May 29, 17, 1:21 pm
Last edit by: kirkwoodj
Check the current status of aircraft reconfigured (or delivered) with new Polaris seats: http://view.ceros.com/united/polaris...-desktop-4/p/3.
A Polaris Update and Polaris Mod Schedule to indicate the status of specific aircraft are maintained by those that manage the United Airlines Fleet Website.
Except for 773- and 781-operated flights, and those markets selling Premium Plus, Polaris-equipped planes have not been allocated to specific routes. You won't know until approx. 36-48 hours before departure if you'll have a newly reconfigured aircraft, and even then, it may be replaced with a non-retrofitted aircraft.
777-300ER - All 22 aircraft have Polaris (60 seats) and installation of Premium Plus cabins (24 seats) is complete.
767-300ER - As of September 2020, 31 of the 38 aircraft have been reconfigured with the Polaris seats.
- Retrofit is from 3-cabin to 2-cabin with direct-aisle-access seats. No 3-cabin 767s remain in service.
- 76A configuration is 30J/50Y+/134Y, total of 214; fleet to consist of 17 ships (former 3-cabin 767s).
- 76L configuration is 46J/22PE/47Y+/52Y; fleet to consist of 21 ships (18 former 2-cabin 76C and 3 used ships from Hawaiian).
767-400ER - [16 aircraft] None updated yet; modifications put on hold due to Covid-19.
777-200ER - As of September 2020, 46 of the 50 aircraft have been reconfigured with Polaris and Premium Plus seats.
- Configuration is 50 Polaris seats, 32 in the front cabin and 18 in the second cabin (behind 2L/R)
- Configuration is 10 across in economy, with 24 Premium Plus seats, 4686 E+ seats and 156 E seats, with E+ in front economy cabin plus exit rows and bulkhead at 3L/R, i.e., almost the same as current pmCO planes, except with 4 seats in middle section.
- Seat map (v5) on united.com
787-8, 787-9 - As of November 2022, all 787-8/9 are converted or in mod. No chance of flying old configuration anymore.
- 788 configuration has 28 Polaris seats (20 in front cabin, 8 in rear mini-cabin), and 21 Premium Plus seats (2-3-2).
- 789 configuration has 48 Polaris seats (32 in front cabin, 16 in rear mini-cabin), and 21 Premium Plus seats (2-3-2).
787-10 - 13 787-10s have been delivered in 2020. All come with Polaris and Premium Plus cabins factory-installed. Another 19 should be added by 2024.
FAQ:
Q: Does a Polaris ticket mean the aircraft has the new Polaris seat?
A: No, Polaris is the label UA uses for long haul international business class. It is also the label UA uses for the new seats, so this does create some confusion.
All the 773s and 787-10s are 100% the new seat.
The rest of the long haul fleet in various stages of conversion, see http://view.ceros.com/united/polaris...-desktop-4/p/3
Q: How to tell if my aircraft is the new style Polaris seats?
A: If the unassigned business class section is showing orange seats or all the seats are side-by-side or there is a section for 4 adjacent seats in the middle, this is an old style lie-flat aircreaft
If the unassigned bussines class seats are dark blue seats or the all the seats appear to have direct aisle access, then you aircraft is the new Polaris seat.
You can also look at the FT maintained, United Fleet Site and crosscheck the tail number or check thePolaris Update tab
Q: How to tell if my aircraft has the new PremiumPlus (PP) / Premium Economy seats?
A: If the unassigned seats just behind business class are purple seats or the aircraft is 773 or 787-10, then yes. However, the purple color seat will only show on routes where PP is being sold.
Aircraft with PP seats are being used on some routes but are not being sold as PP. In those cases, the seats are considered to be a part of E+. In those cases, an indicator of PP sold as E+ will be if the first few rows of economy, there are just 2 seats on the sides (with the rest of E+ showing 3 seats).
Q: Will the aircraft I see at booking be the same configuration at flight time?
A: Unfortunately with the fleet in transit, aircraft swaps happen. UA tends to use placeholders until 2 days before travel and even after that last minute swaps do happen.
Q: My flight seat map shows 772 with polaris seats is it a retrofit?
A: Possibly. The flight status page shows the most accurate scheduled aircraft. If a 77W is swapped in, it will list the aircraft as 777-300ER. However, if the 772's seatmap shows blue rectangular boxes in the business class cabin instead of orange "pointy rounds", this would indicate that a retrofit aircraft has been swapped.
See also: United Future/Changed Routes w/ Polaris seats
A Polaris Update and Polaris Mod Schedule to indicate the status of specific aircraft are maintained by those that manage the United Airlines Fleet Website.
