Hong Kong has become the first international destination to see United’s new B777-300ER, following the launch yesterday of the aircraft’s inaugural international route connecting Hong Kong with San Francisco.
The airline’s new B777-300ER notably features United’s recently unveiled Polaris Business seat product, which the carrier describes as its most significant product transformation in over a decade.
“We are very excited here in Hong Kong to be offering the B777-300ER,” said Walter Dias, United Airlines’ managing director, Greater China and Korea, Sales. “[The Polaris Business seat] is the first new product in the front cabin for United in over ten years. Having it originate from Hong Kong as the first international flight for this new product is very exciting for all of us. It really demonstrates the importance United puts on our customers here in Hong Kong who have been loyal customers of United for over 34 years.”
Designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and Priestmangoode, and manufactured by Zodiac Seats United Kingdom, Polaris Business features fully flat beds with direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration. The pods also include mood lighting, one-touch lumbar support, do-not-disturb signs, multiple storage areas and work spaces, electronic privacy dividers (for centre seats) and a 16-inch HD screen. In-flight wifi is also offered.
Meanwhile, United travellers in Hong Kong will also have access to a Polaris Lounge exclusively for those holding a Polaris Business ticket. Following 12,000 hours of research, United found that sleep is one of the most important aspects of a long-haul flight. As such, meal offerings will be a key focus of the lounge so that passengers can enjoy a good meal before the flight, then sleep uninterrupted for the duration of the journey using the do-not-disturb function.
United’s first Polaris lounge opened in December last year at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Lounges in eight other locations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow, will open this year.
The B777-300ER is United’s newest aircraft and is being positioned to replace the airline’s B747s. United has a total of 14 B777-300s on order. Meanwhile, the new Polaris product is also set to be retrofitted to the airline’s B767-300s and B777-200s, followed by its Dreamliners.
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific had the chance to fly on board United’s first B777-300ER flight departing Hong Kong – watch out for a full review of the flight coming soon.
