We need to talk about United 787-8 business class
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- Опубликовано: 17 ноя 2021
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Watch the full (unedited) takeoff of this flight:
• United Airlines 787-8 ...
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Finally! It took a while, but United 787-8 business class is something worth trying. United has slowly been upgrading their 787-8s with the Polaris business class cabin over the past year or so, and I’m happy to report that it’s nothing short of fantastic.
Sure, there are some things that aren’t perfect about it (as you’ll see in this video), but all in all it’s a very competitive business class seat.
This is footage from UA424, nonstop service from Washington DC (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) in October 2021. I was seated in 6L for this 5 and a half hour flight, and the aircraft registration was N26910.
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United has been stepping up their game. I won't be straying from Delta anytime soon, but United has become a decent alternative option.
They do seem to be getting better!
Domestically, Delta is still #1 and always will be. UA crews and some food is atrocious. Internationally and Award Travel Access etc (and partners), UA is far better than Delta.
@@seanp7dc f delta bruh
I dropped Delta like a bad habit. They have been awful lately.
@@sanspotter will you try United’s new route to bishop/mammoth lakes. They land in bishop and I guess a shuttle takes you to mammoth
Flew this exact same route in Polaris a few months ago - absolutely loved it! Though it was my first ever business class flight so perhaps I'm just naive haha
That’s one heck of a first business class experience. 😂 Glad you enjoyed it!
Now try this seat on the 777 between San Francisco and London like I did before the pandemic and you’ll be in love
I’m flying business/first for the first time in about 30 years next month. My last first class experience was back in the 90s when Delta operated real international first class - lobster, caviar, the whole nine yards. As a 14yo American I wasn’t impressed with the food 🙄. But I still remember how lavish the whole experience was. I guess I shouldn’t expect caviar and a rose bud in a vase 😂
I've never been on business class.BTW if you fly spirit first class its chairs very small but I guess it will get worse after merger with frontier.
San Francisco is a rare airport that allows simultaneous close-spaced parallel runway approaches. Pretty cool! And it requires a skilled pilot trained in the approach, which means you have a pretty awesome flight crew taking care of you in the cockpit. They have a dedicated radio frequency and system watching them to make sure they stay on course - a deviation means they have to do a go-around, so it’s pretty serious stuff. Just a little trivia for budding aviation geeks.
Gee you’re sooo upbeat and positive Scott … said NO ONE ever. 🤨🙄
what’s your point?
I've gotten to land on the 19's a few times over the years. I always enjoy a different approach or takeoff at airports other than what you're used to.
I really liked United’s service when I used them for my flights to and from NRT and HND (both departed and returning to LAX) in 2016 and 2019..
They do pretty good on international routes sometimes. Looking forward to going long haul with them again soon.
Can I say you’re one of the few trip reporters out there I enjoy? Far too many put waaaay too much focus on the plane ride itself, only filming the outside views (half blocked by the engine), and the super long taxi out and in. You put emphasis on the journey itself which includes the airports and people watching (which I love to do as a flight attendant while sitting at the airport). Love your videos and insight and dry humor.
I flew the 777-200 in the domestic configured first class in January from Den-Ord (backwards seats and 8 across). It was definitely very dated but I didn’t mind. The plane was actually N772UA, the one that had the engine issue the next month
Very interesting that you were on that aircraft before the incident! I’ll bet it was a shock to find out you were on that same airplane after it happened.
@@sanspotter it certainly was. I was already excited when I flew it because I believe it was the one of the first 777 in passenger service. Line number 5.
Back in September, I flew United Polaris non-stop from ORD-->HNL and back and experienced great service. We got two full meals (even though the website said we'd only be getting one). From ORD-HNL we got french toast which looked and tasted way better than the waffle you ate. On the return, we had chia oatmeal and fresh fruit, among other things. It was quite good!
You need to book the Polaris cabin on transcon flights between JFK/EWR-SFO and JFK/EWR-LAX. Then you’ll get pillows, a blanket, an amenity kit, and a protein-based snack in addition to the full meal.
