United to make several luxury changes many will appreciate

The carrier is trying to sell a 'more premium experience.'

May 13, 2025 - 12:06

United to make several luxury changes many will appreciate

First launched in 2016, United Airlines (UAL) Polaris is a rebranded version of the Chicago-based airline's business class.

The name refers both to the more exclusive lounges available in six large airports across the country and the lie-flat seats available on certain long-haul flights to Europe, Asia, and Australia.

On May 13, United revealed that it will launch new Polaris Studio suites on the 30 787-9 planes that it will receive from Boeing (BA) between 2025 and 2027.

Eight Studio rooms, which are designed as separate suites with a door for privacy and 25% more space than the already-spacious Polaris seat, will be placed in the front two rows, while each plane will also have 56 regular Polaris seats in the 14 rows behind it.

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New suites 'set airline up to grow into the next decade and beyond,' EVP says

United is not calling its new Studio Suites "first class," but the idea is to have an ultra-premium offering that is built as an entire section in the sky. As part of the apartment feel, each will have an ottoman seat with a seatbelt for a friend who is also flying in Polaris to visit, as well as a 27-inch entertainment system touchscreen.

The first flights with the new interiors are slated to start running in 2026 on routes to Singapore and London Heathrow from San Francisco — routes that, according to United's Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella, were selected due to the large number of high-revenue travelers who take them.

"We already deliver a superior international experience and fly to the most places across the Atlantic and Pacific — these new innovations provide a more premium experience overall, give customers even more reasons to choose United, and set our airline up to grow into the next decade and beyond," Nocella said in a press statement.

United's current 787-9 planes have 48 Polaris seats, 21 Premium Plus seats, 39 Economy Plus seats and 149 regular economy seats — the new planes are to have a large section with an ultra-premium offering for which United says it is seeing strong demand.

The rest of the new aircraft of which United expects to take delivery at the end of 2025 will have 35 Premium Plus seats, 35 Economy Plus seats, and 90 regular economy seats across 15 rows in a 3-3-3 configuration.

Caviar for Polaris, popcorn for everyone else: some of the food changes coming to United in 2026

In the same announcement, United also said it has invested $150 million in improving its food and beverage offering to feature more luxury perks for passengers in the highest fare classes.

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These include an amuse-bouche of Ossetra caviar served alongside a glass of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé champagne in Polaris, as well as brands like Garretts and Joe & Steph's popcorn in a nod to its Chicago roots for other fare classes.

A number of regional routes will also get a plate of tapas for their midday meal service and new drink offerings like the Aperol Spritz.