A patent filing by United Airlines gives us a hint of what kind of Polaris Business Class seat to expect on the Airbus A321XLR and perhaps on a subfleet of the 737 MAX 10.
United Airlines Gives Us Clue Over New A321XLR Polaris Seat In Patent Filing
As noted by paxex.aero, United Airlines has filed a patent application for a new lie-flat business class seat that would be installed on its A321XLR aircraft. The filing included a number of renderings:
Several key details stand out to me:
- The configuration is herringbone
- Seats face the aisle at a 49º angle
- Renderings suggest 28 seats in the premium cabin, which matches what United’s ps-configured 757-200s used to offer
- No doors, at least for now (there is no mention of them in the patent filing or in the renderings)
- Large screens which flip out
- Seat pitch appears to be 28 inches, though there would be extra space in the footwell
- In lie-flat mode, the bed is 75 – 78 inches long
- A “space-sharing region” between cabins
On that last point, the patent application explains:
It has been recognized that in an arrangement in which the seating elements are orientated at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction, some space can be shared between seated passengers in adjacent seat units to achieve a relatively high PAX density…
It is this “innovation” that United believes qualifies the seat and arrangement for a patent. Put simply, this configuration allows for a denser premium cabin while maintaining lie-flat seating:
In the space-sharing region, the upper part of the screen may overhang the seat pan of the first seat unit, when the seat units are in the seating configuration. Such an arrangement may provide shoulder space for the second seating unit, without substantially impacting on the useable space for the passenger in the first seat unit (because that overhang may be above the arm space of the passenger in the first seat unit). The lower part of the screen preferably does not overhang the seat pan of the first seat unit when the seat units are in the seating configuration.
The seat manufacture is not announced: it does appear that United has used Acumen for the seat design, which it also used for its original Polaris seat. I’d guess the Safran Optima seat is the most likely candidate at this point.
This Is Not Necessarily The Final Seat
This patent filing alone does not suggest United has made a final decision on its premium cabin seat. United may well go with another seat but still pursue a patent on this configuration in hopes of marketing the design it paid to develop to other carriers.
There is no suggestion that this seat has been certified yet by safety regulators, which could be another hurdle.
CONCLUSION
Just last week I noted that United may be close to revealing a new Polaris seat and now we have another clue about what the future of Polaris may look like on narrowbody aircraft like the A321XLR.
I’m tall but thin and appreciate the high cabin density, which maximizes my chances of flying in the premium cabin. While a roomier seat would be preferred, this configuration represents a compromise that will still mark an improvement over the 2-2 B/E Diamond Seats currently available on the 757-200, particularly for solo travelers.
What do you think about the potential new business class seat on United Airlines?
If this is the seat they go with, its disappointing. Reminds me of the miserable ANZ herringbone seats with perhaps slightly more privacy.
It’s not ideal, for sure, but I prefer it to what SAS, TAP, Aer Lingus have on their A321s and I do commend JetBlue for a very comfortable seat, even if I cannot look out the window.
This seat is immensely inferior to what AA has planned for their A321XLRs. The UA seat looks insanely cramped and uncomfortable for sleeping. Does UA think they can compete with AA using these seats?
This looks better than ANZ, not to say that it is great. There won’t be any bare feet smelling up the isle and it doesn’t look like there a direct sight-line to the person across the isle.
Horrible. A no-go for me.
Have you flown the JetBlue seat?
Looks to be a lot tighter than JetBlue. More like Virgin Atlantic.
If they’re going to cram people in, why not at least give some illusion of privacy by going with a reverse herringbone?
I think that is a very reasonable question, but I have to imagine they cannot fit as may seats in that way. Even sacrificing two seats probably changes the economics of the cabin.
Given the popularity of O, UA is making a big mistake by including 28J and 12O. Should be reversed, given these will be flown mostly on long and thin routes. 6 rows of J and 6 of O. Suspect UA will be doing many ops ups like they are doing now since UA oversells O
That is probably true (in terms of op ups)
That’s part of their thinking though. Oversell O and Op Up on flights that are lighter in J.
