Opinion on United

[DeltaBega]

Has anyone traveled Business class recently on United UA100 Sydney to Houston? I'm looking for opinions on service, food and comfort. Also, which is the best lounge to access in Sydney?

 

[goldenhorn]

Yes, I flew this route in 2019. UA is nothing special.

Highlights:

• They ran out of Champagne after one glass after take off and then tried to tell me Prosecco they had was basically the same as Champagne
• Food was average and unmemorable
• FAs tended to be disinterested in giving good service but did big pours of drinks (probably to get us drunk so they could stop working )
• FA 'threw' the PJs at us (along with attitude) when we asked if we could have a pair
• Polaris seat was comfortable and bedding is nice
• We LOVED the Polaris lounge in Houston and ORD for the trip home.
• Polaris lounges had great a la carte food on demand and Piper Heidsieck on the drinks menu (I definitely then made up for the lack of Champagne on the flight at this point).
• Lounge bathrooms were great and wonderful showers.

SYD lounge - I think you can move between AIRNZ and Krisflyer lounges from memory? They are next to each other.

Not my best J class experience, but if I didn't have any other options I'd go it again, mostly because I loved the Polaris lounges.

 

[DeltaBega]

Yes, I flew this route in 2019. UA is nothing special.

Highlights:

• They ran out of Champagne after one glass after take off and then tried to tell me Prosecco they had was basically the same as Champagne
• Food was average and unmemorable
• FAs tended to be disinterested in giving good service but did big pours of drinks (probably to get us drunk so they could stop working )
• FA 'threw' the PJs at us (along with attitude) when we asked if we could have a pair
• Polaris seat was comfortable and bedding is nice
• We LOVED the Polaris lounge in Houston and ORD for the trip home.
• Polaris lounges had great a la carte food on demand and Piper Heidsieck on the drinks menu (I definitely then made up for the lack of Champagne on the flight at this point).
• Lounge bathrooms were great and wonderful showers.

SYD lounge - I think you can move between AIRNZ and Krisflyer lounges from memory? They are next to each other.

Not my best J class experience, but if I didn't have any other options I'd go it again, mostly because I loved the Polaris lounges.

Thanks for this - this airline happens to be a sector on an around-the-world quote I've got. Hopefully, they've improved a bit. I think I could use the AirNZ and Amex Centurian lounges in Sydney and thanks for the Singapore Airlines idea because after checking it seems I could use that too. Thanks again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’ve had no issues with United. The food is definitely ‘comfort food’, something you might find in reasonable cafeteria. But nonetheless it is tasty. The sundae service after the meal is a nice touch.

As others have said the bed is fine, bedding is good. Staff can vary but I’ve always had great service on United’s premium cabins.

Polaris lounges are quite good, I’d rate them on par or perhaps slightly below AA’s flagship offering.

 

[DeltaBega]

Thanks for those opinions - still a bit hesitant travelling with them but they're offering a few affordable sectors for our journey.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for those opinions - still a bit hesitant travelling with them but they're offering a few affordable sectors for our journey.

very few airlines are ‘perfect’. Each has pros and cons, and UA is on par with the rest. I wouldn’t see any reason to avoid them

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I've flown Air Canada, United, Lufthansa, Air New Zealand thus far in business class long haul. Of those carriers I would say Air New Zealand is the best in terms of service, cabin comfort and certainly catering. That being said, finding award availability with Air New Zealand can be extremely difficult in the best of times. Yes they do crop up from time to time but usually we're talking a single date and a specific route. No massive dumps of availability as one would expect to find with other Star Alliance carriers.

In terms of airlines, I'd say United provides a decent business class service. Catering is average, service can sometimes be hit or miss but their Polaris product offers all aisle access with no neighbours (something that cannot be said for Lufthansa for instance), they have pyjamas, gel pillows, slippers and other nice amenities for these long TPAC routes. They also have a very nice Polaris business lounge complete with shower, spa, sit down dining, buffet, etc. Overall, I cannot really complain about them and certainly if you find saver business availability you made the right decision, especially given how hard it has been to find saver business awards between Australia and North America.

In terms of lounges in the international terminal of Sydney, well you'd have access to two Star Alliance lounges flying United Polaris business: Singapore airlines and Air New Zealand. I haven't been to the former but did visit the latter and found the catering to be alright (certainly a cut above the Qantas business lounge at SYD) with decent seating and the like. Another thing to consider would also be whether you have access to other lounges from things like credit cards. For instance, if you hold the AmEx Platinum card you can avail yourself to the AmEx lounge at Sydney. In addition, Platinum card holders have access to Priority Pass lounges which would include The House Lounge. If your final destination is Houston, then you wouldn't have any access to lounges on arrival given you need to clear US customs and immigration before being dumped out of the airport (and you need a valid same day boarding pass departing the airport to clear security). However, if you are connecting through Houston, you would also be able to access the excellent Polaris business lounge at Houston upon showing your boarding pass for the SYD > IAH flight. Otherwise, if you are later departing from Houston you could certainly try the Centurion lounge, again provided you are holding an AmEx Platinum card.

Hope that helps.

-RooFlyer88

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agree with the assessment of polaris. It’s solid enough.

I think the SQ lounge in SYD has it, the NZ and Amex lounges were not good when there last month. The Amex lounge was really sad!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I think the SQ lounge in SYD has it, the NZ and Amex lounges were not good when there last month. The Amex lounge was really sad!

What about the House lounge?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What about the House lounge?

Haven’t been!

