United Polaris Saver Award Space
After ToP Facebook Group member Tom shared some award space he was seeing out of DC yesterday we did some more digging into the United award charts. We are seeing United Polaris saver award space (business class) from Washington Dulles (IAD), Newark (EWR), and Chicago (ORD) to London Heathrow (LHR) throughout March. United Polaris is a great business class product and best of all, United does not charge fuel surcharges. This means you can avoid paying those crazy high fees typically associated with award flights into or out of London.
How To Search & Book
Our favorite websites to search for Star Alliance availability include United and Aeroplan.
You have lots of different options to choose from when booking (all prices one-way unless otherwise noted):
- Aeroplan: 60,000 – 70,000 miles
- United: 60,000 – 63,000 miles
- LifeMiles: 60,000 miles
- Singapore: 81,000 miles
- ANA: 88,000 miles (round-trip only)
- Turkish: 45,000 miles
- (TK's website is not showing the same availability as the other Star Alliance programs, so you would have to call to book and hope to reach a competent rep who can find availability)
Taxes/fees vary by program. United and Singapore are by far the lowest at just $5.60 for outbound flights. Return flights incur higher taxes/fees because you're flying out of London.
Hot Tip
If booking through United, you can shave off over $100 in fees from your return flight by including an onward connection in economy. For example, instead of flying LHR-IAD, flying LHR-EWR-IAD with the last leg in economy appears to lower taxes/fees on that return flight by over $100.
Of course, it's up to you whether that additional travel time is worth the savings.
United Polaris Saver Award Space: ToP Thoughts
You can check out which points currencies transfer to each of these through our ToP transfer partner tool. When selecting which loyalty program to book through, also consider their stopover rules and whether you can take advantage of those. And if booking through United, consider whether you can benefit from their Excursionist Perk.
Hopefully some of you are able to book this great deal over the pond. Let us know if you end up locking anything up!
