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Old May 13, 2025, 10:36 am
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Last edit by: WineCountryUA
19 March 2026
Tickets on Sale Today for United's First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with Elevated Interior Flights
Photos(1)

Travelers can book seats later today on the airline's most premium aircraft yet, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with Elevated interior featuring the first United Polaris Studio suites, roomier seats, larger seatback screens and Bluetooth connectivity at every seat in every cabin

The inaugural international flight, UA1, is scheduled for April 22 from San Francisco to Singapore; tickets will be for sale later today on United.com and the United app

CHICAGO, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today, travelers can book seats on United's most premium international aircraft yet the 787-9 Dreamliner with the United Elevated interior. Unveiled last May, this new aircraft has been redesigned from nose-to-tail with 99 total premium seats the highest of percentage among U.S. carriers and marks the introduction of the airline's new United Polaris Studio℠ suites: eight, lie-flat, all-aisle-access seats that are 25% larger than standard United Polaris seats with privacy doors*, an extra ottoman seat, exclusive entre options, an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, new amenity kits with elevated skincare offerings, wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and a huge 27-inch, 4K OLED seatback screen the largest among U.S. carriers.



The aircraft will take its inaugural international flight for customers from San Francisco to Singapore, UA1, on April 22. It will launch its second international route from San Francisco to London, UA901, later next month on April 30. Over the next few weeks, customers may see the plane flying on select domestic routes between San Francisco and Houston as the plane prepares for international service.

"The new era of premium air travel is coming soon with our first Elevated aircraft taking flight next month. Our new aircraft redefines international long-haul flying, providing travelers upgraded amenities and experiences in every cabin," said Andrew Nocella, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at United. "We're constantly pioneering new ways to differentiate our customers' experience in every seat, and we're confident they will love it."

An Elevated Experience at Every Seat

Whether flying up in United Polaris or in United Economy, customers will notice thoughtful upgrades designed to make long-haul travel better, including:

Eight new United Polaris Studio suites
  • United's most spacious business class seats
  • Fully lie-flat seats
  • Ottoman with a seatbelt for companions in six of the eight seats
  • Massive 27-inch 4K OLED seatback screen the largest of any U.S. airline with Bluetooth connectivity
  • Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, including duvet, day blanket, large pillow and cooling gel pillow
  • Exclusive hoodie-pajamas and slippers
  • New noise-cancelling headphones powered by Meridian technology
  • Amenity kits featuring clinically formulated Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ elevated skincare products
  • United-branded playing cards perfect for passing time with someone in the ottoman seat
56 United Polaris seats
  • Fully lie-flat seats
  • Choice in seats that face the window or center of the aircraft for individuals or joint travelers
  • 19-inch 4K OLED touchscreens with Bluetooth connectivity
  • United Polaris snack bar
35 United Premium Plus seats
  • Roomier seats with added privacy dividers and built-in reading light, a first for United Premium Plus
  • 16-inch 4K OLED touchscreens with Bluetooth connectivity
  • Wireless charging
  • Upgraded dining and amenities
39 Economy Plus and 84 Economy seats
  • 13-inch 4K OLED seatback screens with Bluetooth connectivity at every seat
  • 6 power outlets per row
  • Larger overhead bins
To celebrate the inaugural flight, United will hold a gate event in San Francisco before the first international departure for customers. United will also be hosting tours of the aircraft for media next week ahead of the first commercial flight.

United plans to have at least 30 787-9's with the Elevated interior flying around the globe by the end of 2027.

Customers can view the seat map and purchase tickets at united.com and on the United app later today.

*Privacy doors are temporarily unavailable
================================================== =======================
13 May 2025
United Unveils the Elevated Aircraft Interior: Higher Standard of Premium International Travel Includes New Business Class Suites, Caviar Service and Largest Seatback Screens in the U.S. on new 787 Dreamliners
Photos(1)

New United Polaris Studio suites are 25% larger than United Polaris with privacy doors, extra ottoman for companions, 27-inch screens, luxury skincare amenities and exclusive caviar and wine pairing

New Boeing 787-9s with the United Elevated interior get a nose-to-tail transformation with the highest number of total premium seats in United's fleet, new United Polaris Studio suites, new United Polaris suites, updated United Premium Plus seats with privacy dividers and wireless charging, and largest economy seatback screens in the world

Delivery of first United 787-9 with the Elevated interior expected before the end of 2025 and first international passenger flights planned in 2026 from San Francisco to Singapore and San Francisco to London

All of United's future Boeing 787 deliveries will receive United Polaris Studio suites and Elevated interiors - airline expects at least 30 aircraft to join the fleet by 2027

NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today unveiled the United Elevated interior for new Boeing 787-9 aircraft that raises the standard of international premium travel among U.S. carriers and will include two, new business class suites, the greatest number of total premium seats in United's fleet, an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, Starlink connectivity and even larger 4K OLED seatback screens.



