As part of United Airlines’ media event in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to step onboard its new Boeing 787-9 with the “Elevated” interior and walk through every cabin. I took photos of every seat and every angle, and now present a full tour of United’s most premium aircraft yet.
United Airlines 787-9 “Elevated” Cabin Tour: Polaris Studio, Polaris, Premium Plus, And Economy
I’ll reserve final judgement until I fly it, but United’s new Dreamliners certainly appear to be a step up (evolution, not revolution, though) from the previous generation. Aesthetically, they are very pleasing and seat features in every cabin mark an improvement of the passengers experience.
The new 787-9 is configured with just 222 seats, including 64 Polaris business class seats, 35 Premium Plus seats, and 123 economy seats. That includes a remarkable 99 premium seats, the highest percentage among U.S. carriers.
The aircraft was brought to the hangar and we were invited to check it out at our leisure. I waited until the end of the afternoon to minimize the number of folks in the cabin.
Polaris Studio: United’s New “Business Class Plus”
The biggest difference between this United 787 and older ones is Polaris Studio, a new front-row product within business class that will offer more space and elevated service.
There are eight of these seats, located in the bulkhead rows of each Polaris cabin. They are roughly 25% larger than standard Polaris seats and include a second ottoman seat for a companion, which can be used for dining or conversation (6 of the 8 seats have a second ottoman, but 1D and 1F do not).
Each seat features a massive 27-inch 4K OLED screen, the largest screen offered by a U.S. airline, along with wireless charging and Bluetooth connectivity.
United has revealed introductory pricing and currently these seats will be a $499 upgrade, regardless of routes. Polaris Studio will include:
- Global Services check-in
- Expanded pre-order meal options
- Caviar amuse bouche and rosé Champagne
- Snack box (pictured below, something like the “snack bar” on Emirates)
- Larger amenity kit
- Special pajamas (with hoodies)
- Special headphones (from Meridian)
- Large fleece blanket and extra pillow
While not quite a separate cabin, there are more perks than a larger seat.
Polaris Business Class: Now With Doors
Behind the Studio seats is the updated Polaris cabin, still in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access from every seat.
The biggest change is the addition of sliding doors, something United has long resisted but has now embraced. Screens are also larger, at around 19 inches, and the overall seat design feels more enclosed and private.
One interesting design choice is that seats alternate orientation depending on the cabin section, with some facing inward (seats in the center section of the front Polaris cabin are arranged in a reverse herringbone fashion) and others outward (seats in the center section of the rear Polaris cabin are arranged in a herringbone fashion, facing toward each other). It is a subtle way to create variety within the same cabin footprint and was not necessitated by the cabin density or design.
Seats will have wireless charging and the ability to control the tone of the ambient lighting.
The cabinet is lined with suede and the countertops feature marble from Brazil.
There’s also a self-serve snack bar, much like the SAS A330, between the Polaris cabins.
Premium Plus: A Real Step Up
Premium Plus has not changed much, but the seats coverings have a new design. The cabin is arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration with 35 seats, offering 38 inches of pitch, wider seats, and improved privacy thanks to new dividers.
Wireless charging and larger seatback screens are also part of the package.
This is an important cabin for United. While there were some fears early on that it might cannibalize business class bookings, that did not happen…it seemed to create new demand from passengers willing to pay a bit more for comfort but on a more limited travel budget or constrained by corporate booking policies.
Economy Class: Bigger Screens, Bluetooth
Economy is arranged in a standard 3-3-3 configuration with 123 seats, including a subset of 39 Economy Plus seats with extra legroom.
Every seat has a 4K OLED screen with Bluetooth connectivity, which is a nice upgrade, even as United also plans to improve its complimentary headphones offered onboard.
Even if the seat itself is not dramatically different, the technology and larger screens make this feel like a more modern product.
Note that early reports form all cabins suggest that while United has provisioned 4K screens, movies and TV shows are still showing at 1080p, making them quite pixelated.
Flight Deck + Galleys
I had a chance to duck in the flight deck as well, where a very kind and chatty pilot offered to take my picture…
You can see that the front galley has been fitted with the new secondary barriers, which should alleviate flight attendants from having to block the front lavatory with a beverage cart when the pilots need to use the loo.
There’s a very large galley in the rear of the plane that has been outfitted with an extra table behind the last row of seats, which is intended to make it easier for the crew to assemble meals.
Lavatories
The lavatory count remain unchanged, though with the new configuration there are four in business class (two in the front and two in between the two Polaris cabins) and three in economy class (including on behind premium economy and two in the rear).
A Premium-Heavy Strategy
United is clearly betting on premium. With 99 premium seats onboard, this aircraft is designed to maximize revenue from passengers willing to pay for more space and comfort. That strategy seems to be working thus far, though the trust test is ahead.
