| | Cross the pond in Polaris | | by Ben Smithson, Senior Writer | |  | If you thought it was too late to use your United MileagePlus miles for a lie-flat trip to Europe this summer or fall, think again. Because the opportunity to fly in Polaris business class across the Atlantic has seldom been better!
Award space is wide open right now from United Airlines’ U.S. hubs to various European destinations for just 80,000 miles.
Think Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal and many more. There are numerous flights in August and October with four or more Polaris award seats per flight. (Pro tip: Try the timesaving Seats.aero tool to find these seats in seconds and easily book.)
The onboard experience is solid. Polaris seats are fully lie-flat, the Saks Fifth Avenue bedding is high quality, and the soft product is consistent across the fleet. But the part I especially appreciate is access to Polaris lounges. These lounges are a major step up from traditional United Clubs, offering quieter spaces, elevated food and drinks, and a much more premium predeparture experience.
Here's the kicker: While I've previously never wanted a United cobranded card, I'm now seriously considering one.
Specifically, the United Quest℠ Card, which is offering new cardholders 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after they spend $4,000 in the first three months their account is open — enough to book a Polaris award flight to Europe and give me a head start toward elite status.
The card also provides a $200 United TravelBank credit annually, a 10,000-mile award flight discount each year, free first and second checked bags, priority boarding, 25% off inflight purchases, and many other credits and perks, making it a surprisingly attractive mid‑tier choice.
You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards Points to MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.
If you've ever dreamed about booking a comfortable business-class seat to Europe, you might be surprised just how easy it is to score right now.
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