It’s official: United Airlines has unveiled its next-generation 787-9 cabins it calls United Elevated. The upgrade includes a brand new Polaris business class seat on future 787-9 deliveries, including a premium section within the cabin called United Polaris Studio that will offer additional space and amenities.
United Elevated: A New Interior Experience On The 787-9
United Airlines is introducing a new onboard experience called “United Elevated” for its upcoming Boeing 787-9 deliveries. The design reflects a full interior refresh, offering more premium seating than any other United widebody and new upgrades across all cabin classes. The first deliveries are expected by the end of 2025, with initial international routes launching in 2026 from San Francisco (SFO) to both Singapore (SIN) and London (LHR).
The new layout of the Elevated 787-9 prioritizes premium seating and flexibility for different types of travelers. Each aircraft will include:
- 8 United Polaris Studio suites (1-2-1 layout)
- 56 United Polaris business class suites (1-2-1 layout)
- 35 United Premium Plus seats (2-3-2 layout)
- 33 United Economy Plus seats (3-3-3 layout)
- 90 United Economy seats (3-3-3 layout)
This brings the total premium seat count to 99—more than on any other United aircraft. The new layout increases both the number and variety of premium seating options while keeping a balanced offering for economy class passengers.
All of United’s future 787 deliveries will get United Polaris Studio suites and Elevated interiors, and the airline expects about 30 of these planes to join its fleet by 2027, but United will not retroit existing 787-9s in the fleet.
United Polaris Studio
United Polaris Studio will be a new premium business class product located in the first row of each business cabin section. These suites, based on the Adient Ascent platform, are 25% larger than standard Polaris seats and include a privacy door, companion seating with a belted ottoman (on 6/8 seats), and a 27-inch 4K OLED screen, the largest available on any US carrier. Other features include wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, digital seat controls, and elevated finishes like quartzite tables and wool-blend upholstery.
Polaris Studio passengers also receive upgraded amenities including Perricone MD skincare kits, United-branded playing cards, Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, a velvet throw pillow, and exclusive hoodie-pajamas and slippers. Additional perks include preferred boarding with Global Services guests, access to the Global Reception area, and eligibility for United’s tarmac transfer program. The food and beverage experience includes an amuse-bouche of Ossetra caviar paired with Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé and a specialty post-dessert snack box.
United Polaris
The standard United Polaris cabin is also getting an upgrade. All seats will be enclosed suites with sliding doors and lie-flat beds, and passengers can choose between seats facing the window or the aisle, depending on their privacy preferences. Each suite has a 19-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth, wireless charging, and refreshed design touches.
United’s signature sundae cart will continue flying, now with rotating Tillamook ice cream flavors and new toppings throughout the year. A new grab-and-go snack bar in the back of the cabin will offer “updated” snacks.
United Premium Plus
United’s premium economy product sees its biggest redesign to date. The expanded new seats will include soft-touch surfaces, quartzite cocktail tables, a 16-inch 4K OLED screen, wireless charging, Bluetooth, and multiple power options. The cabin also introduces privacy dividers with integrated reading lights, along with added storage for water bottles and headphones.
United Economy
The Economy and Economy Plus cabins will feature 13-inch 4K OLED screens (the largest available in economy class) Bluetooth at every seat, and six power outlets per row. The seats have also been reengineered with a cradle-style recline for improved comfort. Food service is getting an upgrade too, with new entrées, appetizers, desserts, and improved presentation.
Starlink Connectivity
United’s new 787-9s with the Elevated interior will be among the first widebody aircraft in the fleet to offer free Starlink internet for MileagePlus members. The satellite-based system provides global coverage, including over oceans and remote areas where traditional inflight connectivity has struggled. The service aims to offer faster and more reliable speeds, making it a better fit for long-haul international travel.
CONCLUSION
While details have been leaking out this week, this marks official confirmation that United is debuting a new “United Elevated” cabin interior on the 787-9 with sliding-door seats in business class, an expanded premium economy section, a new premium seat within business class, and wider screens in all cabins.
I’ll be reporting on the seats firsthand later today…stay tuned.
Looks good, a nice evolution rather than revolution. I wonder if F will make a return at carriers given the vast investment in J+ products. J+ slowly evolving into F.
It looks like a great product, especially the touches with the business suites, sort-of taking a page out of AF’s book. Would be interesting to see how much extra UA would charge for the suites as AF charge around $300-600 from what I’ve seen from my travels and is reasonably priced for access to the LP lounge and car transfer at CDG.
Welcome to Brooklyn, hope you got a media pass and didn’t have to pay 40,000 miles for a ticket to tonight’s event. Shocking they didn’t hold this in Newark, no love for NJPAC I guess. Too bad the Concorde isn’t still at the Navy Yard, was fun to see it there last year while it was being refurbished. Getting to the Navy Yard is actually kind of like getting to EWR- theoretically possible by public transportation but much easier by car.
This will be a niche product on a small subset of UA’s 787 fleet of which every aircraft will be in service for at least a decade more; if they won’t retrofit it to 787 aircraft, it certainly won’t get on the 7772/ER fleet and likely not the 777W fleet until perhaps the last decade of that fleet’s life.
Large screens in coach are very hard on the eyes unless the seat pitch is increased – which it won’t be.
still think an F-O_Y config would work best
You capture the high end premium leisure, the medium premium leisure and business travelers, as well as the cheapskates in the back
Businesses do not pay for J any longer. No reason to keep business class. Instead, invest in an industry leading premium economy product
Unless you are Denver Airport…
Old Denver airport
Those employees really hit the lottery
But seriously, an O cabin of 2-2-2 on the dreamliners with 45 inches of pitch would be a meaningful upgrade over Y, but in no way be comparable with F
As far as I’m concerned, United is just kicking Delta’s butt.
I know you are posting this in multiple places but Delta One Suites have been flying for almost 10 years. AA has its first aircraft in service with Suites this year. UA is hoping to have a couple by the end of the year when DL will reach 6 dozen 350s and 339s – before the 350-1000s enter service next year potentially with a new business class seat which could be the basis for retrofitting the 330CEOs.
As with most of the other strategies that UA has implemented over the past decade, it is pretty obvious UA that is copying DL multiple years after the fact.
UA had business class lounges before DL and a larger international network but in terms of quality of product, DL has led for more than a decade.
Many travel writers believe the DL Suites product on the A350-900 is the best business class product on US airlines.
speaking of the new O seats
are they still going to be 38 inches of pitch, or is the pitch being increased to 40-42 as most top notch carriers are going to these days?
I dislike all the Delta business class seats. Even on tbe A359, I feel too close to the PTV and in bed mode I’m on the floor looking up at the screen. I prefer even the current Polaris product to anything Delta offers.