Review: United Airlines Brisbane-San Francisco 787 Polaris business class
Queenslanders can now jet across the Pacific from their home state in style, shaving off up to four hours in the process.
By Sid Raja , November 11 2022
Route
Brisbane-San Francisco
Aircraft Type
Boeing 787
Airline
United Airlines
Flight
UA97
Cabin Class
Business Class
Seat
1L
Notes
The Good
- Broad range of inflight entertainment
- Away-designed amenity kit
- Direct flight saves hours for QLD'ers
The Bad
- Lie-flat bed is on the narrow side
- AC power outlet wrong position for Macbook charger
X-Factor
- Free WiFi for select messaging apps
- Great sleep experience
Introduction
United has seized the opportunity to introduce the new thrice-weekly service from Brisbane, making it the third Australian city connecting to the tech hub.
Flying into San Francisco’s International Airport is fast becoming one of the preferred options for Australians jetting off to the US, and this newly-inaugurated route makes it a particularly attractive choice for those based in the Sunshine State.
The route shaves off around four hours – and a ton of hassle – for Queenslanders, who’ve previously had to make an early-morning dash to Sydney or Melbourne to get to San Fran. Add to that all the creature comforts of the Polaris business class and you’re all set for a seamless travel experience.
Lounge
Through its Star Alliance membership, United Airlines directs all lounge-eligible passengers on its UA97 flight from Brisbane to the Air New Zealand International Lounge, found just up the escalator between gates 81 and 82.
Those who’ve visited recently will know it’s an adequate, yet not overly exciting space, often eclipsed by the adjacent – and much more enticing – Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge.
The lounge entrance features SIA’s signature batik motif.
With United and Singapore Airlines both Star Alliance members, the SQ lounge is open to business class travellers, along with United’s Premier Gold and Premier Platinum frequent flyers (their Star Alliance Gold equivalents).
The lounge is perched overlooking the main departures area.
On entry, a beautiful screen featuring SIA’s signature batik motif sets the tone for the lounge: slightly modern, somewhat traditional, but overall, a fresh and lively space for Brisbane passengers to unwind before their flight.
Inside the small yet functional space you can’t help but appreciate the natural light that flows from the tarmac through the windows at the far end of the lounge.
Almost every seat has a power outlet within easy reach.
You’ll find several sitting areas scattered across the lounge, from solo working lounges and booths equipped with power sockets and USB charging ports…
Work spaces for one include a reading lamp and power outlet.
On the dining front, the lounge offers plenty of culinary options, including a cold and hot self-service buffet…
Breakfast includes hot and cold buffet items, such as granola, fresh fruit and pastries.
…and a wide range of drinks, including spirits, liqueurs, beers and wines.
Self-service drinks (and Halloween decorations) including a range of spirits and wines, plus juice, tea and coffee.
Other perks include shower facilities and ‘The Gallery’ , a small room towards the front of the lounge designed to be roped off for VIPs or acting as a touchdown area for travellers with limited time before their flight.
Note, however, that the opening hours of the Brisbane SilverKris lounge are quite limited; from 6.20am to 9.05am and 11.30am to 2.30pm. You can still visit the Air New Zealand lounge for the remainder of your time before your flight.
Flight
United’s Brisbane-San Francisco UA97 flight runs three days a week on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. It’s a smooth 12-hour flight serviced by United’s modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners – spacious, twin-aisle jets designed for efficiency and comfort.
Leaving Brisbane mid-morning means you can while away the first 5-6 hours catching up on work or watching a movie before sliding off to sleep, and waking up to a brand new start of the day once in San Francisco really pulls off that magical time travel illusion.
Travellers in business class receive an increased checked baggage allowance of 2x32kg bags; add to that some frequent flyer status (MileagePlus Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum and 1K, or a Star Alliance Gold card from another airline) and you’ll get a third 32kg bag into the bargain.
While still departing as scheduled at 10:30am, a solid tailwind during our flight sees us reaching San Francisco at 5:50am (local time), some 40 minutes ahead of the planned 6:30am touchdown.
