✈️ United Polaris Business Class: Worth the Upgrade? Our International Flight Experience

Рет қаралды 59,667

Күн бұрын

Join us as we upgrade our economy seats on a 14-hour flight from Houston, TX, USA to Narita, Japan to United's Polaris Business Class. On our 30-hour journey to Thailand, we prioritized comfort and managed upgrade to $13,000 seats for just $800 each! Discover how we achieved this remarkable upgrade without using points, and find out if United's International Business Class seats are worth the investment.
00:18 - Polaris Club at IAH Airport, Houston, Texas
02:15 - United 777 Business Class
04:00 - United Polaris Business Class Restroom
04:39 - United Polaris Business Class Seat Tour
08:42 - Meal Service in United Polaris Class
10:30 - Tips for Upgrading to Business Class on United
12:19 - United Club at NRT Airport, Narita, Tokyo
Explore the luxurious Polaris Business Class experience with us and share your thoughts on United's international travel offerings!
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Joe and Kait have been sharing their travel adventures and tips since 2015. For travel guides, essential gear and tips from the road visit weretherussos.com and / weretherussos
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Пікірлер: 157

@bonniepwtf Жыл бұрын

This was sooooo interesting, very glad you thought to film it for us. I haven't been on a plane in years so ..... Continued safe travels.❣️❣️

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Bonnie

@keithandwiadventures Жыл бұрын

What a great episode! Loved watching you two enjoy the flight! Hoping to see more on this journey! Awesome!

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

More to come!

@jamiegodwin9881 Жыл бұрын

Looks like an awesome trip. Great video of your flight. Y'all be safe.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will do!

@hanj31 Жыл бұрын

Can’t beat a United Polaris lounge in the US. I visited one in SFO last April on a star alliance flight to Korea and it was perfect.

@gdb5843 13 күн бұрын

I went to SFO lounge last December, it was too crowded. Hard to find seat.

@GG-000 Жыл бұрын

Great video! We will have to try upgrading on our next long flight. Have a great trip. Looking forward to seeing your adventure!

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thank you! We’ll be posting videos of our trip

@deniseb.6007 Жыл бұрын

Good for you! Looks awesome!

@norcaldave9904 Жыл бұрын

Way to go. what fun. Great seats

@darrellbrixey5341 Жыл бұрын

Thank you guys for another awesome and informative video

@lynfl9814 Жыл бұрын

Wow! That was a deal; so, glad you snagged it. I hope you can get it on the return flight. We got to see how the other half lives with this one. Great video.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

I hope so too! Thanks Lyn

@suzannewch7202 Жыл бұрын

Wow! What a deal! Great review video! Thank you for sharing.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@suzannewch7202 Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos sorry I missed the call, I was in cell phone dead zone…..

@daniellatty1169 Жыл бұрын

Glad she convinced you & went for the upgrade 👍 Ps hope you enjoy your trip and have a wonderful Holiday with a safe journey back to us

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will do! And Happy Holidays!

@elainepereira7483 Жыл бұрын

This was a fantastic and very helpful video! I love all your videos, but I look forward to more such content as you two travel in a variety of different ways. I am beginning to travel world wide again as well. It feels like travel is a little different post pandemic and any help I find out there in navigating this is appreciated.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

@dan-tv Жыл бұрын

You guys are living life! Awesome!

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dan!

@vince8705 Жыл бұрын

Nice video, outstanding price ! Been upgraded to business class several times, it a sweet way to fly!

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Totally agree!

@keyplayer5 Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed watching this. I wish I could know ahead that it was going to be 800. With my back issues riding in a regular seat wouldn’t be an option for that length of time. Sure looked like fun! Can’t wait to see your next one. 💕

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@chiefenumclaw7960 Жыл бұрын

I wish I was flying to Japan. Thanks for posting fam, have fun!

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

You’re very welcome!

@wrxdrunkie Жыл бұрын

What a deal! Good job!!

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thanks - that’s all Kait

@ckt6448 Жыл бұрын

Love, love, love this!! ❤❤

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thank you CKT64!

@marykovalovich5914 Жыл бұрын

Good for you!!! 🎉

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

@solsticebaby 3 ай бұрын

It's good to see that they finally updated the delivery to the actual Polaris cabin. They advertised Polaris for years but never actually put the Polaris cabin in. Last time I traveled business between the USA and Tokyo on the way to Thailand was in 2020 and they still hadn't upgraded it. It was my third time being told I was in Polaris and I wasn't in " Polaris " but rather the old business cabin Good to know that I can try United again. I think I'm going to beyond their longest flight in July - San Francisco to Singapore!

@MommaKnowsBestest Жыл бұрын

Such a fun trip.

