Subject: United Airlines Unveils Reimagined International Travel Experience - United Polaris Business Class - Jun 2, 2016
From: "Eric Schwerin" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:16:10 -0400

United Airlines Unveils Reimagined International Travel Experience - United
Polaris Business Class - Jun 2, 2016

http://newsroom.united.com/2016-06-02-United-Airlines-Unveils-Reimagined-International-Travel-Experience-United-Polaris-Business-Class

More than 12,000 hours of research inspired sleep-enhancing
lounge-to-landing experience

NEW YORK, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire <http://www.prnewswire.com/>/ -- With
the aspiration of making weary business travel a relic of the past, United
Airlines today unveiled its all-new United Polaris business class, the
airline's most significant product transformation in more than a decade,
featuring a reimagined, sleep-enhancing, departure-to-landing experience
for intercontinental travelers.

Named after the North Star, United Polaris is the shining new star of
business class travel that flyers can turn to for a tranquil and restful
journey.

"United Polaris will change the game in international business travel with
an exceptional level of relaxation and comfort throughout our customers'
journeys," said Oscar Munoz, president and CEO of United. "This completely
reconceived experience exemplifies the new spirit of United and the
innovation, excitement and operational momentum across our airline."

*Path-Breaking Design*

In setting out to create a transformative business class experience, United
chose to outfit its widebody fleet with a custom-designed,
exclusive-to-United seat, rather than select an option already in the
marketplace. Designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and
PriestmanGoode and manufactured by Zodiac Seats United Kingdom, each United
Polaris seat will offer direct access to the aisle, 180-degree flat-bed
recline and up to 6 foot 6 inches of bed space.

Crafted as individual, forward-facing, suite-like pods, each customer's
personal suite will feature a "Do Not Disturb" sign, mood lighting,
one-touch lumbar support, several storage areas, multiple surfaces for
simultaneous working and dining, a 16-inch high-definition entertainment
screen and, for seats in the center of the cabin, electronic privacy
dividers. Complementing the new seats, United and PriestmanGoode have also
conceived an all-new look for the United Polaris cabins.

In rethinking the international business class experience, United conducted
more than 12,000 hours of research, and sleep emerged as the single most
important priority for international business class travelers. United
Polaris' path-breaking design and sleep-enhancing focus was inspired and
informed by insights from hundreds of customers and employees, inflight
product simulations and more than 100 product evaluations.

*Sleep-Enticing Amenities*

In addition to the sleep-enticing United Polaris personal suites, several
other amenities were designed with our customers' sleep in mind.

In a first-of-its-kind partnership, United has worked with leading luxury
specialty store Saks Fifth Avenue for custom-designed bedding. All designed
to provide the best sleep in the sky, the new bedding collection will
feature plush duvets, lightweight day-blankets and a large and small pillow
for each United Polaris customer. In addition, mattress cushions will be
available upon request.

Slippers will be available on all flights, and customized United Polaris
pajamas will be available by request on flights longer than 12 hours.
Flyers will also be able to request a gel-cooled pillow. New amenity kits
will feature ergonomically designed eye shades, calming lavender pillow
mist and additional products from Soho House & Co.'s Cowshed Spa.

With the introduction of United Polaris, the airline intends to donate tens
of thousands of pillows, blankets and other inflight service items to
Fisher House Foundation, which United and its employees have long supported.

*Elevated Dining Experience*

Upon boarding their flight, each United Polaris customer will be welcomed
with a pre-departure beverage of his or her choice and gourmet chocolate.
While in the air, customers will enjoy regionally influenced in-flight
menus updated seasonally, developed in partnership with The Trotter Project
and its critically recognized chefs, including Bill Kim of acclaimed Chicago
restaurants Urbanbelly, bellyQ and Belly Shack.

The airline will offer an upgraded wine experience, with the
highest-quality options curated exclusively by United's Master Sommelier.
Inflight service will also include made-to-order signature ice cream
sundaes, a dessert cart with a variety of petit dessert options, chocolate
truffles and wine flights. On daytime flights longer than eight hours and
on all flights longer than 12 hours, hot mid-flight snacks such as lobster
macaroni and cheese will be available.

*Raising The Bar With United Polaris Business Class Lounges*

United will also open an exclusive portfolio of United Polaris business
class lounges in nine locations around the world – the only lounge of its
kind offered by a U.S. airline to business class customers – that will
feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers and
chef-inspired hot meals served in a boutique restaurant setting so
customers can refresh and dine before boarding their planes. Premium
sparkling wines and spirits, refreshing snacks and bottled water will also
be offered.

The first new United Polaris lounge will open at Chicago O'Hare
International Airport on Dec. 1, 2016. Lounges in eight other locations – Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo
Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow – will follow in 2017.

*United Polaris Introduction*

United will begin to introduce United Polaris on Dec. 1, 2016, with the new
inflight food and beverage experience, new custom bedding from Saks Fifth
Avenue, new amenity kits and the new United Polaris lounge in Chicago. The
United Polaris business class seat will first take flight in December on
Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and subsequently on Boeing 787-10 and Airbus
A350-1000 aircraft, as well as on Boeing 767-300 and 777-200 retrofits.

United Polaris will serve business class customers flying the U.S. airline
industry's most global route network, reaching more than 330 destinations
in more than 50 countries. This year, United launches or resumes eight
intercontinental routes, including the first-ever service between the
United States and the Chinese cities of Xi'an and Hangzhou. The airline
began nonstop service in late May linking New York/Newark with Newcastle,
U.K., and Athens, and linking Washington Dulles with Lisbon and Barcelona.
On June 1, United launched its first-ever nonstop service between San
Francisco and Singapore, the longest flight by a U.S. carrier. Service
between San Francisco and Auckland begins in July.

More information on the United Polaris business class can be found at
united.com/Polaris <http://united.com/polaris>. Photos can be found at
newsroom.united.com/United_Polaris.

*About United*

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,000 flights a
day to 336 airports across six continents. In 2015, United and United
Express operated more than 1.5 million flights carrying more than 140
million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive
route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los
Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United
operates more than 715 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline
anticipates taking delivery of 21 new Boeing aircraft, including 737 NGs,
787s and 777s. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which
provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. Approximately
86,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around
the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on
Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United
Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130404/MM89155LOGO

SOURCE United Airlines

For further information: United Airlines Worldwide Media Relations,
+1-872-825-8640, [email-masked]

Eric D. Schwerin
[email-masked]

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