Seat
Like most of United’s Australian flights, Brisbane sees a Boeing 787-9 with 48 Polaris business class seats spread across two distinct zones, with most of them found in the forward eight-row cabin and an additional four rows behind the first galley.
A significant upgrade from its previous business offering, the Polaris business class seats come in a 1-2-1 layout, which combines forward-facing and angled seats in a dovetail arrangement, providing every passenger with direct aisle access.
Polaris business class is among the best seats on the trans-Pacific route ex Australia.
The seats are well-appointed and sport a premium finish with plenty of blue and touches of silver and slate, with an enclosed capsule design offering a degree of individual privacy.
Speaking of privacy, odd-numbered window seats – placed directly against the windows – are the best option for passengers seeking a more intimate flight experience. In comparison, the even-numbered rows see the passenger closer to the aisle, with a bench and cupboard between them and the window.
Pillows, bedding and the Away-designed amenity kit await as soon you step aboard.
Those travelling in pairs will instead want to opt for middle seats, with the odd-numbered ones being closer to the centre and nearer to each other (making them the better choice for socialising with your peer).
If you wind up in one of these centre-row seats with a stranger, a full-head retractable divider can be pulled out.
Each seat gets a large compartment under the ottoman – big enough to fit a small bag – plus a shoulder-level cupboard to keep gadgets and travel amenities close at hand.
A mirrored storage cabinet helps keep your belongings tidy.
When it comes to getting work done, the Polaris business class makes for a great office-in-the-clouds.
A spacious and solidly-hinged tray table slides smoothly out from under the video screen, while an additional faux-marble benchtop is wide enough to spread out any work-related documents.
A USB port and storage nook to charge your devices on the fly.
Above this: the IFE controller, a combo AC/USB power socket and the headphone jack.
However, while it’s a handy location to keep your laptop juiced up, the position of the universal AC socket is such that a MacBook power adaptor will only fit if it has a two-prong US or EU plug and if the brickette is turned upside down. Got a three-prong AU or UK MacBook power brick? You’re out of luck.
The seat comes with an AC power outlet, USB port and wired remote.
There’s a second USB port next to a small recess beneath the video screen, providing an additional spot to charge your smartphone or tablet while they sit snugly out of your way.
Once you’re ready to count some sheep, a control strip along the edge of the seat includes an intuitive roller-style switch, which transforms your seat into a fully-flat 198-centimetre bed.
There are also individual controls for the leg rest, lumbar support and lighting.
Bedding comprises a blanket, mattress pad and foam pillow.
Although the seat is relatively slim with a small foot cubby, United has provided lots of bedding to help create a comfortable experience. Adorned with Saks Fifth Avenue branding, the bedding includes a mattress pad, duvet, large pillow, and a small memory foam pillow. Once set up, I was able to enjoy a 6-hour straight sleep on this flight.
For light sleepers, like myself, there’s a ‘do not disturb’ button to inform crew that you’d prefer your slumber be uninterrupted.
Other bells and whistles include an Away-designed amenity kit containing a range of Sunday Riley skincare products, a pair of slippers and earplugs, and a comfy eye mask.
Meal
Service kicks off with an aperitif – including a selection of non alcoholic drinks and wines – served with warmed mixed nuts.
Meal service begins with an aperitif and warmed mixed nuts.
There is only one choice of entree, coronation salmon with butter lettuce, coriander and vadouvan seasonings, so we went with that.
This was followed by the option of four main courses; seared beef fillet, chicken stuffed with mint and ricotta, spinach ravioli, and seared barramundi fish fillet.
I opt for the seared barramundi, which comes with a rich and spicy Nduja-tomato sauce, grilled green beans, BBQ cherry tomato and toasted macadamia.
Coronation salmon, seared barramdundi and a side salad - all served at the same time.
The fish portion size was on the smaller side.
Lunch is capped off with an assorted cheese plate, paired with grapes and a beautiful deep and mellow Symmetry Meritage 2016.
What's better than a single dessert? Two desserts.
With a 12-hour flying time from Brisbane to San Francisco, there’s a good chance you will wake partway through the journey, so United Airlines also offers a range of mid-flight snacks.