Wouldn’t need to do ops ups nearly as often if UA would simply right size the cabins.
There should be more O seats than J
I guess we’ll find out very soon either way, but could this be Polaris 2.0?
Really dislike and a move in the wrong direction IMHO. I strongly dislike due to limited window space, hate facing towards an aisle and expect the swinging TV to impede dinner service – would hate to have to swing back/forth to speak to the FA. Furthermore, not fun to travel with a spouse or significant other. I realize this is the same for any single aisle premium class but is still frustrating no innovation in that direction.
@ Matt: On the following point: A “space-sharing region” between cabins – should it read “seats”, not “cabins”?
The biggest negative with seats like this is that you’re looking into and across the aisle. Which when you consider how important privacy is to a lot of people in these cabins is an issue. It do wonder why they can’t flip the orientation and/or what the trade off would be for that.
It reminds me a little of the Singapore airlines first class suite where you sit facing the door and the result is during meal service when your door is open your staring right at the person on the other side of the aisle. That one especially has always struck me as a horrible design choice.
This layout seems to exactly the same as on Jet Blue and not original.
A while back it was also leaked that future DL A321XLRs would also have something similar. Seems like this is gonna be somewhat of an industry standard in a few years.
DL doesn’t have any XLRs on order. They do have NEOs coming with lie-flat seats. I assume that’s what you meant?
You’re right, I misspoke, both about the airplane and the seat style. I just found it again, looks like reverse herringbone, which is superior.
It’s just my opinion, but the Polaris product was tired and outdated before it ever flew. Not only the seat, but the whole product right down to the food, and the dishes they are served on. And the tired blue table cloths and napkins!
American has/had the better product going back more years than I can even remember on the trans-con A321’s.
I know you’re a UA guy, but it’s putting lipstick on a pig if you ask me. As usual, the American carriers are followers and not leaders. Not since Pan Am and TWA have the US carriers been ahead of the pack.
Headtwisting to look out a window?….. so left with a lovely view of the aisle.
Anyone know what the total capacity is for the plane, including Y? Curious how this compares to the 752 and the old PS 752.
Looks like Air New Zealand. As a fatter guy but also with wide shoulders this looks pretty uncomfortable, at least for a business class seat and the pricetag that usually comes with that. I get it though, it’s an aircraft with limited size and width, and they wanna pack in as many seats as possible. I probably would’ve gone with another seat & configuration but that’s without knowing the economics of everything invovled.
As with anything though, gotta try it before ya knock it, I’ll be happy to give it a shot at some point.
Looking at the images I hate this design. I’m a window person so looking into the aisle, or at the person across from me, does not appeal to me at all. Further my neighbors swinging TV that impedes my space does not scream First class to me. Overall this entire design sounds like a step down in the wrong direction.
I love looking out the window too, but if it means 4-8 more premium seats in the same real estate, I’ll take it. Plus, I like this better than the 1-2-1 configuration of the seats that SK, EI, and TP have.
I love looking out the window. I recently had my first experience with this type of seating on Virgin Atlantic and didnt care for it at all. No privacy and window to my back. I would opt for another airline or just fly premium economy if this the business class choice. Not worth the extra $ to me then.
United is just a sloppy airline. I liken them to someone from the trailer park came into some wealth and want to be classy. But, they arent. Who is in charge of branding identity at United? It has been a complete failure and leaves one in a state confusion as to who they are and what they want to be. They took Continental brand shook it up with United name and spit out something unrecognizable to anyone including their emoloyees. Their wings are cheap and weird with no logo,, colors don’t even match up. They suck! Its embarrassing.
Can someone explain how this is different from the Virgin A330-300 window seats. Remove the middle and single isle that plane and you have this config.
Just read how hated that configuration is.