I have experienced 19L/19R approach in SFO a couple times a year. I noticed the SFO folks use the 19 runways to do the landings and the 10 runways for takeoffs during the rainy weathers. But it really depends on the wind direction also. I've had cases where my flights still took off from 28 runways during huge rains because the wind was blowing from the west.
Yeah SFO is all over the place in bad weather. This was the first time I’ve ever seen runway 19 in use for landings!
@@sanspotter idk which runway it was but i was heading to sfo and the approach was constatly right above water and it was late night too and that's literally all it was lol
yeah i think it was 19
Flew on N26910 from LAD-IAD in August of 2020 in Polaris in 1F. I’m happy the brought up the food service on these transcon flights as the only food offered last year was a box.
It’s a fantastic plane isn’t it? And I totally agree about the food!
Always plug in my air pod Max’s with Polaris. If you’re well off enough to travel in First/business, you likely have your own headphones.
Do a spot check next time and > half the flight will have their own headphones plugged in
Looking forward to my SYD- IAH return next year on the 787 Dreamliner. These United Videos really do get me in the mood for air travel again 🙌
I’d love to try that! I’m very much looking forward to Australia opening up again as well.
United's 787 economy class is pretty good too. Flew on it a few weeks ago.
Thank you for sharing. And Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to you and your family.
i love your sense of humour :)
keep it up!
Awesome video Scott! It’s always a good day when I watch your videos 😁
Thanks Tofu! Glad to have helped make your day better. 👍🏻
Great video ! Food looked halfway decent. Thanks for the video.
You’re very welcome Matt! Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video! I haven’t been to Dulles since I flew Independence Air with my son to visit the Udvar-Hazy Museum. And we rode one of those mobile people movers! But Dulles, which looked so modern in “Seven Days in May,” is so woefully obsolete now.
Good/Bad news! They're keeping them in service for the foreseeable future until they finish expanding the underground trains.
@@funnyfarm299 i hope they keep some of the mobile lounges to put in museums like the udvar-hazy museum right next door for display or to actually move people in around the museums.
Thanks for the video 👍
The 10 Hour Flights On The Polaris Are the Ones Breakfast Lunch and Dinner , The Dreamliner is Cool . Good service , Lay flat seats , Cool Purple color at Night.
In terms of the turbulence you got lucky and came in a few hours after it went past. If it's the day I think anyways it got as high at winds 24kts gusting to 48kts at SFO around noon and a little before
That walk in the underground labyrinth of Dulles was so long it included TWO signature SANspotter loop-de-loop shots 🥵
There was actually a third one but I edited it out 😄
I flew this route when it was operated on the 777-200. This is a much needed step up from the old 777-200. Nonetheless, a great video Scott!
Yeah, some of the old 777-200s are pretty ratty. The 787 was nice!
They will probably put the 777-200 and 767-300ER back onto the route in the future. Before 2020 other then they only flew the 787-8 on International routes except for plane moving.
@@G-546 i hope united will retire the 777-200 and the 767-300ER in the next few years. if not, then they will have to pay a lot more for fuel for these old planes
@@_.twixxx they are likely going to stick around after the renovation
@@G-546 yea probably. ik the 777-200s did get renovations in their cabins/painted in new livery, so did some of the 767s too.
Fantastic video Scott!😸
Thanks Ryan!
I'm just glad they've finally gotten around to upgrading the 787-8's
Yeah, I wasn’t even aware that there were so many 787s with the new seats. I was surprised to see it when I was making the reservation!
@@sanspotter dash 10's had the new seats from the get go but yeah I'm glad to see the rest of the dreamliner fleet get the upgrades too!
