✈️ United Polaris Business Class: Worth the Upgrade? Our International Flight Experience

[@dmaextraordinaire8205]

Once you’ve traveled in business class, it’s very, very difficult to go back to economy! Even premium economy. Thank you for the video! Safe travels.

[@Weretherussos]

So true!

[@bonniepwtf]

This was sooooo interesting, very glad you thought to film it for us. I haven't been on a plane in years so ..... Continued safe travels.❣️❣️

[@Weretherussos]

Glad you enjoyed it Bonnie

[@hanj31]

Can’t beat a United Polaris lounge in the US. I visited one in SFO last April on a star alliance flight to Korea and it was perfect.

[@gdb5843]

I went to SFO lounge last December, it was too crowded. Hard to find seat.

[@keithandwiadventures]

What a great episode! Loved watching you two enjoy the flight! Hoping to see more on this journey! Awesome!

[@Weretherussos]

More to come!

[@lynfl9814]

Wow! That was a deal; so, glad you snagged it. I hope you can get it on the return flight. We got to see how the other half lives with this one. Great video.

[@Weretherussos]

I hope so too! Thanks Lyn

[@daniellatty1169]

Glad she convinced you & went for the upgrade 👍 Ps hope you enjoy your trip and have a wonderful Holiday with a safe journey back to us

[@Weretherussos]

Thank you! Will do! And Happy Holidays!

[@GG-000]

Great video! We will have to try upgrading on our next long flight. Have a great trip. Looking forward to seeing your adventure!

[@Weretherussos]

Thank you! We’ll be posting videos of our trip

[@suzannewch7202]

Wow! What a deal! Great review video! Thank you for sharing.

[@Weretherussos]

Thanks for watching!

[@suzannewch7202]

@@Weretherussos sorry I missed the call, I was in cell phone dead zone…..

[@jamiegodwin9881]

Looks like an awesome trip. Great video of your flight. Y'all be safe.

[@Weretherussos]

Thank you! Will do!

[@johniii8147]

UA definitely needs to upgrade its food in business class. No where close what you'd find on other international carriers.

[@Weretherussos]

the employees were telling us they've scaled back on the food quite a bit in the last few years.

[@johniii8147]

@@Weretherussos Yeah that's obvious.

[@michaelb3764]

Can't come close to Turkish. This is by far the best airline with the newest aircraft and the best food in the sky. Flew business twice with 4 legs and it was incredible. Was served Lamb chops with Turkish mezze with hummus tabuli babaganush salad and olive tapanade... For 1.5 hour flight. US carriers suck with the food choices

[@mylesgarcia4625]

@@michaelb3764 Where in the world, would you find full meal service on a 1.5 hour flight? I've flown Turkish. They were eh; surly flight attendants.

[@solsticebaby]

It's good to see that they finally updated the delivery to the actual Polaris cabin. They advertised Polaris for years but never actually put the Polaris cabin in. Last time I traveled business between the USA and Tokyo on the way to Thailand was in 2020 and they still hadn't upgraded it. It was my third time being told I was in Polaris and I wasn't in " Polaris " but rather the old business cabin Good to know that I can try United again. I think I'm going to beyond their longest flight in July - San Francisco to Singapore!

[@yuanth]

Awesome video. Did you guys ask for the upgrade at the ticket counter or the gate counter?

[@keyplayer5]

Really enjoyed watching this. I wish I could know ahead that it was going to be 800. With my back issues riding in a regular seat wouldn’t be an option for that length of time. Sure looked like fun! Can’t wait to see your next one. 💕

[@Weretherussos]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@norcaldave9904]

Way to go. what fun. Great seats

[@GaryNichols50]

I have flown to asia many times in business class. But that was in the 90s. Business class back then was nice, but nothing at all like that which you experienced. Very interesting to see. One thing that seemed strange to me was that I saw on your video screen in one scene that internet was available for purchase. With all of that, you'd think they'd throw in free internet access.

[@Weretherussos]

I agree - that was the one thing it was lacking

[@mylesgarcia4625]

So what was your base airfare -- before adding on the $799 upgrade fee? You never mentioned that. And was the fluctuation, like a last-minute action, i.e., you just watch how much the upgrade would gof or? BTW, what was the United craft -- you also never mentioned that.

[@billkallas1762]

I'm flying from LAX to Tokyo, next April, with my son and Japanese wife, on Polaris. I'm 6' 2", and am worried if I'll be able to sleep, alright. It's a 12 hr flight on a 878-10, and don't know if that is long enough to warrant PJ's and mattress pad. (I heard that you needed 13 hours)

[@deniseb.6007]

Good for you! Looks awesome!