@dmaextraordinaire8205 8 ай бұрын

Once you’ve traveled in business class, it’s very, very difficult to go back to economy! Even premium economy. Thank you for the video! Safe travels.

@Weretherussos 8 ай бұрын

So true!

@johniii8147 Жыл бұрын

UA definitely needs to upgrade its food in business class. No where close what you'd find on other international carriers.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

the employees were telling us they've scaled back on the food quite a bit in the last few years.

@johniii8147 Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos Yeah that's obvious.

@michaelb3764 Жыл бұрын

Can't come close to Turkish. This is by far the best airline with the newest aircraft and the best food in the sky. Flew business twice with 4 legs and it was incredible. Was served Lamb chops with Turkish mezze with hummus tabuli babaganush salad and olive tapanade... For 1.5 hour flight. US carriers suck with the food choices

@mylesgarcia4625 8 ай бұрын

@@michaelb3764 Where in the world, would you find full meal service on a 1.5 hour flight? I've flown Turkish. They were eh; surly flight attendants.

@mbirch1593 Жыл бұрын

Enjoy Thailand! We were just there at the end of November.

@garretlewis4103 Жыл бұрын

Seemed like a good way to fly. Agreed, the initial prices were way too much. Got a good deal hanging on until the end.

@LMays-cu2hp Жыл бұрын

Thank the both of you for sharing your long-haul flight here. Yes, yes, it is worth it to get Business Class on long-haul flights!! But when I have friends who cannot wait to see about upgrades or those who don't have the points in their Mileage Plus account or any other airline member program then I say get Premium Economy. But again, both of you two see it was worth it. The service is usually very nice along with the drinks! The drinks make it nice for me!!😊Merry Christmas and happy New Year to the both of you.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

The premium economy was also good and well worth spending more over the standard economy.

@LMays-cu2hp Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos I agree with you. I know not everyone has a lot of points in their respective airline member accounts. And you have to coordinate hard to get a good deal.

@LMays-cu2hp Жыл бұрын

Bt yes, I tell friends who have to sit in Economy to upgrade or pay the extra for Premium Economy. It is worth it totally.

@GaryNichols50 Жыл бұрын

I have flown to asia many times in business class. But that was in the 90s. Business class back then was nice, but nothing at all like that which you experienced. Very interesting to see. One thing that seemed strange to me was that I saw on your video screen in one scene that internet was available for purchase. With all of that, you'd think they'd throw in free internet access.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

I agree - that was the one thing it was lacking

@ccartee1 Жыл бұрын

Flight looks fun. Thought you may be going to Tokyo Disneyland. I know you are huge Disney fans, so you all should check it out. The Japanese really set a high bar for quality and attention to detail that is even better than the domestic parks. Just got to the part of your video where you announced your destination was Thailand. Safe travels and have fun. PS. Like Kaitt’s “non-vanlife” hair. You should let your hair grow out too. 😎

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Grow my hair out??? I don’t have any to grow! I’d have a ring around the side of my head!

@ccartee1 Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos I used to have 'the ring'. I called it the "Friar Tuck". Now I'm losing the short connecting bit in the front, and have progressed to the "Colonel Klink". :)

@roberthunter6927 Жыл бұрын

Score! Lucky break guys!

@yuanth Жыл бұрын

Awesome video. Did you guys ask for the upgrade at the ticket counter or the gate counter?

@BloomByCC Жыл бұрын

How in the heck did you score that price!?! Flying is not my fave, we’re going premium this week cross country but dang! That’s sweet! Thanks for sharing, super interesting to see how the Russos live😂omg!!!! Kait!!! Great work on the tickets! Could you have snagged the price without going to the airport early? Unreal!

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Yes - you can also get the upgrade price before the flight. But this all assumes there’s seats left to upgrade to

@peggytravels793 Жыл бұрын

I have flown from Tampa - Houston to Hong Kong is First Class and the route home was Bangkok - Narita to Honolulu in First Class. I have made many that flight many other times and on all the flights flew in upgraded longer leg room seats or business class, the only way to tackle that 13 hour flight. From Narita I flew into Bangkok, Bali or Hong Kong and those were still long flights.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

It’s well worth the money to upgrade

@ginanguyen3716 Жыл бұрын

Nice 😊

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thanks 😊

@NoProGoPronto Жыл бұрын

This was so cool to watch. What a deal!! What determines such a drastic price drop?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Hey NoPro! Long time. I have no idea why the price drops like it did. We weren’t able to get it on the flight back for the same price

@LincRYAN Жыл бұрын

great video guys liked seeing you guys in a amazing plane. going to tell my family to take a plane like that in the future .

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

You should!

@happysavy9296 7 ай бұрын

That is an awesome deal and I would have done the same thing with that long of a flight. I am headed to Singapore and hope I have that option as well

@Weretherussos 7 ай бұрын

Good luck and enjoy the trip!

