Best Ways To Book United Polaris Business Class Using Points [Step by Step]

Key Takeaways

• United Airlines’ Polaris seats, available on certain aircraft, are lie-flat with direct aisle access. These planes are primarily used on premium routes, so it’s important to confirm Polaris availability when booking.
• United business class can be booked with United MileagePlus miles, or by transferring points from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards.
• You might find a better redemption by booking through United’s Star Alliance partners, such as Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, or Avianca Lifemiles.

United Airlines has been on a mission to reconfigure its diverse fleet of aircraft with its Polaris business class product. Currently, Polaris is the name for United’s premium business class offering.

Even better, Polaris business class is much better than what was previously offered on board United.

Let’s take a look at how you can book United’s Polaris business class product with your points and miles!

A Look Inside United Airlines Polaris Business Class

For years, United Airlines‘ business class product was considered subpar at best. With the launch of its Polaris business class product in 2016, though, its reputation has changed for the better. Currently, United is in the process of retrofitting a number of its older aircraft with the new product.

Polaris is on most of United’s wide body airplanes. This includes:

• All Boeing 767-300ERs and 767-400ERs
• All Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, 787-9 Dreamliners, and 787-10s
• All Boeing 777-300ERs
• Most Boeing 777-200ERs

Keep in mind that these planes are deployed on the airline’s premium and flagship routes, so you need to confirm that the brand-new Polaris product is available on your particular flight.

Unlike United’s old business class, all Polaris seats are lie-flat with direct aisle access, making the long-haul flight much more comfortable.

Hot Tip: If you’re traveling alone, know that odd-numbered seats by the windows give you the most privacy. If you are traveling with someone, know that even-numbered seats in the middle section are your best bet to be close to your companion.

Polaris doen’t just refer to the hard product in the sky. United has also upped its game with the soft product for Polaris. Polaris Lounges are in several of the airport’s largest hubs. If you aren’t departing an airport with a Polaris Lounge (such as Chicago O’Hare (ORD)), you can still access United Clubs and other Star Alliance business class lounges.

These lounges have showers, blazing-fast Wi-Fi, hot food, à la carte dining service, and more. It’s a big step up from the United Club experience, so you definitely don’t want to skip out on this.

You can’t access any of these lounges with cards such as the Platinum Card^® from American Express. However, various United co-branded credit cards offer access to regular United Clubs.

How To Fly United Airlines Polaris Business Class Using Points

Star Alliance has 26 member airlines, which means there are plenty of programs you can use to book a United flight. Let’s look at a few of the most common ways to book United Polaris Business Class.

United Airlines MileagePlus

You can book business class flights on United Airlines through its MileagePlus program. All you have to do is find award space online. You can take care of the whole booking process right there.

This is our top way to book United Polaris business class flights because you can access the largest swath of award availability. Other partners only have access to a fraction of the total award tickets available.

You can book your flight online by following these steps:

1. Visit United’s website.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Select the tab that says “Search for award travel.”
4. Select your travel dates and your desired route.
5. Select business as your cabin
6. Select your flight — make make sure it’s operated by United!
7. Review your flight choice.

MileagePlus is also a Chase airline partner at a 1:1 ratio and your best bet when you need more United miles. Before you transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to United, make sure there is award space.

Hot Tip: There are tons of ways to redeem United miles, so make sure you check out the other fun ways United miles can help you travel.

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

United MileagePlus is a 1:1 transfer partner with Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, and transfers are processed almost instantly.

In addition, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio to United MileagePlus. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott points at once to United, you also get a bonus of 10,000 United miles! Finally, you can also use any of United’s co-branded credit cards to earn United miles directly.

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

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Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
• 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

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• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

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A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

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Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
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Cons

• $795 annual fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Air Canada Aeroplan

While United is the most obvious choice for booking a business class award, don’t forget to check Air Canada Aeroplan, as you might find an even better redemption.

Aeroplan uses a hybrid award chart with regions, distance bands, and more. United is one of Air Canada’s joint venture partners, which means that the price you pay depends on the route you’re flying, the distance you fly, and the cabin class you book.

Here’s the award chart for flights between the U.S. and the Atlantic region (including flights from the U.S. to Europe):

And here’s the award chart for flights between the U.S. and the Pacific region (including flights from the U.S. to Asia):

You can book United awards online through Air Canada’s website.

1. Make your way to Air Canada’s homepage.
2. In the top-right corner, click the button that says “Sign in.”
3. Log in using your Aeroplan number and password.
4. On the homepage’s search box, remember to toggle the slider that says “Points.”
5. Select whether you want round-trip or one-way for the trip, fill in the search box, and click the button that says “Find.”
6. Find a suitable flight, redeem your Aeroplan points, and use a credit card to book your United flight.

Aeroplan doesn’t have carrier-imposed surcharges. This is great news, especially if you book a flight on United Airlines to Europe. This can really help keep the cash component of your booking to a minimum.