[@elainepereira7483]

This was a fantastic and very helpful video! I love all your videos, but I look forward to more such content as you two travel in a variety of different ways. I am beginning to travel world wide again as well. It feels like travel is a little different post pandemic and any help I find out there in navigating this is appreciated.

[@Weretherussos]

Thanks so much!

[@kevinagullana742]

Question, was 799 in addition to what you already paid for the entire flight or replacement total cost just for Houston to Narita?

[@Weretherussos]

I’m addition to - the $800 was the upgrade fee and the tickets were 1,200

[@chiefenumclaw7960]

I wish I was flying to Japan. Thanks for posting fam, have fun!

[@Weretherussos]

You’re very welcome!

[@vince8705]

Nice video, outstanding price ! Been upgraded to business class several times, it a sweet way to fly!

[@Weretherussos]

Totally agree!

[@darrellbrixey5341]

Thank you guys for another awesome and informative video

[@peggytravels793]

I have flown from Tampa - Houston to Hong Kong is First Class and the route home was Bangkok - Narita to Honolulu in First Class. I have made many that flight many other times and on all the flights flew in upgraded longer leg room seats or business class, the only way to tackle that 13 hour flight. From Narita I flew into Bangkok, Bali or Hong Kong and those were still long flights.

[@Weretherussos]

It’s well worth the money to upgrade

[@jeffwrinkle575]

Were the blankets, pj's and other stuff all complimentary?

[@Weretherussos]

Yes - everything was complimentary including the food, coffee etc at the restaurant/lounge in Houston

[@garretlewis4103]

Seemed like a good way to fly. Agreed, the initial prices were way too much. Got a good deal hanging on until the end.

[@NoProGoPronto]

This was so cool to watch. What a deal!! What determines such a drastic price drop?

[@Weretherussos]

Hey NoPro! Long time. I have no idea why the price drops like it did. We weren’t able to get it on the flight back for the same price

[@PatJ61]

Great video and so informative! Thanks. We will be “pod people” (business class) for the first and probably only time during our lives next year on a flight to Japan. We booked the seats the maximum 331 days out as soon as they became available. They were 60,000 miles each for a few hours and then the price jumped. Japan was still shut down to tourism when we booked them. The miles were bought during a super sale during the early days of Covid. Score! Question: Do you get to keep the pajamas etc? I’m so ignorant of business class protocols.

[@Weretherussos]

That’s awesome! Yes you get to keep the PJs and toiletries but not the blankets

[@ccartee1]

Flight looks fun. Thought you may be going to Tokyo Disneyland. I know you are huge Disney fans, so you all should check it out. The Japanese really set a high bar for quality and attention to detail that is even better than the domestic parks. Just got to the part of your video where you announced your destination was Thailand. Safe travels and have fun. PS. Like Kaitt’s “non-vanlife” hair. You should let your hair grow out too. 😎

[@Weretherussos]

Grow my hair out??? I don’t have any to grow! I’d have a ring around the side of my head!

[@ccartee1]

@@Weretherussos I used to have 'the ring'. I called it the "Friar Tuck". Now I'm losing the short connecting bit in the front, and have progressed to the "Colonel Klink". :)

[@dan-tv]

You guys are living life! Awesome!

[@Weretherussos]

Thanks Dan!

[@pticman]

Too bad it's back to Coach class to Thailand 🇹🇭. What about on the way back to the USA? Cattle class all the way?

[@kyrieeleison7328]

After watching these types of videos if I ever fly overseas? I will be going business class for sure!

[@Weretherussos]

Only way to go!

[@BloomByCC]

How in the heck did you score that price!?! Flying is not my fave, we’re going premium this week cross country but dang! That’s sweet! Thanks for sharing, super interesting to see how the Russos live😂omg!!!! Kait!!! Great work on the tickets! Could you have snagged the price without going to the airport early? Unreal!

[@Weretherussos]

Yes - you can also get the upgrade price before the flight. But this all assumes there’s seats left to upgrade to

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank the both of you for sharing your long-haul flight here. Yes, yes, it is worth it to get Business Class on long-haul flights!! But when I have friends who cannot wait to see about upgrades or those who don't have the points in their Mileage Plus account or any other airline member program then I say get Premium Economy. But again, both of you two see it was worth it. The service is usually very nice along with the drinks! The drinks make it nice for me!!😊Merry Christmas and happy New Year to the both of you.

