Thinking about splurging on United’s top-tier Polaris class for your next long-haul flight? There’s a lot to love about Polaris — beautiful lounges, consistently comfy lie-flat seats, and that famous in-flight ice cream sundae are my top reasons — but nothing beats arriving at your destination refreshed and ready to explore, whether your flight is six hours or 14. My first day in Tokyo would have been much less pleasant had I not had a full eight hours of sleep plus time to unwind en route — and thankfully, that 14-hour flight gave me plenty of time to test all the bells as whistles that come along with a Polaris ticket. 

Here’s our breakdown of everything you should know before booking that United Polaris business class ticket, based on firsthand experience.

The Basics 

This May, I flew United Polaris round-trip from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) on a Boeing 777-200. Both flights were around 14 hours long (14 hours and 20 minutes on the way there, 13 hours and 20 minutes on the way back). 

Exact prices depend on the route, date, and when you book; if you were to book a similar round-trip flight between New York City and Tokyo right now, it would cost anywhere from around $6,600 to over $10,000, or around 250,000 miles, though it is possible to score a deal if you keep a keen eye out (and move fast when you see fares dip). Of course, shorter flights tend to be far less expensive, so the exact amount you can expect to shell out will depend greatly on your trip details. Polaris is not the same as United Business or United First; United First is available on flights within the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, while United Business is offered on flights between the U.S. and Latin America. 

Polaris tickets include two free checked bags, Premier Access at the airport (more on that below), and lounge access (if you are traveling on a long-haul international flight). 

Checking In

Is there a better feeling than skipping all those long airport lines? Premier Access grants you access to a priority check-in line, priority bag handling, priority boarding, and even an exclusive security line (at some airports).

I always recommend following TSA guidance and getting to the airport three hours before an international flight, so after I breezed through the check-in and security lines, I had plenty of time to check out the Polaris Lounge before my flight. I highly recommend downloading the United app before you get to the airport — the real-time trip updates were very helpful in keeping track of my gate and how long I had until boarding. 

The Lounge

As I mentioned above, you get access to the United Polaris lounge if you’re flying Polaris on a long-haul international flight, and if there’s not a Polaris lounge at your airport, you get access to a different United or partner lounge. I spent an hour and a half at the Newark Polaris lounge — which has an expansive sitting area, showers, quiet suites, and more — before my morning flight to Tokyo. While the buffet was sizable with plenty of great breakfast options, I love having the choice to enjoy a leisurely table-service meal before a long flight, so I went to The Dining Room and ordered a bagel with lox, a green juice, and a cappuccino. 

I made sure to arrive early to Haneda on my way home, too; even though United doesn’t have a Polaris lounge at this airport, you can access an ANA lounge. And while it wasn’t as modern and spacious as the Newark Polaris lounge, the ANA lounge did offer made-to-order ramen, dim sum, and a pour-your-own Asahi beer machine. 

The Seat

There are a few things I really love about Polaris, starting with the product consistency across the fleet. Sure, not every Polaris seat on every plane model is exactly the same, but I’ve personally found it more consistent than the premier class seats for some other major U.S. airlines (and I’ve flown most of the major U.S. carriers’ top international long-haul products). Seat measurments vary slightly depending on the plane; my seat was 22 inches wide and had a pitch of 6 feet and 6 inches when laid out, which was plenty of space for me to comfortably sprawl out (I am 5’8”, for reference). Both of the planes I flew on had a 1-2-1 layout in Polaris, so I opted for a window seat. There are dividers if you are in the middle section and want some privacy from your neighbor. 

TVs (with a great selection of new and old entertainment options), personal outlets, and several places to store my stuff also made for a comfortable flying experience. 

Amenities

All Polaris seats convert into lie-flat beds, and United’s blanket and pillow game is top-notch. I love to request a mattress pad for extra comfort during a super-long-haul flight, and the Saks Fifth Avenue sleep set — with a cozy duvet, lighter day blanket, and two pillows (one fluffy and one a firmer, cooling gel pillow) — offers several options for you to get cozy. Slippers are available on any long-haul flight, and pajamas were available on request during my 14-hour flight. There are also noise-reducing headphones at each seat to use while onboard; you can check the United website to see what entertainment options you can expect during your flight.

United unveiled a new amenity kit created with Therabody last year; the kit (inside a cute fanny pack, a step up from the usual pouch you’d expect) includes an eye serum with a cooling roller ball (which I applied several times in flight — it felt so refreshing!), face spray, hand cream, lip balm, and a cleansing towelette, plus socks, a sleep mask, earplugs, tissues, a pen, and a toothbrush and toothpaste. The Polaris bathrooms also have Therabody amenities.

Food and Drink

Both 14-hour flights offered two main meal services (dinner and breakfast for my flights). The first meal service on each flight started with a warm towel service, toasty nuts, and drink service (I had Whispering Angel rose, but there were several wine, spirits, and beer choices on board), followed by my appetizer and salad. Then came the main course, (I chose chicken on my outgoing flight and the Japanese meal on my return), and finally, dessert. 

One of my favorite parts of flying Polaris is the famed, customizable ice cream sundae. It feels decadent having a flight attendant pack your favorite toppings (I get hot fudge, whipped cream, and cherries) on a scoop of vanilla ice cream so you can sit back and watch your favorite show with a sweet treat to finish your meal. The second meal, served shortly before landing, was a little more casual, served all at once with bread, fruit, yogurt, and my main. You can also get a mid-flight snack of a cheese toastie, soup, and fruit, among other packaged options; there’s something so comforting about dipping a grilled cheese in warm soup while you’re flying to your next destination. 

Bottom Line

Is United Polaris worth it? It’s a complicated question that depends on the length of your flight, your desire for comfort, and the cost, which can vary significantly depending on where you’re going and when you look. Being able to arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to explore — and avoiding sometimes days of jetlag that can put a damper on your trip — is worth it for some travelers, myself included. 

For United loyalists who’ve been banking points for a special flight, I highly recommend checking out the price calendar and keeping a look out for a value-packed redemption. Some savvy travelers might get a United co-branded credit card (or a credit card that has United as a transfer partner) so they can start racking up the points before their trip to cover the cost of a Polaris ticket (right now, bonuses range from 20,000 miles for a no-fee United credit card to 80,000 for their top-tier card).