@@sanspotter so it looks like all the dash 8's have completed the upgrade. Now we wait for the rest of the -9's to get the upgrade
Actually, Dulles C+D concourses were planned to be demolished pre-9/11, but never were. That’s why you have to walk from the train….the train stop is where the new concourse will eventually be built, to the south of the present C+D. You have to walk a little way back to the north for now.
i always enjoy flying with you
You also can ask for eggs after you eat the waffles, you’re in first class after all.
The arm rest goes down if you put a little pressure on it.
I was seriously considering asking for the eggs after I got the footage of the waffles I needed, but I didn’t want to waste food. Oh well.
@@sanspotter Never feel bad about asking for seconds. it's gonna get thrown out anyway.
It is nice flying the transcons. I have done a lot if them on the 777s.
I realize that US airlines don't pull out all the stops for their premium passengers on domestic flights, though you did have a roomy, comfy seat. Those waffles looked gross, and you said that the noise-cancelling headphones were not good. Certainly better than flying Economy, but other than the seating it didn't seem impressive.
A lot of people I know consider the lie-flat seats to be a huge part of the appeal of business class these days. I think a lot of us have come to accept that service and amenities will be reduced. Especially at the prices I’m seeing ($3,000 round trip for Europe in the summer? Who cares if the waffles are gross????). That said, I can see how people who have been traveling business/first for a while would find the new standards disappointing. The price isn’t $7,000 anymore, sure, but you’re also not getting the same product. I flew first class on Delta from JFK to CDG as a teen and I STILL remember details of that flight. We were served a multiple-course meal complete with champagne in flutes. Artichokes, lobster, caviar - you know, all the stuff American teens look for in an airplane meal 😂 But then again, smoking was still allowed back then, so on balance I’ll take Polaris over lobster in a smoke-filled cabin any day.
Had this same breakfast a couple weeks ago. It was so delicious, but my God, the sugar. Especially considering the "Greek yogurt" parfait was really just cream cheese with a slice of peach in it, lol. Plus the lemon sugar wafer cookies for dessert, and oh yeah, fruit, the OG sugar.
Yeah, I was convinced that I shaved at least five years off my life by eating that tray of food. 😂
@@sanspotter lol. That's why I stopped eating those cibatta sandwiches they started serving for meals during covid. So greasy, especially on occasions where they heated them up before serving.
This has to be THE funniest transportation review I've ever watched.
Snagged a polaris b/c seat ewr-ord for next month, will be my first time cant wait to try it out even tho its a short hop
Love Dulles! My absolute favorite airport even though my home airport is Hartsfield, which comes in second!
I have actually had the procedure done on my Birthday. It is a requirement at least every two years in my case. Anyway I don't like turbulence and I have flown since I was nine. Not been on a Dreamliner. Flew United 747-400 Melbourne to Auckland many years ago. Cheers Scott.
Even if it’s required every two years I’m not doing it on my birthday! I draw the line there. 😄
For school or doctors I’d be there 5 minutes before it starts but when it comes to flying, I would get to the airport 2-3 hours early to walk around the whole airport. I’d sleep when I am done visiting every corner of the airport and stay up the majority of the flight watching the terrain go by but if your over the ocean for hours then you’d should just sleep. For me, I barely fly and I want to make the most of these experiences cause I love to do it.
The walk from the air train is because they built it where the rebuilt United terminal would eventually go. The current terminal is actually technically a "temporary terminal".
United's IAD hub is living proof of why United's EWR hub is slept on and doesn't deserve all the hate
I rode the old cabin of United’s 787 when it was a 2-2-2 layout. Hated the headphones also
I think what you really need to realize is that the Terminal C-D you were flying out of was the original midfield concourse. There were plans to build a new midfield terminal beyond the current C. Just like the new A-B terminal already constructed. That is why the subway ride was a bit of a walk back to C-D. The new C-D station was built under the proposed new C-D which is beyond the current C-D.
Another banger 🔥
Thanks! 👊🏻
I feel for you when you bumped your head. Im a UAL FA and I do that all the time (I’m 6’2) and ppl always see me when it happens!!
