LONG BEACH, Calif., Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, at the International Flight Services Association (IFSA) Compass Awards, United Airlines was named the 2017 Airline of the Year in recognition of its United Polaris business class experience. The IFSA, a global professional association serving the needs and interests of airline and railway personnel, bestow Compass Awards to celebrate creativity, innovation and excellence within the industry. This award honored United's efforts to provide customers with a dramatically-redesigned, luxurious, sleep-enhancing experience from lounge to landing.

"We spent years gathering feedback from our customers, airport agents and flight attendants, incorporating it into everything from seat design to dining options to amenities, and fine-tuned each element of our business class to make sure that we offer an experience that not only meets our customers' needs, but goes above and beyond," said Mark Krolick, vice president, marketing at United. "This recognition is a testament to all of our employees who work so diligently to ensure that we provide customers with the absolute best in international business travel. Thank you to the International Flight Services Association for this distinction."

In rethinking its international business class experience, United conducted more than 12,000 hours of research, and sleep emerged as the single most important priority for travelers. United Polaris' path-breaking design and sleep-enhancing focus were inspired and informed by insights from hundreds of customers and employees, inflight product simulations and more than 100 product evaluations.

With a focus on providing a more tranquil journey for customers, United Polaris features include: the roll-out of new United Polaris lounges with rest spaces, spa-like showers and high-end pre-flight dining options; a custom-designed personal onboard suite with added privacy, comfort and convenience; sleep-focused amenities such as custom Saks Fifth Avenue luxury bedding and spa-quality Cowshed products from Soho House & Co; and reimagined dining options created in partnership with chefs from The Trotter Project.

The IFSA credited United with creating a fully integrated experience for customers from on the ground to onboard. The Compass Awards are voted on by IFSA members and a panel of judges.

Earlier this year, the airline took home additional honors for United Polaris including the award for Best Onboard Textiles for its sleep amenities at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Judges called out the "wonderful and sophisticated collection of items to support rest onboard."

For more information on United Polaris, visit: United.com/Polaris.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,500 flights a day to 338 airports across five continents. In 2016, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 143 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 748 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express carriers operate 475 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to more than 190 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "UAL."

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SOURCE United Airlines