Upon leaving Paris for New York, United Airlines’ Polaris class offers an experience that, without warning, transforms an ordinary flight into a rather remarkable journey.
On board, the space is designed for rest and peacefulness. Let me take you through these suspended hours over the Atlantic, where the service aims to be discreet but attentive, and innovations, such as the partnership with Therabody, are integrated with moderation to enhance the well-being of passengers without ostentation.
Welcome aboard
The start of our transatlantic journey begins at Charles de Gaulle airport, at the Polaris check-in counter, reserved for business class passengers. It is easily recognizable and accessible, and will potentially avoid us the typical long waiting times on major departure days.
After a quick and courteous check-in process, we quickly access security thanks to the No. 1 Access included in our ticket and head straight to the United lounge to relax a bit before the flight; with almost 2 hours before takeoff, we have time to wander and nibble a bit.
The passengers can enjoy a full buffet, with hot and cold meals, and a bar offering a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The lounge is also equipped with quiet suites, ideal for resting, and showers, allowing travelers to refresh before their flight (and that is really classy).
Boarding is just as smooth, and we are welcomed on board by a smiling crew who invite us to discover our seat and its surroundings for the next few hours.
The Polaris cabin stands out for its careful layout and its subdued atmosphere. As soon as you enter, the feeling of space takes over. The seats, arranged to guarantee each passenger direct access to the aisle, also offer appreciable privacy thanks to wisely placed partitions.
It’s time to settle in and enjoy our welcome drink while waiting for boarding to end.
A cocoon in the heights
Upon settling into our headquarters, we discover a welcome pack containing products designed to hydrate and refresh from the Therabody brand.
These products, which include an eye serum, a face spray, a hand cream, and a cleansing wipe, are also available in the Polaris cabin bathrooms, as well as in the United lounge, ensuring consistency in the experience offered throughout the flight, and that’s very well thought out.
Comfortably settled in, I discover the seat that will become my little universe for the coming hours. We’ll see about the bed later, but for now one can already take advantage of its storage spaces, and the infotainment with its massive 15.4 inch screen like a laptop, and a selection of several hundred movies, series, music, all of course available in French.
We put on the noise-cancelling headphones (of good quality, but we’ve seen better from competitors) and we start a good movie right away, just in time to finally take off from Paris, on time!
It’s breakfast time!
As the plane stabilizes in the clear morning sky, the aperitif service starts, accompanied by a small dish of hot nuts. Despite the early hour, because yes, it is 9:30 AM for this transatlantic flight, the breakfast service is being prepared, and it turns out to be anything but ordinary: a selection of hot dishes are offered. My choice will be pancakes accompanied by maple syrup… really very good.
The service is discreet and efficient, the dishes are served with a neat presentation, without excess, and I am very pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the meal.
After a comforting breakfast, the desire to relax kicks in. I select a recent movie, settling in comfortably to fully enjoy this cinematic break. The seat, with its intuitive adjustments, easily transforms into a completely flat bed 2 meters long, and the main appeal of this Polaris class is immediately understood.
Gradually, as the images scroll across the screen, the fatigue from the meal and the enveloping comfort of the United quilt lead me into a light sleep. Bundled up and isolated from the outside world by the cabin carefully designed for rest, I give myself up to a few hours of totally involuntary reparative sleep!
This moment of tranquillity in the open sky is a welcome break, allowing for recovery from an early morning wake-up and rejuvenation before arrival in New York.
As the flight progresses and New York draws nearer, a second service takes place. This time, a burger accompanied by fries is offered, aligning the culinary offering with the approach of the American coast. This dish, simple in appearance, prepares us for our arrival on American territory; and if you want something more refined, of course there is a choice.
It’s already the end of the journey!
As we begin our descent towards Newark International Airport, it’s the perfect moment to talk about the crew who have looked after us with attentiveness and professionalism. The service on board in Polaris class, since the beginning, stood out for its efficiency and its courtesy, with that quintessentially American warmth.
As New York approaches, the urban landscape takes shape under a clear sky, heralding the end of our crossing of the Atlantic. As the plane gently lands on the tarmac of Newark, I feel rested, refreshed and ready to undertake the New York adventures that await me.
The Polaris class, with its Therabody products, its truly delicious meals, and its seat offering comfort and privacy, provided us with a pleasant interlude of relaxation and luxury.
Here is a way of traveling that could well become a habit… provided you can afford it financially! Thank you, United Polaris, for this shared journey between Paris and New York, under the sign of excellence!