I was shocked by the attitude and open hostility presented by the flight attendants towards ALL passengers. Executives hint at an answer. Free shipping for many products! If you dont have United miles or dont have access to any, you can redeem a partner programs miles to book the same flights. Most importantly, you should always remember than ANY international business class seat is infinitely superior to cattle class, where 90% of travelers are trapped in a 17.5 seat for hours on end. Happy booking and traveling! They immediately told me to not take pictures. Featured photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy. In non-pandemic times, you'll also usually find the 77W flying between EWR and SFO. best ways to book Lufthansa business class using points. The coolest thing is that the QSuites in the middle can be converted into a 4-person cabin if youre traveling as a group! But some other aspects of the product fall short, including the small 16 inflight screen and thin bedding. Qatar Airways is a Oneworld Alliance partner, which is great because you can use miles from American Airlines, British Airways, etc. Youll find thick bedding (though no mattress topper), pajamas, and a solid Oman Air-branded amenity kit. There are a few key differences between Lufthansa and Swiss business class. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Additionally, the Delta One Suites routes are currently limited so if you want to try it, youll want to confirm that Delta One Suites are being offered on your prospective flight. And be warned: The worst seats really are awful as far as business class goes. Two more people on our flight had the same issue as well. Airlines that are both low-cost and near-equal in size. The seat itself is technologically enabled with tons of storage and charging ports, and food tends to be solid. United business is a premium travel class from United Airlines that is available for flights between the U.S. and Latin America or the Caribbean, in addition to some transcontinental flights. Their bed is super comfortable, plus youll get pajamas from Apujan (a London-based designer label,) and Rimowa/Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kits. On the A330, A340, and A350, the A, C, H, and K seats are positioned the same way as the B/E Diamond Seat, ie, both seats are facing in the same way away from the aisle. Some quick fixes to be made before people use this post to book their future travels once this coronavirus crisis is over, though. If you do the math, youll see that you receive such an upgrade once per year as a Premier Platinum member and up to eight times per year as a Premier 1K member. The business class of the airline is one of the most expensive in the world. Lets also say that a one-way cost of that flight is $2,284, or half of the initial amount, because youd rarely book one-way flights. Email needed if you'd like comment updates. Actually going from NYC ending in Catania, Italy . Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. So, overall, the majority of Uniteds widebody fleet now offers the much-improved business-class product. THAIs comfortable seat, great service, and sweet spot redemption prices are what set this option apart. I felt quite refreshed when I woke up just 45 minutes before landing. It offers two business class options: the Emirates A380 and the Boeing 777. Lufthansa didn't name the holder of this intellectual property, but that would be Acumen. Its always interesting to read reviews on various airlines, and then try them for yourself. 80,000. Make sure it actually says United Polaris business when you select your flight options, especially when you try to redeem, Submit payment, and youre now one of the lucky passengers to secure yourself a, In short, the United Premium Plus offers more of a premium economy experience (its often, compared to the Economy Plus ticket option. Youll also receive a decent business class amenity kit (likely from LOccitane), though its not as loaded as the EVA Air ones. There arent much of a choice for couples flying business class. This seat is only available on a limited number of ANA 777-300ERs, and more 777s are expected to be retrofitted with this seat in the future. They also have a reputation for having some of the cheeriest flight crews! The Lufthansa check-in was manned by a large number of agents. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). There are a few key differences between Lufthansa and British Airways business class. Still, Korean Air does a fantastic job with their seat size and soft product, and is one of the best SkyTeam partners to redeem miles and points on. If you're looking to fly United's 787-10 on a transcontinental route, it's cheaper to book through Avianca than United. So, while there is no clear winner when it comes to premium economy, Lufthansas offering is generally superior to Uniteds. You can book them using United miles, Air Canada Aeroplan miles, or many other types of points. Youll also have Premier Access at the airport. Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. In fact, there arent many Oman Air routes that offer this Apex Suites product at all. The seats are well-designed, with a lot of space, and they provide plenty of privacy. Aeroplan should have access to the same saver award inventory as United, and you can book directly on their website. American Express is the operator with . Despite the lack of lie-flat comfort I never had trouble falling asleep on the Lufthansa business class seats. In second place, Singapore Airlines is ranked as the Worlds Best Business Class, and All Nippon Airways is ranked third. If you fly between the two cities on the same airline, you will notice fare differences. Longer flights are attractively priced as well, with one-way Polaris awards costing the following amounts: While LifeMiles did recently announce changes to partner award rates within the U.S., these didn't extend to Polaris, so if you can find I class availability with United, Avianca should be able to book it. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Would you recommend British Airways Club Suite, Iberia, or Aer Lingus? The 787 has the same seat, but the 1-1-1 configuration is ridiculously private! Book this seat. Entertainment: United Private Screening offers on-demand movies, TV shows and more on a large personal screen. Wi-Fi on board. You can enjoy the Polaris experience on many United long-haul international flights and select transcontinental routes. Exhausting. There are amenity kits available on both airlines, including lip balm and eye masks. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. U.S. to Australia & New Zealand: 80,000 miles, U.S. to Asia: 105,500 - 115,000 miles (depending on final destination), U.S. to Australia and New Zealand: 130,000 miles. While neither provides all-aisle access or much privacy, Lufthansa's business-class seat far outperforms United's cramped eight-wide layout. As of now both Norwegian Airlines and Delta Air Lines offer seasonal non-stop service from JFK to ATH. 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. I can either do ATL-ICN-TPE with 78k Skymiles + GUC to be in Delta One from ATL-ICN and Econ from ICN-TPE. However, I think I am wrong now. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. It really depends on what the individual is looking for in an airline. One of the cons of this product is that you wont be able to find a U.S. route to try it out on. THAI Airways has an intriguing business class situation. Hot Tip: Etihad has a great frequent flyer program, known as Etihad Guest, which is interestingly one of the best options for booking American Airlines premium travel. If we compare the numbers more, we will find that the list is far too long. There is little to choose between the two. BOEING 787-10 United Polaris business class 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. We are flying Air Canada again to Santiago in January, this time on a 777-Er. Both American and Norwegian operate flights from different parts of the Atlantic to different markets, so they charge fares based on how those specific flights fit within their networks. We have paid for business class airfares with viking cruises. British Airways new Club Suite has reverse herringbone seats as well as a sliding door for extra privacy. If you'd like to add a comment to this article and share your valuable feedback and opinions, please click here to leave your comment. Premium economy upgrades to business class are not guaranteed, while cheap business class tickets are generally guaranteed in the seat that you want. This is extremely wide for reverse herringbone seats (typically youll see 20-22). With service focused on Australia only, youd think Virgin Australia would be overshadowed by Qantas. This is one of the only airlines that offers pajamas in business class, much less pajamasand Rimowa amenity kits! Air Canadas flagship business class product is known as Signature Class, with lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration thats pretty standard for business class. It is very informative but I could still use advice for the best choice for San Francisco-London in September 2020. Qatar Airways is obviously a great airline, as is Emirates. United has assigned A320 seats in first class. Ask ExpertFlyer, flew a 772 retrofitted with Polaris seats, Where to sit when flying Uniteds 777-200 Polaris business class, Touring Uniteds first 787-10 Dreamliner (Polaris, Premium Plus, Economy), United just hit another major milestone in its Polaris retrofit program, United exec details reopening plans for airport clubs, Polaris Lounges, several different programs make booking United awards, transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points, How to get maximum value from the United MileagePlus program, Heres why you need a healthy stash of Avianca LifeMiles, The best ways to maximize Air Canadas Aeroplan program, Singapore's KrisFlyer program has undergone some devaluations in recent years, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Still, they are fully lie-flat, and the provided mattress topper, duvet, and pillow will enhance your experience. Hot Tip: Check out our in-depth review of Virgin Australias The Business for more information. Wondering if you can help me decide. Lounges: Polaris Lounges feature spa-like shower facilities, full-meal catering and Wi-Fi. Featured image courtesy of United Airlines. Note that only fare classes Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V and W are eligible for a PlusPoints upgrade from United economy to Polaris on long-haul flights. Singapore Airlines utilizes the 777-300ER on some of their nonstop routes to/from the U.S. Meanwhile, the retrofitted 777-200s feature 50 of the same seats, with 32 in the forward cabin and 18 in the rear. Window seats (A and L) in odd-numbered rows are the best choice for all passengers, as there's no way to sit next to someone you're traveling within this 1-1-1 layout. Glad to see that you have a great time on QSuites . Every other row on a 777 or 787 is crammed with true window seats, which are surprisingly private. The United seat is more comfortable, the sheet material is better, and the security around the Lufthansa seat has improved. This is a huge upgrade compared to its old 2-2-2 business class, and the relatively small cabin of 30 seats makes for a private experience. Bottom Line: Especially if you can find award space, Air Canada provides a solid product for a restful flight: comfortable beds/seats and good food. