United Airways has simply unveiled all-new cabins for lengthy haul plane, a venture that the airline is branding as United Elevate. Whereas I’ve lined the main points of the brand new cabins, on this put up I wish to speak a bit extra in regards to the new plane as such, as United is taking supply of some ultra-premium Dreamliners.
United plans 787-9s with 64 Polaris enterprise class seats
United already has a large fleet of 75+ Boeing 787s, and the airline has a further 140+ of those plane on order, which will likely be used for fleet renewal over the subsequent decade or so. With United’s upcoming 787-9 deliveries, the airline plans to introduce an uber-premium configuration, with simply 222 seats. Particularly, these planes will function:
- 64 Polaris enterprise class seats, unfold throughout 16 rows, in a 1-2-1 configuration; eight of these will likely be Polaris Studio seats, that are the entrance row “enterprise class plus” product
- 35 Premium Plus premium financial system seats, unfold throughout 5 rows, in a 2-3-2 configuration
- 123 financial system seats, unfold throughout 15 rows, in a 3-3-3 configuration; 39 of these will likely be Financial system Plus further legroom seats
For context on the structure, the world between the primary and second set of doorways will function 32 enterprise class seats, then the area between the second and third set of doorways will function 32 enterprise class seats and 35 premium financial system seats, after which the area between the third and fourth set of doorways will function 123 financial system seats.
You’ll be able to see the seat map beneath, courtesy of @xJonNYC. You’ll discover one thing distinctive, which is a operate of United deciding on the Adient Ascent product in enterprise class. Within the heart part, the ahead cabin has seats in a reverse herringbone configuration (with seats dealing with inward), whereas the rear cabin has seats in a herringbone configuration (with seats dealing with outward).
— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) Could 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
United’s present 787-9s are already among the many most premium configured of any US airline, with 257 seats, together with 48 enterprise class seats, 21 premium financial system seats, and 188 financial system seats. In different phrases, this new configuration will see 16 further enterprise class seats, 14 further premium financial system seats, and 65 fewer financial system seats.
United already has the biggest lengthy haul enterprise class cabins of any US airline, on common, however this may actually take it to the subsequent degree. These planes will presumably be fairly versatile, long run:
- On one finish of the spectrum, the premium configuration will permit for much more vary, given the decrease weight of the plane
- On the opposite finish of the spectrum, a few of these 787-9s are anticipated to finally substitute the premium 767-300ERs that United operates, to markets like London (LHR), the place the vary isn’t essentially wanted, however the premium demand is there
What to anticipate onboard United’s new premium Dreamliners
As I’ve lined in a separate put up, not solely will the provider’s upcoming Boeing 787-9s be in a extra premium configuration, however they’ll function new seats, tip-to-tail.
Probably the most thrilling new product is the brand new United Polaris Studio seating, not solely that includes far more spacious seats, but additionally an improved delicate product, starting from a caviar amuse bouche, to upgraded champagne, to extra facilities.
Then there will likely be new United Polaris seats, that includes doorways, and massively upgraded tech, starting from bluetooth audio, to extra charging choices, to excessive definition leisure screens.
The brand new Premium Plus additionally seems like a major enchancment, with privateness shields, and upgraded tech.
Lastly, in financial system, we are able to count on bigger leisure screens with bluetooth audio.
By way of aircraft-wide tech, these 787-9s can even function Starlink Wi-Fi, making these among the many first large physique plane for the provider to function the brand new excessive pace and complimentary connectivity.
United’s new 787-9s will debut in early 2026
This new premium structure will likely be out there on newly delivered Boeing 787-9s. The expectation is that the primary 787-9 with this structure will be a part of the fleet in late 2025, and enter worldwide service in early 2026. The primary two routes will likely be from San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN) and London (LHR).
United expects to have roughly 30 of those plane in service by the top of 2027. Observe that whereas some current United planes are anticipated to finally be reconfigured with new cabins (the timeline is unclear), that doesn’t imply that they’ll get the identical extremely premium structure, so count on them to be a bit greater density.
Backside line
In early 2026, we’ll see the introduction of what’s in all probability probably the most premium plane we’ve ever seen operated by a US provider. United plans to configure upcoming 787-9s with simply 222 seats, together with 64 Polaris enterprise class seats.
So not solely will these be the least densely configured plane of any US airline, however they’ll additionally function United’s all-new cabins, together with new Polaris seats, Starlink Wi-Fi, and far more. I sit up for these jets coming into service!
What do you make of United’s new premium Boeing 787-9s?
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