It hurts too! 🤬😅
Looks like the Crystal Cruises B777-200LR parked there in SFO after you landed (P4-TXL) I would have perhaps asked the FA to close that galley curtain!
Is that what that is? I wasn’t sure. Anyway, I thought about asking them to close it, but I didn’t want to be that guy. 😅
@@sanspotter yup she’s a beauty! I hear ya but you are paying a premium to sit in that cabin and I’m sure they wouldn’t have minded if you’d ask but I get it. I don’t ever want to ring the call bell either. Thanks for the video!
It's interesting to me how the IAD original construction is one of the nicest and most efficient airports in the world, and everything new is so bad. It shows you how the area government had changed over the years.
United does give pillows and blankets,most recently when I flew with United Airlines I received a blanket as well as 2 pillows one sturdier one softer
The Mountainbiker here!!!! is here!!!! At least this time to stop grab a Apple and Red Bull , take in the sights!!!
Let's freaking go!!! Another sanspotter video¡!!!
You showed up early for this one! 🤩 I’m not sure that I need a Red Bull after eating those waffles though, because the sugar rush was gnarly. 😂
Blankets, pillows, slippers, and sometimes mattress toppers are all on request
I once got to EWR 2 hours early & still ended up missing my flight, because the TSA decided they only needed to open one screening area.
The funny people movers (that also convert into a passenger loader for remote aircraft parking) still operate between the Z terminal and C18.
The long walk after the train at Dulles is because they built the new C/D Concourse stop where the new C/D concourse is supposed to go - but then they never built the concourse. So you have to take the train to where the new concourse would have gone, then walk back to where the existing concourse is.
I wouldn't put much hope in an improvement anytime soon. C/D was supposed to be temporary stop-gap when they built it, but that was 40 years ago....
Yeah, it totally feels like a stopgap. At least the train and the walkway are nice, but the terminal itself is in dire need of a refresh.
Did you ask for a blanket and pillow? I just flew UA domestic first class and they gave us blankets and when I asked for the pillow they happily delivered.
Yea, I would’ve chosen to have a connecting flight to EWR so I could experience a true “Transcontinental” service in United’s eyes before going to SFO. At least you’d have lounge access, an amenity kit, 2 meal services, and a sundae cart.
After the new order of the 787s I will be flying United much more
I’m flying this exact product in a few months and I was wondering, even though the aft cabin is far more private, isn’t the proximity to the galley bothersome?
Yes, it is. I had a bulkhead seat in the aft cabin (right behind the galley) and it was a bit annoying.
I'm lost with booking a business class seat. Normally I book through google and it takes me to their website but the business seats are all unavailable. Are they all booked or am I just looking at the wrong place?
My last flight was on a regular seat with Frontier. Polar opposite of the luxuries you're nitpicking at here. No in flight entertainment whatsoever. I brought my own Sennheiser headphones and vintage Sony Walkman, so the sound for me was top notch, though.
Dulles authority doesn’t allow United to update and remove people movers. Those people movers are incredibly dangerous and several airport employees have died from being run over from them.
Yikes. Didn’t realize they were that bad. They are uniquely IAD though - was hoping to get a ride on one before this flight.
I *was* going to be on a 767-300 from EWR-LAX tomorrow, but I was informed this morning it has changed to a non-Polaris 767-400, and with it, scrubbing my upgrade hopes 😭
The 767-400s haven’t been updated yet? I figured they would’ve been done years ago! Anyway, hope it’s still a decent experience. And I’d highly recommend the eggs instead of the waffles (if it’s a breakfast flight). 😅
@@sanspotter i think UA is keeping the 767-400s on higher density routes. They were scheduled to be stored indefinitely until the 777-200 engine fiasco earlier this year and some were brought back. As of October, UA has no timeline to retrofit the 767-400. I moved to a later flight back onto a 767-300 :) I actually had the eggs on my LAX-DEN flight, and yes, those were very tasty with the potatoes and sausage!
6A and 6L are the BEST seats.