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Still, redeeming PlusPoints for an upgrade to Polaris business class yields more value than using your MileagePlus miles because miles dont expire, but PlusPoints do. 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For the inside scoop, check out the best ways to book JAL Business Class. This way I had no need to interact further with the horrible staff. Our opinions are our own. Editorial Disclosure:The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced, provided, or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned. 1 Request a FREE quote by completing the form above. Business class accommodations in planes are far superior to those in first class. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. The program uses a hybrid award chart factoring in both the distance you fly and the departure and arrival regions. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. For more information on our advertisers, see here. Check here before booking an award fare. Wherever your journey takes you: in Lufthansa Business Class you'll arrive feeling more relaxed. The seats in Abu Dhabis Business Studio are well-designed and thoughtfully crafted. Seems to make the most sense tome wise to fly into/from them directly. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Typically, throne seats require a $200 surcharge to reserve, which in my book would be totally worth it. Seat selection on the 767 follows the same guidelines as the 777s. Their food tends to be average, and service can be inconsistent. Traveling as a group of four can even be done with a quad and a large suite. If youre looking for the most luxurious experience possible, go with Lufthansa. Once out of the fog the Golden Gate and some parts of San Francisco would show nicely on the right side. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Disclaimer:Upgraded Points, LLC and its website, UpgradedPoints.com, provides information on credit cards, reward programs, travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. We made the mistake of taking the 2 window seats and my husband had to crawl over me to get out. All of these considerations are essential, especially when spending your hard-earned points and miles. United Polaris customers flying on long-haul international routes have access to Polaris lounges located at Chicago-OHare, Houston-Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington-Dulles. The Swiss provides excellent value for single travelers due to its improved privacy, with aisle access and single seats. Youll find a reverse herringbone seat in a 1-2-1 configuration with tons of bedding youll truly feel like youre sleeping in one of the best hard products in the sky. Known for their out-of-this-world First Class Apartments and the Etihad Residence, this financially struggling airline provides one of the only ways to fly to the Middle East from the U.S. Etihad uses their best business class product on their 787s and A380s, which they call the Business Studio. Can You Ship A Flat Rate Box As First-Class Mail? Maybe something was added to my food by the flight attendants? The width of the seat varies by aircraft and ranges from 20.5 inches to 22 inches. Lights off on. Unfortunately, Virgin Australia Velocity points are pretty difficult to accrue for U.S.-based points earners, but you can use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Virgin Points to book travel on Virgin Australia. However, if you do find saver business-class award space (I fare class on United, just like all other Star Alliance carriers), you should be able to book it with any of the below programs. 10xTravel, Forbes Advisor, FlyerTalk, Fodor's, MileValue, Reward Expert. 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. Sadly my reservation had changed, but the ticket was never re-issued. The seats on your flight will be influenced heavily by the plane you are traveling on. The seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, which is exceedingly private. Thank you! When flying United Polaris, especially in one of the newly configured aircraft, prepare for a treat. 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. This means if you are on a window seat you dont get direct aisle access as you have to step over the person next to you. However, the disconnect between expectation and reality created confusion around the Polaris brand and what it actually entails. Swiss has a great range of food and beverages, as well as a relaxing atmosphere. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Theres no hard and fast rule. Air France/KLM Flying Blue uses a variable award pricing calculator, which can price U.S.-to-Europe business class awards anywhere from 53,000 miles to an eye-popping 212,500 miles one-way! 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