[@Weretherussos]

The premium economy was also good and well worth spending more over the standard economy.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

@@Weretherussos I agree with you. I know not everyone has a lot of points in their respective airline member accounts. And you have to coordinate hard to get a good deal.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Bt yes, I tell friends who have to sit in Economy to upgrade or pay the extra for Premium Economy. It is worth it totally.

[@mbirch1593]

Enjoy Thailand! We were just there at the end of November.

[@rickolis]

Was this a 777-300ER? Was the noise from the bathroom bothersome when sitting in seat 9G?

[@Weretherussos]

I believe it was and no noise from the bathroom

[@slptp]

Yeah, wine really changes on a flight. A pressurized cabin and dry air can suppress your ability to taste sweet and salty food by at least 30% according to most sources. A mixed drink may have more sugar in it to compensate. There are articles online to help make it taste better.

[@Weretherussos]

Good to know, thank you!

[@j-mansdad3029]

Are you on your way to pick up a kei camper? That'd be sweet.

[@roberthunter6927]

Score! Lucky break guys!

[@vaoz9079]

what was the price for the economy tickets?

[@Weretherussos]

$1,100 before the upgrade

[@vaoz9079]

@@Weretherussos Good Deal! I liked this item very much. Nice to see how it 'works' in Business Class.

[@wrxdrunkie]

What a deal! Good job!!

[@Weretherussos]

Thanks - that’s all Kait

[@happysavy9296]

That is an awesome deal and I would have done the same thing with that long of a flight. I am headed to Singapore and hope I have that option as well

[@Weretherussos]

Good luck and enjoy the trip!

[@ckt6448]

Love, love, love this!! ❤❤

[@Weretherussos]

Thank you CKT64!

[@dougvanharren]

Can you tell me what day of week you traveled the first class leg and if they had any open first class seats? We are thinking of going your route if there is a chance

[@Weretherussos]

We traveled on a Monday and all the Polaris Business class seats were full by the time we got on the plane.

[@alquinn8576]

i flew "polaris" domestic during covid when they were using them on domestic hub-hub routes; great seats but didn't get 20 pounds of misc crap like you did lol

[@SKS8080]

The lounge dragons at the ANA lounge is wrong. They should have let u in. U had a business/first ticket. That meets the requirement

[@toniwertman4818]

Why is united club closed I. Tokyo??

[@dodgers4121]

13k only when you buy it at the last minute. I fly often to Europe from Lax or Houston for 3-4k united Polaris

[@MommaKnowsBestest]

Such a fun trip.

[@userb83852]

Are you saying you haggled the upgrade pricing in person???

[@Weretherussos]

No but when we were at the airport the price was the lowest we’d seen

[@des1180]

Where did you put your personal items?

[@Weretherussos]

Overhead cabinet

[@marykovalovich5914]

Good for you!!! 🎉

[@Weretherussos]

Thank you!!

[@bethchuck7851]

My husband is very curious about your original ticket price, to make the additional $800 upgrade worth it.

[@Weretherussos]

Just over $1,100 for the original round trip ticket

[@gregh7457]

zip air has nice lay flat seats around that price to los angeles. they also go to bkk from nrt

[@Weretherussos]

Thanks for the tip!

[@mbbuckeyes8386]

So you upgraded for $799 and that’s on top of ur booked price? I assume it was, so what was the total cost of your base ticket without adding on the upgrade price?

[@philipdoyle7037]

I was just about to ask that question

[@Weretherussos]

Correct. We paid just under $2,000 per ticket

[@tracy3066]

@@Weretherussos Oh ok I understand it now. Being so I don't think I would have paid and additional $799 on top of the $1,100 I was already paying. I mean it would have been nice to stretch out and lay down but to me I couldn't justify paying $800 extra to do that. (the food wouldn't have helped to sway me either since I'm on a low calorie diet)

[@solsticebaby]

​@@tracy3066A good rule of thumb is $100 per 1 hour of flying is a good deal for cost. So it was a little expensive overall once you counted the upgrade. But given the cabin class and the fact that it's about a 15-hour flight, it's actually pretty great overall.

[@connielowe1111]

do you get to keep the pj"s and things?

[@Weretherussos]

Yes to the PJs and toiletry box but not the blankets

[@jackfntwist]

How did you get them for $800?

[@jackfntwist]

I wrote this at the beginning :)

[@nippolitica]

Welcome to Tokyo. Long time subscriber, let me know if you'd like to meet up!