The airline's new United Polaris Studio suites are positioned in the first row of each business class section and total eight, lie-flat, all-aisle-access seats that are 25% larger than standard United Polaris with privacy doors, an extra ottoman seat for companions, exclusive entre options, an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, new amenity kits with luxury skincare offerings, wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and a huge 27-inch, 4K OLED seatback screen - the largest among U.S. carriers.

Standard United Polaris seats also get upgraded to suites with the addition of sliding doors and larger, 19-inch 4K OLED screens And all customers flying United Polaris business class have access to the airline's six award-winning United Polaris lounges across the system.

"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," said Andrew Nocella, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at United. "We never stand still and are always looking for more ways to set ourselves apart from other carriers. And we're confident this elevated experience will take international flying to new heights."

The reimagined Elevated interior on the 787-9 includes a nose-to-tail transformation - refined finishes and a fresher, brighter and warmer feel throughout - with something for everyone: 99 total premium seats - the highest percentage among U.S. carriers, United Premium Plus seats with privacy dividers and wireless charging, and a United Economy cabin with Bluetooth connectivity and the largest Economy class seatback screens in the world.

United has invested more than $150 million in total food and beverage improvements this year alone, and planes with the United Elevated interior will include access to a new, onboard grab-and-go snack bar for United Polaris business class customers that offers treats from brands like Garretts, Community, and Joe & Seph's, as well as United Polaris Studio-specific options like an amuse-bouche of Ossetra caviar paired with Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuve Ros. The airline also will introduce mid-flight meal options that include a regionally influenced tapas service. And customers in United Economy will see expanded dining options with three entre choices, new desserts, and an appetizer course.

United expects to take delivery of the first United 787-9 with the Elevated interior before the end of 2025 with the first international passenger flights planned in 2026 from San Francisco to Singapore and San Francisco to London. United is the largest carrier across the Atlantic and Pacific* and flies to 147 total international destinations. 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.

Aircraft with the Elevated interior will also be among the first United widebody planes to have free Starlink connectivity for United MileagePlus members. The service is ideal for international travel as it delivers fast, reliable internet access around the world, including over oceans, polar regions, and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals.

The first deliveries of 787-9 aircraft with the Elevated interior will include:
  • Eight United Polaris business class Studio suites
    • Two rows across two sections, 1-2-1 configuration
  • 56 United Polaris business class suites
    • 14 rows, across two sections, in a 1-2-1 configuration
    • Customers can choose between seats that face the window or center of the aircraft (ideal for individual travelers) and seats where all the suites face the aisle (perfect for those flying together)
  • 35 United Premium Plus seats, the most in United's fleet
    • 5 rows in a 2-3-2 configuration
  • 33 United Economy Plus seats and 90 United Economy seats
    • 15 total rows in a 3-3-3 configuration
The carrier's 787-9s currently have 48 United Polaris seats, 21 United Premium Plus seats, 39 United Economy Plus seats and 149 United Economy seats.

United Polaris Studio

Located in the first row of each business class section, United Polaris Studio will be priced differently than standard United Polaris and includes superior features and design elements. United Polaris Studio suites are larger and include an ottoman with a seatbelt for companions in six of the eight seats. Each United Polaris Studio suite also has a huge, 27-inch, 4K OLED touchscreen - the largest among U.S. carriers, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging as well as separate USB-C and electrical outlets. The suite also includes digital seat control options, quartzite tables, a soft, wool-blend seat and wood grain trim.

United Polaris Studio amenities are also upgraded, and include exclusive hoodie-pajamas and slippers on all flights, new noise-cancelling headphones powered by Meridian technology, amenity kits featuring clinically formulated Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ luxury skincare products, United-branded playing cards (ideal for passing the time with someone in the ottoman seat), a plush velvet throw pillow on the ottoman as well as Saks Fifth Avenue bedding that includes a duvet, day blanket, large pillow and cooling gel pillow.

