Yesterday Travel Skills broke news of a new United Airlines domestic first class seat and today United has made it official with more details. Here’s a look at the new seat:
- The seat will debut on an Airbus A319 next week, with retrofits on A319s, A320s and many Boeing 737s and 757s through 2016.
- Each aircraft will continue to have the same number of premium-cabin seats.
- Input from design firm PriestmanGoode
- Features include:
- All-leather seat covers in signature navy and champagne colors
- A patented-design tray table with tablet holder, enabling travelers to enjoy food and beverages while using their personal electronic devices
- An articulating seat bottom for greater comfort when reclining and an adjustable headrest (like AA has)
- In-seat universal A/C power outlets for customers to charge their devices (but no USB)
- Additional in-seat storage, including two seatback pockets and side stowage for laptops and tablets;
- Dedicated beverage holders
- Granite cocktail tables
- The new seat is 21.1 inches wide, so a bit wider than the current seat
- Legroom will likely be reduced by one inch but with not discernible difference due to the articulating seat bottom
- New carpets, mood lighting and custom scents are also coming
All photos courtesy of United Airlines
The pictures look nice, but the test will be whether it is comfortable. I have an A319 flight in first class in a couple weeks and hope the new seat is installed, though I love the current pre-merger United seats. Bottom line — too early to judge, but at least United is not reducing the number of premium cabin seats on any aircraft.
Hopefully they do a bit better on the padding than they did on the Airbus coach seats. The Boeing slimlines are pretty good, but the A319s and A320s bring on the dreaded “numbutt” after about an hour.
Is there a post coming about the United JFK staff?
@Kevin: As a matter of fact, yes, but did I mention this somewhere?
On FlyerTalk
I’ve got some upcoming UA A319 flights. I hope to get to experience these soon.