 

[DeltaBega]

I've flown Air Canada, United, Lufthansa, Air New Zealand thus far in business class long haul. Of those carriers I would say Air New Zealand is the best in terms of service, cabin comfort and certainly catering. That being said, finding award availability with Air New Zealand can be extremely difficult in the best of times. Yes they do crop up from time to time but usually we're talking a single date and a specific route. No massive dumps of availability as one would expect to find with other Star Alliance carriers.

In terms of airlines, I'd say United provides a decent business class service. Catering is average, service can sometimes be hit or miss but their Polaris product offers all aisle access with no neighbours (something that cannot be said for Lufthansa for instance), they have pyjamas, gel pillows, slippers and other nice amenities for these long TPAC routes. They also have a very nice Polaris business lounge complete with shower, spa, sit down dining, buffet, etc. Overall, I cannot really complain about them and certainly if you find saver business availability you made the right decision, especially given how hard it has been to find saver business awards between Australia and North America.

In terms of lounges in the international terminal of Sydney, well you'd have access to two Star Alliance lounges flying United Polaris business: Singapore airlines and Air New Zealand. I haven't been to the former but did visit the latter and found the catering to be alright (certainly a cut above the Qantas business lounge at SYD) with decent seating and the like. Another thing to consider would also be whether you have access to other lounges from things like credit cards. For instance, if you hold the AmEx Platinum card you can avail yourself to the AmEx lounge at Sydney. In addition, Platinum card holders have access to Priority Pass lounges which would include The House Lounge. If your final destination is Houston, then you wouldn't have any access to lounges on arrival given you need to clear US customs and immigration before being dumped out of the airport (and you need a valid same day boarding pass departing the airport to clear security). However, if you are connecting through Houston, you would also be able to access the excellent Polaris business lounge at Houston upon showing your boarding pass for the SYD > IAH flight. Otherwise, if you are later departing from Houston you could certainly try the Centurion lounge, again provided you are holding an AmEx Platinum card.

Hope that helps.

-RooFlyer88

Thank you for that reply
It’s everything I needed to know, (and more), so a big thank you. Their fare was quoted as part of a business “Around-the World” fare offered by an Adelaide based travel agency. It was $2k+ cheaper than any other fare to the US (apart from Philippine Airlines), so rather attractive.
Thanks again.

Post automatically merged: Nov 11, 2022

What about the House lounge?

Sad, but useful to know.

 

[UP4014]

I've flown United plenty of times without issue. If the price and timings suit I'd use them.

 

[DeltaBega]

I've flown United plenty of times without issue. If the price and timings suit I'd use them.

Thank you - that’s a reassuring statement.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Their fare was quoted as part of a business “Around-the World” fare offered by an Adelaide based travel agency. It was $2k+ cheaper than any other fare to the US (apart from Philippine Airlines), so rather attractive.

One thing to consider is where you will be crediting mileage earned from flying the ticket. Star Alliance has a number of frequent flyer programs you can credit your flights to both for miles you can use to later book an award ticket along with potentially earning frequent flyer status with the airline (and by extension across all other carriers in the Star Alliance). Which program to credit to depends on a number of factors including which airlines you are flying with in the itinerary and what fare each sector is booked into. For instance, a J fare on United would tend to attract more miles than a discount business P fare with United on many frequent flyer programs. In any event, something to seriously consider since the potential for milage accrual here can be quite substantial indeed.

-RooFlyer88

 

[DeltaBega]

One thing to consider is where you will be crediting mileage earned from flying the ticket. Star Alliance has a number of frequent flyer programs you can credit your flights to both for miles you can use to later book an award ticket along with potentially earning frequent flyer status with the airline (and by extension across all other carriers in the Star Alliance). Which program to credit to depends on a number of factors including which airlines you are flying with in the itinerary and what fare each sector is booked into. For instance, a J fare on United would tend to attract more miles than a discount business P fare with United on many frequent flyer programs. In any event, something to seriously consider since the potential for milage accrual here can be quite substantial indeed.

-RooFlyer88

One thing to consider is where you will be crediting mileage earned from flying the ticket. Star Alliance has a number of frequent flyer programs you can credit your flights to both for miles you can use to later book an award ticket along with potentially earning frequent flyer status with the airline (and by extension across all other carriers in the Star Alliance). Which program to credit to depends on a number of factors including which airlines you are flying with in the itinerary and what fare each sector is booked into. For instance, a J fare on United would tend to attract more miles than a discount business P fare with United on many frequent flyer programs. In any event, something to seriously consider since the potential for milage accrual here can be quite substantial indeed.

-RooFlyer88

 

[DeltaBega]

Thanks for reminding me of that. It’s a very good point.

 

[AIRwin]

United is ranked second:

Top Airline Rankings Worldwide | AirHelp Score 2023 | AirHelp

Everyone knows that not all airlines are created equal, but which ones are the best?

www.airhelp.com

 

[SYD]

United is ranked second:

Top Airline Rankings Worldwide | AirHelp Score 2023 | AirHelp

Everyone knows that not all airlines are created equal, but which ones are the best?

www.airhelp.com

As an aside, some QF haters are going to lose their cough over these ratings!

 

[Gold Member]

As an aside, some QF haters are going to lose their cough over these ratings!

You called?

Just another paid marketing service or a blogger getting some personal kickbacks.

 

[SYD]

Just another paid marketing service or a blogger getting some personal kickbacks.

Yep, I generally take all these airline “ratings” and “awards” things with a grain of salt. Especially if there’s a people choice element and the votes are skewed to certain populations or regions.