The reason you don’t have blankets and pillows is that United classifies IAD-SFO as a “normal” route. And you just get the drafty shitty blue blanket at best. Real Polaris is different. But I would say that the food for non-premium “domestic” service is better.
In economy United is offering as many as 10 choices for food for purchase on longer routes, and it’s free for United elite status. In first it’s better than the Polaris food I think… somehow.
To get the Polaris blankets you need to be booked in Polaris. Not first. Same plane. Same cabin. Different service.
Also fun: the premium economy seats will be sold as normal economy when United uses its heavy metal for non-premium domestic routes. When you see 2-3-2 in economy BUY THAT TICKET!!!
Thanks for the tip about premium economy. I’m definitely doing that! Anyway, I still don’t understand why IAD-SFO isn’t sold as a Polaris route. Seems like it would be fairly high yield…
Love United's Polaris, my favorite of any airlines, but is it just me or are the seats a little narrow? Everything else is great, but the seats seem small, especially when reclined.
I’ve flown Polaris many times and the seat width really isn’t an issue at all. It is worth noting the products on the 787 and 767 are slightly narrower seats.
@@United1158 i think that's why
I think you had lounge access - all Polaris domestic flights from IAD/EWR to LAX/SFO. (The normal lounge, not the Polaris lounge).
I thought I did too, but I went to the normal United Club and they said my ticket didn’t qualify.
I don't know, feels like a economy level service on any middle eastren airline with a bigger seat.
The legend says Scott answers every comment... Keep up the entertaining videos !
The legend also says that he gives up trying after the first day or two because it’s impossible to keep up with them all. 😅
Thanks for sharing! No blankets or pillows!!! Please don’t get me started 💺😶
The appearance and composite structure of the Boeing 787 reminds me of an unpainted model airplane that has the decals on it.
That’s basically what it is! They’re essentially plastic airplanes, but at least they feel relatively sturdy.
PILLOWS ARE SUPPLIED ON REQUEST also blankets :)
Nice vid
Thanks!
Butt clenching turbulence, my fear as well. Still doesn’t stop me from flying. Great video !
Haha, glad to know I’m not the only one. 😄 Thanks Jo!
An excellent video like always! By the way, I was hearing Delta one is getting a lot of excellent reviews again! They are beginning to give food and fewer chips. They have told me"Deltra one is coming back!" So I don't know if you can give then another change( I mean, if you can't, you are the one who makes the decisions) But yes. By the way, for crossing around the US, I really prefer the Jeblue mints on the a321 than on the U 787 since that looka a little not for me( especially since I do really bad sleeping when is not my bed)
Yes, Jetblue Mint is a lot better than UA 787-8 Polaris. I’d choose Mint every time as well! And I probably will try Delta One again soon - I’m really hoping it won’t be as disappointing as last time.
@@sanspotter Hope🙏🙏. The 350 and 330neos specially. But I hope the 767 gets the best( that plane has so much bad luck since the first day it gets made😭)
I've only ever flown delta out of IAD and always thought it was a really nice airport. Apparently it doesn't all look like that..
Haha, the one other time I’ve been at IAD in the past 10 years was on JetBlue, and that terminal was nice! That’s what I was expecting this time, but was majorly disappointed.
I guess will have to deal with United for the first time in years. Fly international all the time and usually take Delta which is the best of the US airlines. There you get a blanket - here it seems you don't. If the flight it on time I will call it a win. Delta is on time almost all the time. United out of Newark not so much. Fingers crossed I get to Germany when I am supposed to.
Flight attendant: "Excuse me, would you like some headphones?"
Me: "Oh yes please, but wait... how did you know my name was phones?"
😂👍🏻
It took me a minute…..and then I spit my bagel 🤣
I shouldn't have to go to another video when watching your channel for the first time...
cual es la marca de tu mochila ? .quiero comprarme una . saludos
Did I just get diabetes from just watching your video? YIKES! That's a lot of sugar. Yeah a transcon flight in business SHOULD have a blanket and pillow.
