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Who knew United had it in them.
Have they been riding around on foreign carriers and wondering why they were offering a cattle car while the world served caviar and premium bubbly?
Maybe United’s CEO, Oscar Munoz’s heart surgeon was listening to Timberlake’s Sexy back while fixing up the ole ticker last year…whatever it is, United just dropped the mic on domestic carrier bizzzzzzz
POLARIS – sounds expensive doesn’t it. Say it with me POLARIS 😉
I used my Chase Sapphire Ultimate Rewards last year and had the privilege of flying in United’s Global First from LHR to LAX and I have to say, I liked it. It wasn’t baller status and my trip on Etihad Business Studio was defos nicer, but I liked it. The staff was kind, attentive, and courteous. When I took the flight I peeked back at business and was so happy that I boosted my class of service: business looked cramped, angled, and tired.
THINGS ARE A CHANGIN’: POLARIS IS NEXT LEVEL
- Cowshed products
- all aisle access
- 6’6″ fully flat beds
- baller color scheme
- multi-national power outlets
- much improved IFE with 16″ screen
- better bedding
- chef inspired food
- free money tree – ok that was just to see if you’re reading
And SAKS bedding? Say whhhhhhaaaaa
Food and Bev to be created by The Trotter Project.
- let’s be honest…the fact that it isn’t rubber is a huge upgrade
Next level
And then there is the Airport Experience: Exclusive Polaris lounges
The Heathrow lounges that I visited last year, both business and First are very impressive. United has it in them to kick it next gear, so I’m stoked to see how they roll out the product. However, I used one of my free lounge certificates at LAX earlier this year ( one I got from my Hyatt Diamond status) and I almost put a fork in my eye it was so bad.
These sweet babies are due to open December 1st, 2016 and the product is unveiled in 2017.
- Relaxations areas
- Showers
- Pods – that’s what I’m stoked for. Who doesn’t love a good pod?!
The Heathrow United Club looks as nice as the top picture, but lacks the pods. But it’s dope. Here’s a look at where they will roll out.
I’m on track right now for Exec Plat with American Airlines. But after that big devaluation earlier this year, and the new Revenue program they announced yesterday, I’ll be looking to ride some new pimped out products and maybe even switch loyalty programs. United just soared to the top of the list with Polaris. If you were targeted for the Chase United Explorer card for 75k…why wouldn’t you do it? You could be flying Polaris in no time. If you wanna read the official site go here
*All images are courtesy of United.com
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
60k Points after $4k spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 60k points after $4k spend in 3 months
- Worth $750 in Chase Travel℠ and way more if you maximize transfer partners
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
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