Hot Tip: Aeroplan allows you to add a stopover for 5,000 miles extra, so you can actually spend a few days in an intermediate destination before proceeding to your endpoint! Call Aeroplan directly at 800-361-5373 to book your itinerary with a stopover.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Air Canada Aeroplan is transfer partners with American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio in around 5 business days. When you transfer 60,000 Marriott points to Aeroplan, you get a bonus of 5,000 extra Aeroplan points.

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
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Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
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U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

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This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

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UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

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• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
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• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

Business owner? Check out our article on the best Amex business cards that earn Membership Rewards.

Hot Tip: Check out our Aeroplan region definition guide to find out how many points you need to book your award.

Asiana Club

Using Asiana Club miles to book United award flights isn’t what comes to mind first for many people, but it shouldn’t be overlooked.

Booking award flights on Asiana’s partners requires a call to Asiana. You must reserve and have your ticket issued at least 3 days prior to departure, which prevents snagging last-minute awards.

Follow these steps to make booking easy.

1. Search for award space using United’s site (follow the steps under the United booking instructions above).
2. Call Asiana at 800-227-4262 (the U.S. call center is open on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. and weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.).
3. Tell the phone agent that you’d like to book an award on United Airlines.
4. Provide your desired travel dates and flight numbers.
5. Once you confirm space, you’ll be prompted to provide your credit card information for any necessary taxes and fees.

Earning Asiana Airlines Miles

Though Asiana Airlines is not currently a transfer partner of any of the major U.S.-based credit card companies and has also ended its transfer partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, you can still earn Asiana miles through a co-branded credit cards and other means.

Other Options for Booking United Airlines

As a member of the Star Alliance, you have plenty of ways to book award flights on United Airlines. A few to consider are ANA Mileage Club, Avianca Lifemiles, and Singapore KrisFlyer.

Great United Airlines Polaris Business Class Redemptions

Redeeming United miles for business class award flights on United might be the most common way to book, but there might be better. Check out the comparisons below for redemption ideas.

Asiana Club and Aeroplan have similar redemption rates if you want to fly from the West Coast to Hong Kong (HKG).

However, Asiana Club sets itself apart if you want to book business class from the East Coast to Tel Aviv.

Here are some other exciting United Polaris routes and their associated redemption prices:

Asiana Club offers the best redemption rates, but with how difficult it is to earn miles, it may be more realistic to use United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan.

How To Earn Enough Miles for United Polaris Business Class

United Polaris class is a great way to fly in comfort around the world. That said, it’s much easier to book Polaris if you have lots of United miles. If you have United MileagePlus elite status or hold one of their co-branded credit cards, you can also often find better availability (and sometimes at lower prices!) using United miles than those without a United card or elite status.

If you’re a deal seeker, you can try to find partner-level availability, but this is extremely difficult for its most long-haul routes. If you find partner-level availability, you can redeem Aeroplan points or Asiana miles to book a ticket.

Here’s the transfer partner summary:

• Amex Membership Rewards is a 1:1 transfer partner of Air Canada. Transfers process instantly.
• Bilt Rewards is a 1:1 transfer partner of Air Canada and United MileagePlus. Transfers process instantly.
• Capital One Miles is a 1:1 transfer partner of Air Canada. Transfers process instantly.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards is a 1:1 transfer partner of Air Canada and United MileagePlus. Transfers process instantly.
• Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Air Canada in 5 business days. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to United MileagePlus with a 10,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. Transfers are complete in 3 business days.

In general, it’s rare to see transfer bonuses, but we have seen 10% to 20% transfer bonuses offered from Amex Membership Rewards to Air Canada.

When Should You Search for Award Space?

United’s award availability is sporadic. We recommend searching as soon as you have an idea of your travel dates. But flexibility is your friend here, especially if you’re looking to book flights for more than 2 travelers.

In addition, United may release more award seats closer to departure (around 1 to 4 weeks before the flight date). There’s no golden rule, but we recommend checking regularly if you don’t initially see good availability on your flights.

If you have little flexibility, we encourage you to book with United MileagePlus, as you might be able to access better availability if you’re willing to redeem more United miles.

What Do You Get With United Polaris Business Class?

Now, let’s talk about all the best aspects of United Polaris business class!

Polaris Lounge

United currently has United Polaris Lounges at Chicago O’Hare, Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark, San Francisco (SFO), and Washington, D.C. (IAD).

The airline is expected to open in the following airports in the next few years:

• Hong Kong
• London Heathrow
• Tokyo Narita

From the choice of food at the buffets to bars with extensive selections of beer, wine, and spirits, Polaris Lounges are a fantastic place to spend time before a flight. You can even freshen up with a shower and replenish yourself with a gourmet meal with waiter service.

Arrivals Lounges

As a business class passenger, you have access to United’s Arrivals Lounge in both San Francisco and London Heathrow. This is a great perk, because, after a very long flight, who wouldn’t like a shower before a day of tourist activities or a business meeting?

Final Thoughts

United has made drastic improvements to its business class product. Though many business class flights do not have the new Polaris seat and Polaris Lounges are concentrated at its largest U.S. hubs, we look forward to these improvements being expanded.

If you can find availability with points, you won’t regret booking a ticket in United Polaris for your next long-haul journey!