Except for 773- and 781-operated flights, and those markets selling Premium Plus, Polaris-equipped planes have not been allocated to specific routes. You won't know until approx. 36-48 hours before departure if you'll have a newly reconfigured aircraft, and even then, it may be replaced with a non-retrofitted aircraft.
777-300ER - All 22 aircraft have Polaris (60 seats) and installation of Premium Plus cabins (24 seats) is complete.
767-300ER - As of September 2020, 31 of the 38 aircraft have been reconfigured with the Polaris seats.
- Retrofit is from 3-cabin to 2-cabin with direct-aisle-access seats. No 3-cabin 767s remain in service.
- 76A configuration is 30J/50Y+/134Y, total of 214; fleet to consist of 17 ships (former 3-cabin 767s).
- 76L configuration is 46J/22PE/47Y+/52Y; fleet to consist of 21 ships (18 former 2-cabin 76C and 3 used ships from Hawaiian).
767-400ER - [16 aircraft] None updated yet; modifications put on hold due to Covid-19.
777-200ER - As of September 2020, 46 of the 50 aircraft have been reconfigured with Polaris and Premium Plus seats.
- Configuration is 50 Polaris seats, 32 in the front cabin and 18 in the second cabin (behind 2L/R)
- Configuration is 10 across in economy, with 24 Premium Plus seats, 46
- Seat map (v5) on united.com
787-8, 787-9 - As of November 2022, all 787-8/9 are converted or in mod. No chance of flying old configuration anymore.
- 788 configuration has 28 Polaris seats (20 in front cabin, 8 in rear mini-cabin), and 21 Premium Plus seats (2-3-2).
- 789 configuration has 48 Polaris seats (32 in front cabin, 16 in rear mini-cabin), and 21 Premium Plus seats (2-3-2).
787-10 - 13 787-10s have been delivered in 2020. All come with Polaris and Premium Plus cabins factory-installed. Another 19 should be added by 2024.
FAQ:
Q: Does a Polaris ticket mean the aircraft has the new Polaris seat?
A: No, Polaris is the label UA uses for long haul international business class. It is also the label UA uses for the new seats, so this does create some confusion.
All the 773s and 787-10s are 100% the new seat.
The rest of the long haul fleet in various stages of conversion, see http://view.ceros.com/united/polaris...-desktop-4/p/3
Q: How to tell if my aircraft is the new style Polaris seats?
A: If the unassigned business class section is showing orange seats or all the seats are side-by-side or there is a section for 4 adjacent seats in the middle, this is an old style lie-flat aircreaft
If the unassigned bussines class seats are dark blue seats or the all the seats appear to have direct aisle access, then you aircraft is the new Polaris seat.
You can also look at the FT maintained, United Fleet Site and crosscheck the tail number or check thePolaris Update tab
Q: How to tell if my aircraft has the new PremiumPlus (PP) / Premium Economy seats?
A: If the unassigned seats just behind business class are purple seats or the aircraft is 773 or 787-10, then yes. However, the purple color seat will only show on routes where PP is being sold.
Aircraft with PP seats are being used on some routes but are not being sold as PP. In those cases, the seats are considered to be a part of E+. In those cases, an indicator of PP sold as E+ will be if the first few rows of economy, there are just 2 seats on the sides (with the rest of E+ showing 3 seats).
Q: Will the aircraft I see at booking be the same configuration at flight time?
A: Unfortunately with the fleet in transit, aircraft swaps happen. UA tends to use placeholders until 2 days before travel and even after that last minute swaps do happen.
Q: My flight seat map shows 772 with polaris seats is it a retrofit?
A: Possibly. The flight status page shows the most accurate scheduled aircraft. If a 77W is swapped in, it will list the aircraft as 777-300ER. However, if the 772's seatmap shows blue rectangular boxes in the business class cabin instead of orange "pointy rounds", this would indicate that a retrofit aircraft has been swapped.
See also: United Future/Changed Routes w/ Polaris seats
✨ Polaris (& PP) Retrofits: Schedule, ....
Feb 7, 22, 7:12 pm
#2566
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Gold, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 104
The other thread was about 777s. By end of March the conversion will be roughly 90% done and most 789 routes will be selling PremPlus.
UA880 is selling PremPlus as a separate cabin today, once UA has converted a flight / route to offering PremPlus, it has rarely reversed direction, thought occasional aircraft storage may cause a last second swap but the 789s non-PremPLus will be rare by end of March. UA880 28 March is offering PremPlus as a paid cabin.
UA880 is selling PremPlus as a separate cabin today, once UA has converted a flight / route to offering PremPlus, it has rarely reversed direction, thought occasional aircraft storage may cause a last second swap but the 789s non-PremPLus will be rare by end of March. UA880 28 March is offering PremPlus as a paid cabin.