And customers who book a United Polaris Studio suite have access to the airline's Global Reception area, receive preferred boarding alongside United Global Services customers and are eligible for United's tarmac transfer program.

United Polaris

The new standard United Polaris suites on aircraft with the Elevated interior are also upgraded with the addition of sliding doors, a 19-inch 4K OLED touchscreen with Bluetooth, four ways to charge devices including wireless, and digital seat controls. Each United Polaris suite offers all-aisle access, and breathable, wool-blend covered seats. And in a first among U.S. airlines, customers can choose between seats that face the window or the center of the aircraft, more suited for individual travelers who want even more privacy, or seats that face the aisle that have a divider that lowers all the way down to bed height - perfect for people flying together.

The famous United Polaris sundae cart also gets an upgrade with a rotation of limited time featured Tillamook ice cream flavors coupled with new toppings that will run throughout the year, alongside the customer favorite staple - classic vanilla bean.

United Premium Plus and United Economy

The United Premium Plus seats on aircraft with the Elevated interior also get a major upgrade by adding elements normally reserved for United Polaris customers including soft-touch materials, quartzite cocktail tables and a 16-inch 4K OLED screen. Customers also will enjoy Bluetooth and three ways to charge their personal devices, including wireless - the first time offered in United Premium Plus. The seats also include a dedicated water bottle and headphone holders, as well as a privacy divider with a built-in reading light - also a first for United Premium Plus.

United Economy Plus and United Economy customers on aircraft with the Elevated interior will all enjoy 13-inch, 4K OLED screens - the largest Economy class screens in the world. These cabins also include Bluetooth connectivity in every seat and six power outlets per row. Bringing in the same refreshed looks and feel from United's UPP cabin, customers in United Economy will be able to relax thanks to the seat's cradling seat bottom that moves as the seat reclines.

Investments in Food & Beverage

United's investments in its food and beverage program are paying off: customer satisfaction scores were up 12% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to last year. The team remains focused on creating high-quality onboard dining experiences with signature touches across all cabins, and the upgrades onboard Elevated aircraft are no different: in addition to the Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, United Polaris Studio customers will get a post-dessert, curated specialty snack box delivered to their seat that includes a mix of premium salty, sweet and savory treats, access to exclusive entre options and Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuve Ros.

The special food and beverage offerings that will be onboard Elevated aircraft build on the work already underway to enhance the dining experience for all United customers. United Polaris wine offerings are currently among the most premium of any U.S. airline, featuring exclusive relationships with brands like Heitz Cellar, Shafer Vineyards, Stony Hill Vineyard and Champagne Laurent-Perrier and rotating offerings from Domaine Serene, Chateau Beaucastel, VIK and The Mascot. United Polaris customers will also soon see more regional menus that rotate monthly as well as new breakfast breads, bottled salad dressings, updated mid-flight snack baskets and the addition of an Aperol Spritz to the drink menu. And international economy customers will soon enjoy enhancements like fresh salads with premium dressing, more entre choices, new desserts and a coursed appetizer that's served before full lunch/dinner.

Finally, United has launched new menus and completely overhauled onboard dishware with new dishes, glassware, cutlery, linens and seasonings - including red pepper flakes.

*as measured by available seat miles



https://www.aerolopa.com/ua-789

Pre-announcement discussion
United considering Polaris Plus Class?
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UA launches Elevated 787, Polaris Studio,Polaris Suites(SFO-SIN 22Apr, SFO-LHR 30Apr)

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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 11:12 am
  #796  
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N61101 is now going directly to LAX on Monday as UA 3876
N61103 is heading to IAH today as UA 3881. It is then scheduled for a flight to nowhere on Tuesday as UA 4200.
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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 2:14 pm
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Originally Posted by IAHMCI
N61101 is now going directly to LAX on Monday as UA 3876
N61103 is heading to IAH today as UA 3881. It is then scheduled for a flight to nowhere on Tuesday as UA 4200.
I saw that N61103 was also scheduled for a trip to VCV (FlightAware) followed by a hop to LAX. They now seem to have been canceled. Maybe its the case that #1103 will also end up at LAX this week.
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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 2:25 pm
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I wonder if the new 787-9 will be deployed on the the SFO-HKG route. Flying PE in October.
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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 3:00 pm
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Originally Posted by Syn3rgetic
I wonder if the new 787-9 will be deployed on the the SFO-HKG route. Flying PE in October.
There's been no announcement other than SFO<>SIN and SFO<>LHR. Plenty of speculation, of course

Here's the thread on the new configuration.
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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 3:40 pm
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How many 787-9s is UA taking delivery this year? Aren't all of them in the high-J layout?

