program tends to be decent, though not as good as Japan Airlines or ANA. 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. Many thanks. This product is undeniably a huge step up from the one it replaced. That makes flying Lufthansa business class a quite enjoyable experience as there is no direct aisle access for the passengers at the window otherwise. United is a Star Alliance member, so several different programs make booking United awards easy. Adient Ascent seats are available on all British Airways A350-1000s and 787-10s as well as select Boeing 777s. Emirates is the ideal choice for business travelers looking for the best possible travel experience because of its unparalleled service and outstanding aircraft. The retrofitted 767s are a much simpler story. Airlines want to ensure that the traffic arriving at their hubs and departing via their connecting flights is only handled by flights arriving at their hubs. Even though they are comfortable, the seats in Business Class are inferior to those in Economy. These Delta One Suites are Thompson Vantage XL seats with sliding doors that give you utmost privacy. 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. United's 777-300ERs feature 60 Polaris seats in a customized 1-2-1 configuration, with 28 seats in the front cabin and 32 in the rear. As for availability, its not great: out of the whole year, some flights only have 1-2 dates with business class seats available for redemption, which is disappointing. ), whereas United Polaris offers a true business class experience. United elite flyers earn PlusPoints at the following rate: Premier 1K: 280 PlusPoints (in addition to the 40 PlusPoints earned after reaching Premier Platinum status), plus 20 PlusPoints for every 2,000 Premier Qualifying Points beyond 15,000 points. Bag allowance: Polaris passengers can check up to two bags (weighing up to 70 pounds each) for free. If youre flying a Chinese airline in business class, Hainan Airlines is definitely the best choice. If youre concerned about not being refunded should you have a positive test, then you might be better off waiting to upgrade your ticket until you are able to take your PCR test. Youll also experience super crisp inflight entertainment screens, great service, plenty of storage space, and the fantastic Book The Cook service (but no business class amenity kits). Best International Business Class Airlines As a result, the Vantage XL seat is not on the list because it is an evolved version. When it comes to food and drink, Lufthansa offers a more diverse and upscale menu, while British Airways offers a more traditional menu with a few more British-themed options. Service was probably the biggest selling point of Hainan Airlines until this new hard product came along. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. When flying in Polaris business class with United, youll be presented with a chef-designed menu listing meal selection. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Stephen has been privileged to enjoy many premium cabin products and 5-star hotels. Lufthansa. Another difference with the new Polaris lounges is their stricter access requirements. Paid extra to have the Q suite and they didnt even let us know ahead of time. Despite the fact that there is no specific dress code for passengers traveling in Lufthansa Business Class, it may be a good idea to dress more formally if you intend to use the lounge or other amenities on board. Alas, a new business class seat had opened up on the upper deck - yes I was OK with that change! 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