United Boeing 787-9 Polaris Business Class - San Francisco SFO to Melbourne MEL
Deciding to go to Australia was a fairly last-minute idea. The trip only became real after chatting with friends who live there, and by mid-May 2023, I found myself seriously searching for flights. Since I don’t handle heat well, I knew I wanted to visit during Australia’s winter, so I focused on July and August dates. The main goal was simple: find return business class seats for such a long journey.
After nearly two weeks of checking daily, I finally found return seats in United Polaris Business Class within the exact timeframe I wanted. I booked them immediately. Polaris offers lie-flat seats, dedicated lounge access, and an elevated in-flight experience—everything I hoped for on such a long journey to the other side of the world.
On departure day, I flew from Vancouver to San Francisco and headed straight to the United Polaris Lounge during my layover. The lounge had a warm, upscale atmosphere, with a mix of open social spaces and quieter work areas. But what I was most excited about was the shower suite, especially knowing I had a long overnight flight ahead of me. I went directly to the desk, and luckily there was no wait. The shower suite was spacious, clean, and stocked with towels, toiletries, and room to spread out my luggage. Feeling refreshed, I walked out to find a huge line forming—a reminder that it’s worth adding your name to the queue as soon as you arrive.
Next, I checked out the Polaris Dining Room, which operates like a restaurant inside the lounge. After putting my name down on the iPad, I waited for my table and ordered what many people claim is the must-try item: the Polaris Signature Burger. It was good—comforting and flavourful—but I wouldn’t say it lived up to the “to die for” hype. I also had the skillet chocolate chip cookie, then wandered to the buffet for some smaller desserts and fruit. With snacks in hand, I settled into a semi-private seat on the lower floor and relaxed until boarding time.
About 45 minutes before boarding, I left the lounge for the 10-minute walk to my gate. The area was bustling when I arrived. Boarding used facial recognition, which made the process quick and smooth. Once onboard, I was welcomed warmly and shown my seat. Waiting for me were a pillow, comforter, blanket, headphones, and an amenity kit. The seat itself was roomy, especially the footwell—something not all business class seats get right. I settled in with a pre-departure drink and checked out the amenity kit, which had all the essentials including socks, an eye mask, lip balm, and a pen.
After takeoff, dinner was served. I chose the seared flat-iron steak. I couldn’t finish it—not because it wasn’t decent, but because I had eaten so much in the lounge and the salad was genuinely unpleasant. Since it was an overnight flight, I turned in shortly after. The lie-flat seat was comfortable, and I slept surprisingly well. I woke up about an hour before breakfast service feeling refreshed and ready to stretch.
Not long after breakfast, we began our descent into Melbourne. Even though it was nearly a 16-hour flight, the comfort of Polaris really made the time pass smoothly. I didn’t try everything the onboard service offered since I slept through most of it, but there were snacks and additional drinks available in the galley. Overall, I was grateful to start my Australia trip on such a comfortable note.
Background
United Airlines introduced Polaris Business Class in 2016 as its redesigned premium long-haul product, aiming to elevate the full travel experience—not just the seat. The Polaris concept emphasizes three pillars: an improved onboard setup with lie-flat seating and direct aisle access, elevated dining, and exclusive access to Polaris Lounges at select international hubs. The Boeing 787-9 features the latest iteration of the Polaris seat, designed to offer privacy, storage space, and comfort on ultra-long-haul flights like the San Francisco to Melbourne route. United is currently the only airline operating nonstop flights between Melbourne and both San Francisco and Los Angeles, making Polaris one of the most convenient ways to travel between Australia and the west coast of North America.
Route Overview
Flight: San Francisco (SFO) → Melbourne (MEL)
Distance: 7,855 mi
Duration: 15 hr 45 min
Cost Breakdown
Plane Ticket: C$247.86 + AC 183,500 pts (RT)
