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In June 2016, United made an exciting announcement about its product called United Polaris. If you fly United, you must have heard of this excellent long-haul international business-class product. It’s designed to elevate the entire journey for intercontinental travelers; United Polaris introduces a range of enhancements. These include a brand-new business class seat available on the majority of their aircraft, upgraded bedding for a more comfortable in-flight experience, etc.
United’s Polaris initiative not only focused on upgrading its aging fleet but also included the establishment of modern Polaris lounges around the world, improving the ground experience for travelers.
As you may be aware, United is a member of Star Alliance, one of the world’s three most extensive airline alliances. As a Star Alliance member, United provides travelers various convenient options for booking United awards. With a robust network of 26 member airlines, Star Alliance offers many programs that can be utilized to book United flights.
You can book United Polaris with significant airline programs, like United’s own MileagePlus, Air Canada’s Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Singapore’s KrisFlyer program, etc.
Quick Look At United Polaris Business Class
Let’s have a quick look at United Business Class. So, United Polaris Business Class is an exquisite cabin class offered by United Airlines, providing passengers with an exceptional and luxurious travel experience. The seats in Polaris can be transformed into fully flat beds, allowing passengers to unwind and enjoy a restful sleep during their flight. Adding privacy dividers around each core ensures personal space and tranquility.
Also, you don’t have to worry about your meals; the dining experience at United Polaris is remarkable, featuring a meticulously curated menu crafted by culinary experts. Passengers can savor gourmet meals with a fine selection of wines and beverages.
Passengers are treated to amenity kits, including indulgent skincare products and top-of-the-line noise-canceling headphones, elevating their in-flight experience. The entertainment system offers extensive options, ranging from the latest movies and TV shows to different music and games.
Ways to Book United Polaris Business Class
As I mentioned, United is a Star Alliance member, allowing it to earn and redeem miles on partner flights and vice versa. Therefore, when it comes to booking United Polaris, different options are available. This article will explore some of the best ways you can book United Polaris.
1. United’s MileagePlus
You can book flights on United Airlines through its MileagePlus program. MileagePlus is the loyalty program offered by United Airlines. It allows passengers to earn miles based on their travel with United and its partner airlines and through various other activities such as credit card spending, hotel stays, and car rentals. These miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related rewards.
Ways To Boost MileagePlus
Flying with United is the easiest way to earn MileagePlus. You may also receive additional bonuses if you are a United Premier Elite traveler. You can also earn miles when flying with partners. You can book flights directly with United’s partner airlines and credit them to your United MileagePlus account; the miles earned are calculated based on the distance flown and the fare class of your booking.
MileagePlus has few transfer partners, but you can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
You can transfer points at a ratio of 1:1 from the Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards to MileagePlus. Chase provides various credit cards in different categories to earn points. Credit Cards to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Chase Freedom Flex℠
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit CardBilt
Bilt Rewards
Bilt Rewards is a specialized program tailored for individuals who pay rent. By participating in Bilt Rewards, you can earn Bilt Rewards points, which can be transferred to MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.
Marriott Bonvoy Points
Marriott Bonvoy is a popular hotel points program. You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points by staying at Marriott hotels, using a Marriott credit card, or shopping through Marriott’s partners. You can then transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to MileagePlus at a 3:1 ratio. Credit Cards that earn Marriott Bonvoy Points:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
2. Air Canda Aeroplan
Aeroplan offers unique redemption rates for award flights, which can sometimes result in better value than United MileagePlus. The program has a zone-based award chart that calculates the number of points required based on the distance and class of service. You may find more favorable redemption rates through Aeroplan for specific routes or flights, particularly for business class award tickets.
Award chart for flights between the U.S. and the Atlantic zones (including flights from the U.S. to Europe):
Award chart for flights between the U.S. and the Pacific zones (including flights from the U.S. to Asia):
Fly Newark (EWR) to London (LHR) nonstop for 60,000 points one-way in United Business class
According to the distance-based award chart of Aeroplanes, this flight will cost you 60,000 Aeroplane Miles + taxes and fees. Aeroplan offers a comparable redemption option for this specific route, allowing you to choose the program that best suits your preferences and mileage balance.
If you can book United Polaris Business Class with Aeroplan for 60,000 points, you are getting a value of around 5.53 cents per point (excluding taxes and fees).
In addition to the Newark to London route, you can explore other avenues when booking United award tickets using Aeroplan. For example, you might consider the nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN). When booked in United Airlines’ Business class, this route would typically require 75,000 Aeroplane points for a one-way ticket (plus taxes and fees).
Ways To Boost Aeroplan Points
Air Canada Aeroplan is a transfer partner with major transferrable currencies like Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.
American Express (Amex), Bilt, Capital One, and Chase are credit card programs that offer transfers to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, and the transfers are typically processed almost instantly. This means that you will receive one Aeroplan point for every point you transfer from these programs.
On the other hand, Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to Aeroplan at a ratio of 3:1. Although the transfer process takes around five business days, there is a bonus. When you share 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points with Aeroplan, you will receive additional compensation of 5,000 Aeroplan points.