@kyrieeleison7328 5 ай бұрын

After watching these types of videos if I ever fly overseas? I will be going business class for sure!

@Weretherussos 5 ай бұрын

Only way to go!

@PatJ61 Жыл бұрын

Great video and so informative! Thanks. We will be “pod people” (business class) for the first and probably only time during our lives next year on a flight to Japan. We booked the seats the maximum 331 days out as soon as they became available. They were 60,000 miles each for a few hours and then the price jumped. Japan was still shut down to tourism when we booked them. The miles were bought during a super sale during the early days of Covid. Score! Question: Do you get to keep the pajamas etc? I’m so ignorant of business class protocols.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome! Yes you get to keep the PJs and toiletries but not the blankets

@j-mansdad3029 Жыл бұрын

Are you on your way to pick up a kei camper? That'd be sweet.

@gregh7457 Жыл бұрын

zip air has nice lay flat seats around that price to los angeles. they also go to bkk from nrt

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip!

@mylesgarcia4625 8 ай бұрын

So what was your base airfare -- before adding on the $799 upgrade fee? You never mentioned that. And was the fluctuation, like a last-minute action, i.e., you just watch how much the upgrade would gof or? BTW, what was the United craft -- you also never mentioned that.

@alquinn8576 3 ай бұрын

i flew "polaris" domestic during covid when they were using them on domestic hub-hub routes; great seats but didn't get 20 pounds of misc crap like you did lol

@slptp Жыл бұрын

Yeah, wine really changes on a flight. A pressurized cabin and dry air can suppress your ability to taste sweet and salty food by at least 30% according to most sources. A mixed drink may have more sugar in it to compensate. There are articles online to help make it taste better.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Good to know, thank you!

@SKS8080 Жыл бұрын

The lounge dragons at the ANA lounge is wrong. They should have let u in. U had a business/first ticket. That meets the requirement

@nippolitica Жыл бұрын

Welcome to Tokyo. Long time subscriber, let me know if you'd like to meet up!

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Thanks but we didn’t stay in Tokyo - kept going to Thailand

@nippolitica Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos Ah, just a layover then. You should definitely make a stop here though--it's worth it!

@classicscustomsandhotrodso600 Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos You should have explored Japan. I lived in Thailand for 3 years and it’s just Thailand really. Probably run into drunk Aussies.

@rickolis Жыл бұрын

Was this a 777-300ER? Was the noise from the bathroom bothersome when sitting in seat 9G?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

I believe it was and no noise from the bathroom

@peeyuh 8 ай бұрын

What a steal! Was the proximity to the lav in 9G bothersome for you at all? I love the idea of being in the bulkhead but I'm scared of how close the bathroom is. It seemed like there was enough separation but curious about your experience. Thank you!

@Weretherussos 8 ай бұрын

Didn’t even notice it was there. Plus it made a quick and easy trip over when I needed to go

@kevinagullana742 Жыл бұрын

Question, was 799 in addition to what you already paid for the entire flight or replacement total cost just for Houston to Narita?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

I’m addition to - the $800 was the upgrade fee and the tickets were 1,200

@toniwertman4818 Жыл бұрын

Why is united club closed I. Tokyo??

@dougvanharren Жыл бұрын

Can you tell me what day of week you traveled the first class leg and if they had any open first class seats? We are thinking of going your route if there is a chance

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

We traveled on a Monday and all the Polaris Business class seats were full by the time we got on the plane.

@jeffwrinkle575 Жыл бұрын

Were the blankets, pj's and other stuff all complimentary?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Yes - everything was complimentary including the food, coffee etc at the restaurant/lounge in Houston

@pticman Жыл бұрын

Too bad it's back to Coach class to Thailand 🇹🇭. What about on the way back to the USA? Cattle class all the way?

@johnnyboydardy 23 күн бұрын

ty mr bezos

@glenn65 Жыл бұрын

👏👏🙏

@connielowe1111 Жыл бұрын

do you get to keep the pj"s and things?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Yes to the PJs and toiletry box but not the blankets

@des1180 4 ай бұрын

Where did you put your personal items?

@Weretherussos 4 ай бұрын

Overhead cabinet

@Thesaltymedic36 Жыл бұрын

It was worth what you paid 👍🏼

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

That it was

@dodgers4121 Жыл бұрын

13k only when you buy it at the last minute. I fly often to Europe from Lax or Houston for 3-4k united Polaris

@vaoz9079 Жыл бұрын

what was the price for the economy tickets?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

$1,100 before the upgrade

@vaoz9079 Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos Good Deal! I liked this item very much. Nice to see how it 'works' in Business Class.

@JonathanStanley Жыл бұрын

Congrats, now you cannot fly in non-pointy end for longhaul anymore though! 🤣

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

😂 we did miss being in those seats in the return flight.

