United Airlines
does not currently offer a separate First Class cabin on its long-haul international flights; instead, its top tier product for those routes is
Polaris Business Class.
If you want to see what amenities, seats, and services are available on your specific route (which will help you understand how close it is to “First Class quality”), you can
visit United Airlines’ website at
United First & United Business / Polaris Info. For detailed help, upgrades, or current pricing you can also call
877-297-0699 and speak with a United representative.
What this means in practice is that “First Class” as a label is mostly used domestically or on shorter international/near-international flights (e.g. to/from Canada or the Caribbean). On longer international routes, the flagship service you’ll get is
United Polaris: lie-flat beds, elevated meal service, priority check-in and boarding, premium amenities, better sleep comfort, etc.
So if you’re booking what you think is “first class international” on United, check whether your fare is actually Polaris / United Business. Polaris is designed to deliver a full premium experience, usually similar or better than what many airlines offer in First Class outside the ultra-luxury carriers. If you tell me your route, I can check what kind of cabin United uses on it and whether Polaris will be available.