If we do enter a sustained period of oil prices double what they were last year, my guess is that more affluent travelers who are less price sensitive will continue to book premium cabin seats while those who might otherwise book economy will choose to stay home rather than pay what amount to hefty fuel surcharges.
I hope that does not become the reality, but I can certainly see demand going in that direction, especially based on the conversations I have with my Award Expert clients.
CONCLUSION
United’s new 787-9 is its most ambitious aircraft yet, with a clear emphasis on premium cabins, segmentation, and onboard technology. The Polaris Studio seats represent an interesting hybrid between first class and business class, but the biggest story is just how large the premium cabins are.
This is where the industry is heading, and United is leaning into it more aggressively than its U.S. competitors, at least for now.
That amuse bouche is pathetic and who knows how long it has sat prior to presentation. If I really want osetra caviar I can go to Costco.
..lol.. Maybe it was that fake plastic food ‘sample’ one sees displayed in those tacky tourist trap dives !
Looks like a nice upgrade. Lets hope the food and service keep up with the improved hard product.
With the doors on those very narrow bus. seats, it will feel even more like a coffin; many have commented that the space is just too narrow, compared to other long haul routes w/ other foreign carriers; 20.5″ is just too narrow, then if you close the doors, it will feel even more compressed; whats the width on the $500 upgrade seat ?
Let’s add that this sleek UA B787-9 Dreamliner is 0.3 years young. Long may it fly!
“Note that early reports form all cabins suggest that while United has provisioned 4K screens, movies and TV shows are still showing at 1080p, making them quite pixelated.”
How is this possible? Just because the screen is 4k it shouldn’t affect pixelation due to 1080p programming. Can you link to pictures of others who experienced this?
There’s a FT thread on it in UA forum.
I’ve never flown PE, but I like the looks of the setup. Although the 19″ seats make spillover from a wider seatmate less likely, the solid partitions below the armrests and at shoukder level make forced, unwanted contact far less likely. Plus 787s have 2-3-2 (while 350s and 777s are 2-4-2). This allows a single traveler like me to reserve an aisle seat in the center section. While you hope nobody takes the middle seat, even if a couple takes the other two, they often put the smaller one in the middle seat. And, they typically ask their partner to let them out, not you.
I’ve flown the “premium J” bulkhead on AA’s 789P and AF’s upgraded 350 (both at no additional cost). Add those extras UA is offering, and neither of these would be worth $100 more, to my tastes, unless your want to buy an upgrade for ego/status.
Matthew, if a single pax ends up in a D or F rear cabin J seat, can they get privacy from the other pax?
Yes and interestingly the dividers on these seats are now manual – you can slide them up and down.
Too many J seats, too few in O
Going to lead to more CPUs (I mean op ups)
Why is it easier to get a CPU on a long haul international route vs a short haul domestic?
What should have been done if they insist on keeping J is to only have the first J cabin and sell the first row as F
Turn the second J cabin into O and increase the pitch of O to 45-48″ and allow 9 inches of recline. Make it a real step up from Y, but not lie flat
I think UA’s old school 8-across J seats would be a perfect game-changing innovation for premium economy.
would be the same problem that J had when it went lie flat. Too close to F
Now, the late 90s barcaloungers would make a very nice premium economy, without encroaching into J or F
But glaringly absent from the Polaris Studio profuse amenities was the minuscule ‘Contriva’ 100th Anniversary Commerative Chocolate….
…lol
Apparently, one of the few best planes in the country.
They couldn’t have gone with a clean “100” for 100 years?! Oh well, I do still like the 90s…
@1900 As always you complain and slam everything about UAL every chance you get. You must be a miserable person in life and to travel with.
Will you ever just shut up?
@1990 Are you ever happy with anything? You constantly slam UAL and your complaining and pathetic sarcasm is tired.
You must be a miserable person in life and even worse to travel with.
Stick with Spirit Airlines.
I’m sorry I still find the economy and PE cabins really ugly. It reminds me of an 80s beach chair with plastic webbing. And the white part of the seat is going to get gross – there’s a reason most airlines choose dark colors for seats.
And the half and half herringbone is just strange!
Better LOPA than AA though.
Meanwhile, a plane belonging to rival airline DL was forced to make an emergency landing after a fire broke out shortly after takeoff… → https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWjv8faDjVQ/
And I was just getting used to the purple in Premium Econ….
I do prefer the purple…gosh, now I can’t get that 80’s beach chair reference out of my mind!
Sorry not sorry! Hopefully these seats will be more comfortable than an 80s beach chair…
I hate that 100th anniversary United livery for a passion(As a 100th anniversary livery). Lufthansa and Qantas have beautiful liveries, and United’s is just a decal. At least show off your logos from previous years, like the tulip!
The stunning UA Tulip (Bass Tulip) was a sight for sore eyes! UA should re-introduce that iconic logo!
Would love to see more retro liveries for 100 years – that said, I really don’t care for the Lufthansa livery.