In my case, the cheese and Vegemite toastie and tomato soup hit the spot.
What the toastie lacks in presentation, it makes up for with flavour.
After a few solid hours of sleep, breakfast is served as we approach the landing phase.
I go for the Italian-style option: a spinach and feta frittata with a chicken sausage and delightful roasted potatoes, which provides a nice energy boost prior to landing.
Spinach and feta frittata, with a side of fresh fruit and toast.
Entertainment & Service
When you’re not snoozing and instead seeking something to pass the time, there’s a 16-inch touchscreen loaded with an extensive range of movies and TV shows – all available in multiple languages.
A broad selection of audiobooks, as well as a soothing ‘relax mode’ pairing gentle music with a restful slideshow, are also available.
Onboard WiFi is also available for US$21.99 for the full flight, and US$8.99 for 2 hours of browsing. Like most other inflight WiFi experiences, the speed is slow and latency high, but we’re grateful for the ability to stay connected when needed.
United also offers free WiFi for messaging apps including WhatsApp, iMessage and Facebook Messenger, which is a great touch.
On the service front, business class onboard this inaugural flight is warm and efficient, with the attendants walking through the cabin several times and proactively offering food and drink top-ups.
Verdict
For Queenslanders jetting off to San Francisco and beyond, United Airlines from Brisbane is definitely a worthwhile consideration. It’s the fastest way to reach the US, saving time on connecting via Sydney or Melbourne and avoiding the well-documented hassles of LAX altogether.
Enjoying the comfort, privacy and service of the Polaris business class – easily among the best from a US carrier – is just icing on the cake, and we can only hope frequency increases in the near future.
The writer travelled as a guest of United Airlines.
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BA Gold
01 Apr 2012
Total posts 196
A one tray main meal service on a 12-plus hour daylight flight is a poor offering.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1427
My experience was in economy and they had no idea of how to manage passengers on a 14 hour flight. Miserable food and drink options. The idea of a Vegemite and cheese toastie as the mid flight snak reminds me of the half sandwich I was offered. Too bad if you don’t like Vegemite. That maybe their point.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 332
Unite Business - good - reasonable food, Pyjamas, Polaris narrow but private and self contained, and no silly SQ beds that cant recline, but have to be flipped over by crew (even in SingaporeInc First on 777) Polaris lounge at SFO good, spacious, sit gown dining al la carte, buffet, slumber rooms - no cafeteria effect of Singapore Business lounges which are glorified refectories And as much as UA crew can be good great or bad, at least they dont have the fake smile of the SQ girls. One way SQ is better is lavatories. Sq lavatories are generally spotless, but not as good as Qatar where they are cleaned after almost every use
12 Jul 2019
Total posts 12
Thanks for the comments.... but so far, it all sounds like catch up to other Airlines to me.
How someone can criticise a SQ hostie is beyond me.. always address me by name, elegant and delightful and the Stewards are great too.
14 Feb 2015
Total posts 15
Sadly nothing yet holds a candle to the VA trans pacific flights. The meals and service was so far superior to QF/UA/DL/AA it wasn’t even a close race
12 May 2017
Total posts 5
Dear Executive Traveller team - the picture you have for the main image is of a Boeing 777 cabin and not the Boeing 787 you have in your article. I’m sure you have used a stock image however given the article is clearly about United’s Boeing 787 aircraft and product the article should include images of this product. How do I know it’s a B777 and not a B787? The windows in the initial picture includes physical shades and no button to electrically control the window shading (latter pictures have this button so were on a B787). The overhead lockers and PSU in the initial picture were also distinctively a B777, while the B787 has more modern lockers and PSUs.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2558
Hi Goody - that's a good piece of plane-spotting, and yes, general practice is that we use good crisp airline-supplied photos for the main featured image. But given that this is a review of the Polaris business class seat and experience, which is largely identical between the Boeing 777 and 787 (except for 'non-product' aspects such as the 787's greater passenger comfort in terms of noise, cabin pressure and humidity), the type of aircraft in the feature image makes no real difference.
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