How many do you need for a daily SFO-SIN run? Three? But they do double daily? Then SFO-LHR is either two or 1.5???
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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 3:53 pm
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Will any of these be used as an STC for Starlink?
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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 4:06 pm
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Originally Posted by hikouki
How many 787-9s is UA taking delivery this year? Aren't all of them in the high-J layout?

How many do you need for a daily SFO-SIN run? Three? But they do double daily? Then SFO-LHR is either two or 1.5???
There are plenty of discussions over in this thread. Perhaps we should leave this thread to discussions regarding seating on the 789 Polaris 1 config?
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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 9:51 pm
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Originally Posted by hikouki
How many 787-9s is UA taking delivery this year? Aren't all of them in the high-J layout?

How many do you need for a daily SFO-SIN run? Three? But they do double daily? Then SFO-LHR is either two or 1.5???
Now that the mods have kindly moved over the discussion to the proper thread

There are 2x SFO-SIN and 3x SFO-LHR. There was a discussion earlier up thread about which route and frequencies would get the new planes. The consensus seemed to be that SFO-SIN would be first and once more were delivered SFO-LHR would get added.
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Old Mar 15, 2026 | 11:00 pm
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Well, I now have UA1 booked in late June, so it's a safe bet that there's going to be some massive further delay pushing the launch out until July. Sorry to everyone who had hopes for the next three months or so!!
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Old Mar 16, 2026 | 12:21 am
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Originally Posted by Kacee
My experience with 1L on the 789 is that you not only hear the lav door slamming and the toilet flushing, you can feel the vibration through the seat. Those who do not notice or are not bothered by that should consider themselves fortunate.

They also don't do anything about flight attendants clomping down the aisle. On the best Asian carriers, the detailed attention to passenger experience includes FAs switching into soft soled shoes onboard the aircraft.
None of the bulkheads are ideal, and I certainly wouldn't pay extra to sit in any of them, but 1L would be my pick of the 4 because the curtain in front is actually the only solid curtain on board (assuming they keep the same curtains). As long as it's closed (which is a big IF as I usually have to close it myself), the noise and light isn't that bad. I'm not confident 1L will be the best seat onboard despite the larger footwell, but it's the only "studio" I'd be willing to experiment with.
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Old Mar 16, 2026 | 5:20 am
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I'm curious about the pricing for J+ as well as the structure. Will it be an add-on like Y-Y+, or a new set of fare classes??

Add me to the list who is looking forward to flying in this. We're taking a family trip EWR-HKG, TYO-EWR in summer 2027. I might go out of my way if we can score one of these birds either way. Wifey and myself in 1A1L, kiddos can slum it up in 2A2L.

Will any of these be used as an STC for Starlink?
When UA announced these planes, it was stated that they will have Starling factory installed. However I suspect that will not be the case.

Finally, we all want to fly in one of these, and that includes myself. Remember, there are about 47 Low-J 787-9s that need homes as well. Until they start to MOD the Polaris 1.0 birds, 2.0 will be the exception, not the norm.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 16, 2026 at 1:20 pm Reason: repaired quote
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Old Mar 16, 2026 | 5:55 am
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N61101 preparing to head to LAX this morning
N61101 preparing to head to LAX this morning
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Old Mar 16, 2026 | 8:04 am
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N61101 does not have the 100 yr anniversary decal.
N61101 does not have the 100 yr anniversary decal.
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Old Mar 16, 2026 | 11:37 am
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Originally Posted by IAHMCI
N61101 does not have the 100 yr anniversary decal.
N61101 does not have the 100 yr anniversary decal.
For that matter it looks like any other 789. Missed opportunity to do some branding for Polaris 2.
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Old Mar 16, 2026 | 12:22 pm
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Originally Posted by IAHMCI
N61101 does not have the 100 yr anniversary decal.
N61101 does not have the 100 yr anniversary decal.
I wnder what sort of Internet it's got installed? I'm sure someone here can identify the type of antenna we see there. It seems strange not to launch these with Starlink. But I guess it it's not yet certified on the 789 they're not going to want it to fly dark for months on end.
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