American Express Membership Rewards
To accumulate Aeroplan Miles for booking flights, one effective strategy is to utilize American Express credit cards and their Membership Rewards program. You can earn Membership Rewards points by making purchases with eligible American Express cards. These points can then be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, meaning that you will receive one Aeroplan Mile for every Membership Rewards point you move. This allows you to quickly accumulate Aeroplan Miles by taking advantage of the earning potential of American Express credit cards and their Membership Rewards program. Credit Cards to earn American Express Membership Rewards:
- Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- American Express® Green Card
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Platinum Card
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- American Express Business Platinum Card
- American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card
- American Express Business Green Rewards Card
- Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
Capital One Miles
You can also transfer Capital One Miles to Aeroplan. Transfers between Capital One Miles and Aeroplane are typically at a 1:1 ratio, with a minimum transfer amount of 1,000 miles.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business
3. Asiana Club
Asiana Airlines, a South Korean-based carrier, operates its international hub at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN), with additional domestic hubs at Gimpo International Airport and Gimhae International Airport in Busan. As a member of the Star Alliance, Asiana Airlines offers a comprehensive network of domestic and international flights spanning Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. So, using Asiana Club miles to book United Polaris award flights is an option that shouldn’t be overlooked.
For its partner airlines, Asian Club employs a distance-based award chart. Here is the award chart for North America to various destinations:
Fly U.S. to Europe Business Class in 40,000 Asiana Miles One Way
Using 40,000 Asiana miles, you can secure a great deal when booking a one-way business-class flight from the U.S. to Europe through the Star Alliance, which means you can book United Polaris for this travel at just 40,000 Asiana miles one way.
You can book United Polaris for routes like:
Houston (IAH) to Amsterdam (AMS)
New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA).
It’s important to note that flights operated by Asiana’s partner airlines cannot be booked through their website. To secure a booking on a partner airline, you’ll need to search for award availability on a different website first. Once you find the desired flight, contact Asiana Airlines at 800-227-4262 to proceed with the reservation. Keeping this in mind, following this two-step process when booking partner airline flights with Asiana Airlines is recommended.
If you want to boost your Asiana Miles, you can transfer your Marriott Points to Asiana. The transfer ratio is 3:1. The process typically takes three business days. Additionally, if you share 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in a single transaction, you will receive a bonus of 5,000 Asiana miles.
4. ANA Mileage Club
ANA Miles, the loyalty program of All Nippon Airways (ANA), provides an alternative method for booking United Polaris flights with expanded options. As a member of ANA’s frequent flyer program, you can utilize your ANA Miles to make reservations for United Polaris flights. This partnership between ANA and United Airlines enables you to access and enjoy the premium business class experience United Polaris offers using your ANA Miles.
The ANA Partner Award Chart features a comprehensive non-seasonal zone-based system encompassing all partner awards, including Star Alliance and non-alliance partners. This award chart lets you easily navigate and understand the mileage requirements for partner flights.
Fly United Polaris Business Class U.S. To Europe 88,000 ANA Miles Round-Trip + taxes and fees ( Better Redemption Rate Than MileagePlus)
If you want to book U.S. and Europe with United Airlines, the lowest Saver award rate would require 120,000 United miles. However, by using ANA Mileage Club miles and making the reservation through ANA, the same United flight can be booked for a reduced cost of 88,000 ANA miles.
When using ANA miles to book a flight to Europe with United Airlines, you’ll find that United Airlines offers reasonable taxes and fees and decent award availability.
Fly Business Class From the U.S. to South America for 88,000 Miles Round-Trip + taxes and fees.
Regarding redeeming miles for business class travel, ANA offers consistent redemption rates for South American destinations. You can book destinations like Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, or Santiago; the redemption rate remains at 88,000 ANA miles for a round trip.
You can take Routes Like:
- Houston (IAH) to Chile (SCL) – 88,000 ANA miles for a round trip.
- Houston (IAH) to Argentina (EZE) – 88,000 ANA miles for a round trip.
5. Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca LifeMiles is the frequent flyer program for Avianca, a prominent Colombian airline. This program stands out among several others for its convenience in booking award flights within the Star Alliance network. And as United is a Star Alliance partner, you can book United Polaris with Avianca LifeMiles. Also, the Avianca LifeMiles program is known for its lack of fuel surcharges.
LifeMiles employs an award chart to determine the pricing of award flights within the Star Alliance network. This chart divides the world into 21 distinct regions, with specific considerations for the contiguous United States, which is divided into three separate regions.
Fly United Transcontinental Business Class in 25,000 LifeMiles + $5.60.
A fantastic option to consider is United Airlines’ premium transcontinental business class service, which operates routes like:
Newark (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO) Business Class in 25,000 LifeMiles + $5.60.
Or New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX).
These routes offer an excellent opportunity to experience top-notch United Polaris Business-Class amenities and comfort while traveling between these major cities.
Bottom Line
So, as a member of the Star Alliance, United Airlines offers multiple options for booking United Polaris. You have the flexibility to choose from various airline programs within the alliance. If you manage to find award availability using points, you can confidently book a ticket on United Polaris for your upcoming long-haul trip. The exceptional comfort and luxury provided by Polaris Awards will undoubtedly make your journey memorable.
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