[@Weretherussos]

Thanks but we didn’t stay in Tokyo - kept going to Thailand

[@nippolitica]

@@Weretherussos Ah, just a layover then. You should definitely make a stop here though--it's worth it!

[@classicscustomsandhotrodso600]

@@Weretherussos You should have explored Japan. I lived in Thailand for 3 years and it’s just Thailand really. Probably run into drunk Aussies.

[@pamelachang3192]

How to snag it for only $800?

[@Weretherussos]

Check it out at 10:30

[@norm4907]

Misleading, $800 was the upgrade cost. How much was your economy ticket.

[@Weretherussos]

$1,200

[@norm4907]

@@Weretherussos So $2000 per person for Business class to Japan is still a kick ass deal 🤘

[@ginanguyen3716]

Nice 😊

[@Weretherussos]

Thanks 😊

[@JonathanStanley]

Congrats, now you cannot fly in non-pointy end for longhaul anymore though! 🤣

[@Weretherussos]

😂 we did miss being in those seats in the return flight.

[@LincRYAN]

great video guys liked seeing you guys in a amazing plane. going to tell my family to take a plane like that in the future .

[@Weretherussos]

You should!

[@eddiereyna2998]

Are the chairs heated ?

[@Weretherussos]

No they aren’t

[@johnczapla9894]

Good video but you give NO explanation on how you got the tickets

[@Weretherussos]

Hey John! Check out 10:30 into the video.

[@johnnyboydardy]

ty mr bezos

[@paisleylfc6367]

did you say how you got the deal?

[@Weretherussos]

Yes, check it out at 10:30

[@StormShadowX37]

That 799 on top of your initial ticket price?

[@Weretherussos]

Correct. The ticket was just over $1,100

[@jwpratt1947]

How did you upgrade for $800?

[@Weretherussos]

Through the United App. We will get offers to upgrade and if you don’t you can always call or ask at the desk when you check in

[@lyndasmythe2692]

NO, the “big question is”, how did you only pay $800?

[@Weretherussos]

It’s explained in the video

[@Thesaltymedic36]

It was worth what you paid 👍🏼

[@Weretherussos]

That it was

[@appleorange3041]

Absolutely cheap ( great deal ) Just got back from Thailand to Chicago Premium seat paid about $ 5200.00

[@Weretherussos]

Wow - thank you for that info on the pricing.

[@advancededu1]

The left side bathroom is larger.

[@jl0m683]

How did that happen $800

[@Weretherussos]

We went on the United app and upgraded our tickets for $800. You can also do it on the website or at the airport

[@theopinion9452]

I rather pay JAL $3K than $800 to United,the level of service the JAL crews is ALWAYS outstanding,am not going to delve into the reasons why United crews are worse,found out for yourself please.

[@glenn65]

👏👏🙏

[@lrobie123]

fly those type of seats for work.

[@Weretherussos]

Well worth the cost to upgrade

[@mrcblaser]

I just hope you weren’t bothering other people while recording your video. If I was behind you I’m not sure how much I would want my experience ruined by having to hear you record your video. Please be aware of that.

[@นรากรกล่อมจิต]

Not worth it.

[@Weretherussos]

Why is that?

[@katiehart1125]

So we are going to Australia in Jan25 I do not want to pay 10g for this but am terrified of waiting @wearetherussos were there plenty if seats to upgrade to in business?? It is a 15 hour flight.

[@Weretherussos]

It’s all dependent on time of year and how many are traveling. No way to know - total gamble

[@katiehart1125]

@@Weretherussos if it were you and you had a 15 hour flight would it be worth the 10K price

[@Weretherussos]

No. We did our return flight in standard economy and I was fine with that

[@robertk8452]

Jeez Louise. Seems like it’s your first time flying business class 🙄🤡

[@Weretherussos]

Yep that’s correct

[@iyahn-yahuw420]

13hrs! And the earth is meant to be spinning 🤣😂

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

Yes, the earth and EVERYTHING on, above, and below the ground are all spinning at the same rate. That means, unfortunately, you can't simply sit somewhere and wait for your destination to come to you. Tha airplane at the gate is already spinning as rapidly as the globe as is the jet bridge connecting the gate to the aircraft. Thus both are moving with the earth's rotation but look like they are standing still. The person taking a photo of it all is also moving at the same speed the earth is rotating and thus the photo is NOT blurry because of movement. Amazing world we live in.