Feb 7, 22, 8:00 pm
#2567
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 4,496
Feb 22, 22, 8:14 pm
#2568
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Delaware
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 1,297
Currently there are 7 789s with the old configuration. Based off of the average of 45 days per aircraft, and 3 aircraft in line at once, the following is a reasonable estimated timeline if the current trend contimues
22-Feb-22 (Today) 7 old-birds remaining
26-Feb-22 - 6 old-birds remaining
08-Mar-22 - 4 old-birds remaining
13-Apr-22 - 3 old-birds remaining
24-Apr-22 - 1 old-bird remaining
28-May-22 - Final old-birds in MOD - none in service.
14-Jul-22 - Project complete.
So figure 01-Jun-22 the only UA aircraft in service with the BE Diamond seats will be the 764s and 752s.
Also, historically, when there were only a handful of a certain configuration, they assign them to a specific route or specific flights. I specifically recall the sUA 763s with 2x2x2 in BF (and a few GF IIRC) being solely assigned to ORD-LHR flights when there were only a handful left, and when it was down to one left, it was on a specific ORD-LHR round trip daily. Now with the J seating counts being identical, they have more room to wiggle, but hopefully the desire to sell PE will limit that.
22-Feb-22 (Today) 7 old-birds remaining
26-Feb-22 - 6 old-birds remaining
08-Mar-22 - 4 old-birds remaining
13-Apr-22 - 3 old-birds remaining
24-Apr-22 - 1 old-bird remaining
28-May-22 - Final old-birds in MOD - none in service.
14-Jul-22 - Project complete.
So figure 01-Jun-22 the only UA aircraft in service with the BE Diamond seats will be the 764s and 752s.
Also, historically, when there were only a handful of a certain configuration, they assign them to a specific route or specific flights. I specifically recall the sUA 763s with 2x2x2 in BF (and a few GF IIRC) being solely assigned to ORD-LHR flights when there were only a handful left, and when it was down to one left, it was on a specific ORD-LHR round trip daily. Now with the J seating counts being identical, they have more room to wiggle, but hopefully the desire to sell PE will limit that.
Feb 22, 22, 8:20 pm
#2569
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,162
Currently there are 7 789s with the old configuration. Based off of the average of 45 days per aircraft, and 3 aircraft in line at once, the following is a reasonable estimated timeline if the current trend contimues
22-Feb-22 (Today) 7 old-birds remaining
26-Feb-22 - 6 old-birds remaining
08-Mar-22 - 4 old-birds remaining
13-Apr-22 - 3 old-birds remaining
24-Apr-22 - 1 old-bird remaining
28-May-22 - Final old-birds in MOD - none in service.
14-Jul-22 - Project complete.
So figure 01-Jun-22 the only UA aircraft in service with the BE Diamond seats will be the 764s and 752s.
Also, historically, when there were only a handful of a certain configuration, they assign them to a specific route or specific flights. I specifically recall the sUA 763s with 2x2x2 in BF (and a few GF IIRC) being solely assigned to ORD-LHR flights when there were only a handful left, and when it was down to one left, it was on a specific ORD-LHR round trip daily. Now with the J seating counts being identical, they have more room to wiggle, but hopefully the desire to sell PE will limit that.
22-Feb-22 (Today) 7 old-birds remaining
26-Feb-22 - 6 old-birds remaining
08-Mar-22 - 4 old-birds remaining
13-Apr-22 - 3 old-birds remaining
24-Apr-22 - 1 old-bird remaining
28-May-22 - Final old-birds in MOD - none in service.
14-Jul-22 - Project complete.
So figure 01-Jun-22 the only UA aircraft in service with the BE Diamond seats will be the 764s and 752s.
Also, historically, when there were only a handful of a certain configuration, they assign them to a specific route or specific flights. I specifically recall the sUA 763s with 2x2x2 in BF (and a few GF IIRC) being solely assigned to ORD-LHR flights when there were only a handful left, and when it was down to one left, it was on a specific ORD-LHR round trip daily. Now with the J seating counts being identical, they have more room to wiggle, but hopefully the desire to sell PE will limit that.
Mar 1, 22, 11:07 am
#2570
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,836
Why Still Using Non Polaris
I have been looking for flights to BKK for the summer in Business. I am still seeing 787-9 to Europe from Chicago and Tokyo from Denver with the old non Polaris seating. I cannot believe that all these years later, and with the down time during COVID that they are still using non converted planes on key routes. Are they ever going to complete the refit?
