Way back in 2017 we wrote about United’s next-gen premium cabin product called Polaris. Early in Polaris’ rollout I tried it on a shiny new 787-10 on a transcon route, but in all the time since then I haven’t flown it on a true international flight. I finally managed to work long-haul Polaris into my travels. And the timing was perfect because it’s been a newsworthy period for United’s onboard product in the past few months.
Back when it unveiled Polaris, United highlighted key features like direct aisle access, seat consistency across the fleet, improved onboard service elements, a strong focus on sleep, and a potentially best-in-class set of airport lounges. And so during this flight from Newark to London I was paying close attention to how well Polaris was delivering on those promises nearly a decade after its rollout.
Read on for the full scoop on whether this flight delivered on the Polaris promise — plus plenty of the usual photos and window-seat-view videos. We’ll also walk you through some major announcements that United just made about its short-haul and long-haul fleets, including the next generation of its flagship business class experience.
Over the years, I have covered quite a few inaugural flights into Seattle. They are always a hoot, but often there aren’t many surprises. Well, when Cathay Pacific Airlines did an inaugural flight to Seattle (SEA) from Hong Kong (HKG) on March 30, they did things a bit differently, and in a grand way. Not only did I get to experience the normal excitement of being on the ramp to greet the aircraft, but there was also a fun surprise at the gate; plus the airline held a grand gala event later in the evening.
The flight & aircraft information from FlightRadar24
The day started when I awoke and opened FlightRadar24 to see which aircraft was en route. As expected, it was an Airbus A350-900, and it had registration B-LRJ. Then I noticed the photo: it was the retro livery. Booya!
I quickly got some AvGeek goose bumps (yes, that is a thing). The airline calls it the “lettuce sandwich” retro livery and it has a special place in my AvGeek heart. Long before the internet was a thing, I remember looking at L1011s in that very livery in one of my airline books. It was one of my favorites. I never got the chance to see it in person, so here was my opportunity. And, it was extra special because this was also the first time that this retro livery would be flying to the U.S.
If you’re the historian type of AvGeek, you may remember that British Airways was a pioneer of lie-flat business class seats. In the early 2000s, it rolled out the groundbreaking fully-flat Club World seat across its long-haul fleet. Club World lasted for over 20 years. But, in more recent years, other airlines pulled ahead with more competitive business class products.
A photo from a 2017 trip in Club World on an A380
I enjoyed my time in Club World “classic” back in 2017, but I was even more excited to try out its successor: Club Suites. Over the past few years, in an effort to catch up to the cutting edge, BA rolled out the new suite-style seat across much of its long-haul fleet. On paper, it checks a lot of the boxes you’d want in a new seat: universal direct aisle access, privacy doors, and fresh tech.
I got to fly Club Suite on a 777-200ER from London Heathrow to New York JFK. I can confirm, in most of the ways that matter, it delivers.
Read on for a photo and video walkthrough of the highlights, including the ground experience at LHR, the seat design, and the inflight service. And don’t forget the usual window-seat views.
The under-construction observation deck at the SEA concourse C expansion project
AvGeeks traveling to, from, or transiting through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) will soon have access to a relatively rare amenity, at least in the Pacific Northwest of the United States: an observation deck, albeit one that’s airside so it’s only available to ticketed passengers.
Currently expected to open to the traveling public in the second quarter of 2026, the expanded concourse will add at least 10 restaurants to the airport’s offerings, several new retail outlets, some fancy new seating, and lots of artwork. The signature artwork for the new spaces is a very large wood sculpture of a stylized tree, which will arch over an interesting stadium-style seating area.
A panoramic view of the under-construction main seating area and framing for the tree sculpture at SEA’s Concourse C expansion project
But, back to what’s most exciting for the AvGeek crowd – the Lookout at C, as the airport is calling it. It’s a glassed-in observation area, looking west-southwest from the C concourse toward the main terminal and the airport’s taxiways, some of the gate areas, and SEA’s three runways.
Good ‘ol C15 at SEA… the gate I was waiting at for my friend to arrive.
I am one of those who don’t mind doing airport drop offs and pickups. Often I will actually park and walk the person to security or meet them when they come out. I miss the days when you could go through security with the person, walk them to their gate, and wave to their plane as it pushed back. Or welcome them with a smile at the gate as they deplaned. Most drop offs today are about speed and efficiency; the driver will barely roll to a stop, people rush out of the vehicle, bags are thrown to the curb, there are a few quick goodbyes, and then everyone skedaddles before being yelled at by the authorities.
Back in 2018, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) initiated a new program called the SEA Visitor Pass Program. This free program essentially lets you travel back in time to when a non-flying visitor could go through security. I have been wanting to try the program first-hand, but an opportunity never came up… until recently. I had a friend flying in from Montana and I decided to give it a shot. I didn’t let them know my game plan and my hope was to surprise them at the gate.
I would say that for the most part things went pretty smoothly and it was worth the experience. However, I am not sure this will become a regular thing for me.