@userb83852 Жыл бұрын

Are you saying you haggled the upgrade pricing in person???

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

No but when we were at the airport the price was the lowest we’d seen

@bethchuck7851 Жыл бұрын

My husband is very curious about your original ticket price, to make the additional $800 upgrade worth it.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Just over $1,100 for the original round trip ticket

@eddiereyna2998 Жыл бұрын

Are the chairs heated ?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

No they aren’t

@appleorange3041 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely cheap ( great deal ) Just got back from Thailand to Chicago Premium seat paid about $ 5200.00

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Wow - thank you for that info on the pricing.

@paisleylfc6367 Жыл бұрын

did you say how you got the deal?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Yes, check it out at 10:30

@StormShadowX37 Жыл бұрын

That 799 on top of your initial ticket price?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Correct. The ticket was just over $1,100

@jackfntwist Жыл бұрын

How did you get them for $800?

@jackfntwist Жыл бұрын

I wrote this at the beginning :)

@advancededu1 Жыл бұрын

The left side bathroom is larger.

@johnczapla9894 Жыл бұрын

Good video but you give NO explanation on how you got the tickets

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Hey John! Check out 10:30 into the video.

@pamelachang3192 Жыл бұрын

How to snag it for only $800?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Check it out at 10:30

@mbbuckeyes8386 Жыл бұрын

So you upgraded for $799 and that’s on top of ur booked price? I assume it was, so what was the total cost of your base ticket without adding on the upgrade price?

@philipdoyle7037 Жыл бұрын

I was just about to ask that question

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Correct. We paid just under $2,000 per ticket

@tracy3066 Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos Oh ok I understand it now. Being so I don't think I would have paid and additional $799 on top of the $1,100 I was already paying. I mean it would have been nice to stretch out and lay down but to me I couldn't justify paying $800 extra to do that. (the food wouldn't have helped to sway me either since I'm on a low calorie diet)

@solsticebaby 3 ай бұрын

@@tracy3066A good rule of thumb is $100 per 1 hour of flying is a good deal for cost. So it was a little expensive overall once you counted the upgrade. But given the cabin class and the fact that it's about a 15-hour flight, it's actually pretty great overall.

@jwpratt1947 10 ай бұрын

How did you upgrade for $800?

@Weretherussos 10 ай бұрын

Through the United App. We will get offers to upgrade and if you don’t you can always call or ask at the desk when you check in

@norm4907 Жыл бұрын

Misleading, $800 was the upgrade cost. How much was your economy ticket.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

$1,200

@norm4907 Жыл бұрын

@@Weretherussos So $2000 per person for Business class to Japan is still a kick ass deal 🤘

@lyndasmythe2692 Жыл бұрын

NO, the “big question is”, how did you only pay $800?

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

It’s explained in the video

@lrobie123 Жыл бұрын

fly those type of seats for work.

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Well worth the cost to upgrade

@jl0m683 Жыл бұрын

How did that happen $800

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

We went on the United app and upgraded our tickets for $800. You can also do it on the website or at the airport

@theopinion9452 Жыл бұрын

I rather pay JAL $3K than $800 to United,the level of service the JAL crews is ALWAYS outstanding,am not going to delve into the reasons why United crews are worse,found out for yourself please.

@danielforrest3871 Жыл бұрын

Those seats look tiny.

@katiehart1125 22 күн бұрын

So we are going to Australia in Jan25 I do not want to pay 10g for this but am terrified of waiting @wearetherussos were there plenty if seats to upgrade to in business?? It is a 15 hour flight.

@Weretherussos 22 күн бұрын

It’s all dependent on time of year and how many are traveling. No way to know - total gamble

@katiehart1125 22 күн бұрын

@@Weretherussos if it were you and you had a 15 hour flight would it be worth the 10K price

@Weretherussos 20 күн бұрын

No. We did our return flight in standard economy and I was fine with that

@robertk8452 Жыл бұрын

Jeez Louise. Seems like it’s your first time flying business class 🙄🤡

@Weretherussos Жыл бұрын

Yep that’s correct

@iyahn-yahuw420 Жыл бұрын

13hrs! And the earth is meant to be spinning 🤣😂

@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm Ай бұрын

Yes, the earth and EVERYTHING on, above, and below the ground are all spinning at the same rate. That means, unfortunately, you can't simply sit somewhere and wait for your destination to come to you. Tha airplane at the gate is already spinning as rapidly as the globe as is the jet bridge connecting the gate to the aircraft. Thus both are moving with the earth's rotation but look like they are standing still. The person taking a photo of it all is also moving at the same speed the earth is rotating and thus the photo is NOT blurry because of movement. Amazing world we live in.