I’m still not sure how I survived the sugar high. 😄
With all that extra time you totally should have taken a detour for a mobile lounge. I sincerely hope they finally build the permanent satellite concourse for Dulles instead of continuing to use the crappy temporary one. The AB concourse vs. CD concourse is a night and day difference, but still no moving walkways anywhere to be found. The reason the C station for the train is so far from the gates is because it is built under the site for the future satellite concourse, so you have to backtrack a little to get to the current temporary concourse.
how do the middle seats compare?
*EVERY* Business traveller flying first or business has their own noise cancelling headphones.
From your pictures it looks like 7A and 7L have maligned windows you wouldn't be able to see out of, can anyone confirm or deny??
I haven't seen Growing Pains in 2 weeks! It was the one where Boner disclosed that his Dad's name was Sylvester Stabone. Show would probably be banned today.
Looks pretty good to me just change the Livery UA. I'm sure even the mixed employee's are sick of it by now.
They are making progress! I’m noticing a lot more aircraft in the new livery these days.
Best off doing an overnight flight if you are going to sleep saving on a night in a hotel.
The guy at 1:43 is a wizard because he is practically floating through the walkway.
Someday I’ll have those kinds of skills myself. 😄
I’m not sure why Polaris gets such high ratings. If you sit in the seats that are near the windows there is a more private feel but the foot well is just horrible. The seat cushion that extends is not straight it’s curved and doesn’t support your legs completely unless you sit very straight. Foot well is really small and I find that not both legs fit comfortably because one has to always bend to fit. The other seats that have aisle access have better room. I would go for the aisle seats just to get a more roomier foot well. Don’t recommend the waffles!
Can’t believe they don’t provide bedding for a business class flight. The food looked pretty budget too.
Usually international flights
You don’t have priority pass? IAD has like 3-4 lounges with priority pass lounges
Fun fact: I HAVE had a colonoscopy scheduled for the day after my birthday! Wasn’t fun. Didn’t get to enjoy my birthday cake until after the procedure😂
Haha, but I’ll bet that cake tasted better knowing that the procedure was behind you (no pun intended 🤦🏼♂️😄).
How would you like Sugar with a side of Chicken and rice?
I dunno you may have been better off without the blanket. Don’t know when they clean those
Wow, that gate area looked about as bad as the oldest parts of Terminal 2 at Lindbergh!
It’s amazing how different the main terminal is at IAD compared to the United terminal. Like two completely different airports!
Why not ask them to warm the cabin up and close the galley curtain?
I didn’t want to be “that guy” 😬
@@sanspotter I mean don’t tell them in the middle of service… Otherwise they won’t know if you don’t say anything lol
Technically you weren't flying Polaris even though all the 787-8s have the hard product installed. Thats presumably why you didn't get any soft product or Polaris lounge access. I don't even think United considers IAD-SFO a "premium transcontinental" route.
Yeah, which is why I didn’t get lounge access either. I’m not sure why they don’t market this as a Polaris route considering how much traffic they move between these two cities.
Winnie the Pooh would have eaten the waffles. Pooh would put more honey on the waffles.
Why don’t you bring you own headphones? This way you won’t have to suffer with what’s provided? Just curious…
It would make my videos more boring. 🤣
Taking this flight In about 2 years I think idk why i have that planned but i do.
IAD is 60 years old and still looks more modern than the newest airports around the world. The place still exudes class and makes you feel like you've transported to the future. Once the new sliver line opens with the DC Metro, it's going to be the most perfect airport in the US.
I wonder if the waffles would have been better if they were made of chicken and rice?
It's really annoying they dimmed the cabin lights and darkened the windows on an early morning flight. I would venture to say most people on that plane woke up from their previous nights sleep a few hours before departure so it doesn't really make sense....
I didn’t mind it actually, especially considering that I had to get up so early to catch this flight. It was nice to get a few hours of extra sleep.