Flight Route: UA99 Melbourne (MEL) to Los Angeles(LAX)
Departure Time: 7:45 am
Aircraft: Boeing 787-Dreamliner
Class: Business / Seat 1D
Flight time: 14hrs, 15 minutes
The route
United Airlines has recently introduced convenient, direct flights to transport Australians into the heart of some of the United State’s most popular hubs. A new, daily Melbourne-Los Angeles route (which is my journey); and there’s also regular Melbourne-San Francisco, Brisbane-San Francisco and Sydney-Houston route.
At Melbourne Airport, guests travelling with United Airlines can access the premium business class lounge of fellow Star Alliance members, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.
The Cabin
The business class cabin features a 1-2-1 seat configuration. I was seated in seat 1D on the centre aisle. The screen in between the seats afforded plenty of privacy from your fellow passenger, if required.
The seat
My seat was comfortable with a lie-flat bed that effortlessly converted, with an easy-to-use control. My favourite part was the Saks Fifth Avenue comforter, which was lush and one I would like to have at home. It’s a first-of-its-kind partnership with the luxury retailer, creating custom, bedding for United Polaris customers. Mattress cushions are also available upon request, and I could choose between two different types of pillows for personalised comfort.
The amenities kit, designed exclusively by Away, had all the essentials – with a UA-branded eye mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs, socks, and a pen.
My seat is equipped with a USB charger and a universal adaptor.
The food and service
My meals included dinner and breakfast before arrival. The dinner menu catered for a variety of tastes and I opted for pan-seared salmon with couscous and asparagus. While waiting for my cheese plate (which included gouda, gruyère, grapes, and crackers), I changed into my Polaris PJs (available on flights longer than 12 hours) and slippers then got ready for a movie before catching a few hours of sleep.
The service was great and the team were very friendly and quick to respond to any requests.
Wi-Fi is available for purchase and you can also download the United Airlines app to keep track of bookings, check-in, and keep up to date on changes to flights.