Mar 1, 22, 11:14 am
#2571
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,235
Only 7 birds remaining with non-Polaris seats. The chance of getting a non-Polaris birds decreases rapidly. The completion date is probably July, 2022, according to this post: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34016377-post2568.html
Mar 1, 22, 11:14 am
#2572
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,074
I have been looking for flights to BKK for the summer in Business. I am still seeing 787-9 to Europe from Chicago and Tokyo from Denver with the old non Polaris seating. I cannot believe that all these years later, and with the down time during COVID that they are still using non converted planes on key routes. Are they ever going to complete the refit?
So chances of non-Polaris 787-9 in the summer is highly unlikely.
UA is just being conservative on seatmaps until then. Most will change to Polaris seatmaps as things get closer.
The end is near.
Next up the 764s. (which originally were going to get retired).
Now just 6 in operations (3 in retrofit)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 1, 22 at 11:25 am Reason: merged
Mar 1, 22, 11:40 am
#2573
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,213
I have been looking for flights to BKK for the summer in Business. I am still seeing 787-9 to Europe from Chicago and Tokyo from Denver with the old non Polaris seating. I cannot believe that all these years later, and with the down time during COVID that they are still using non converted planes on key routes. Are they ever going to complete the refit?
Only 7 birds remaining with non-Polaris seats. The chance of getting a non-Polaris birds decreases rapidly. The completion date is probably July, 2022, according to this post: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34016377-post2568.html
Still surprised by some non-PS 789s showing up on dedicated Premium Economy routes. Just this past week two days SFO-FRA was operating on non-PS aircraft. Flight status displays PY cabin as "Full" "0 checked-in". Quite a let-down for pax who bought PY tickets.
Mar 2, 22, 8:17 pm
#2574
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 167
The reintroduction of the grounded 777 with the PW engines might free up sufficient non-PW 777s to cover the remaining non-PS 789 flights.
Still surprised by some non-PS 789s showing up on dedicated Premium Economy routes. Just this past week two days SFO-FRA was operating on non-PS aircraft. Flight status displays PY cabin as "Full" "0 checked-in". Quite a let-down for pax who bought PY tickets.
Still surprised by some non-PS 789s showing up on dedicated Premium Economy routes. Just this past week two days SFO-FRA was operating on non-PS aircraft. Flight status displays PY cabin as "Full" "0 checked-in". Quite a let-down for pax who bought PY tickets.
Mar 3, 22, 4:21 am
#2575
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,250
787-9 conversions have been steadily occurring and should be completed late June/ early July and effective no non-poalris 787-9 flights by May.
So chances of non-Polaris 787-9 in the summer is highly unlikely.
UA is just being conservative on seatmaps until then. Most will change to Polaris seatmaps as things get closer.
The end is near.
Next up the 764s. (which originally were going to get retired).
Now just 6 in operations (3 in retrofit)
So chances of non-Polaris 787-9 in the summer is highly unlikely.
UA is just being conservative on seatmaps until then. Most will change to Polaris seatmaps as things get closer.
The end is near.
Next up the 764s. (which originally were going to get retired).
Now just 6 in operations (3 in retrofit)
Mar 3, 22, 5:21 am
#2576
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 59,314
Mar 3, 22, 10:13 am
#2577
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,074
If the flight was FRA-SFO instead and UA chose to operate a non-PS aircraft, would this qualify for EU 261 compensation as a downgrade? How far in advance would they have to tell you for that to be valid? If it would then EU to US routes selling premium economy are as guaranteed as you could get right that you will in fact get what you paid for?
However,since all UA long hual have lie flat seats, don't see how a aircraft change would be considered eligible for compensation
If you have PremPlus (premium economy) reservation and that was changed, then that should qualify.
While not impossible for a 787-9 to change from new to older config, that is getting rarer due fewer old config and UA does generally try to protect the new config routes. The change would likely be day or two prior to departure and would be caused by some irrops issue.
The 787-9s were always scheduled to be the last of the conversions (but appears the 764s will not be retired, and will be next)
Mar 3, 22, 7:29 pm
#2578
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Delaware
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 1,297
I was thinking the same thing, but I suspect not. Not unless the contractor in XMN has the available manpower to cover an additional mod-line. Doing more lines with the same man-power means each bird will most likely take twice as long.
Mar 4, 22, 3:57 pm
#2579
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,213
Interesting. I was more referring to the fact that the grounded 777s are coming back into the system, which could allow to take the remaining 6 789s out of the schedule and replace them with the reintroduced 777s. Should be possible (theoretically at least) since the TPAC schedule is still very thin.
Mar 4, 22, 4:13 pm
#2580
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,074
Interesting. I was more referring to the fact that the grounded 777s are coming back into the system, which could allow to take the remaining 6 789s out of the schedule and replace them with the reintroduced 777s. Should be possible (theoretically at least) since the TPAC schedule is still very thin.
