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, ....
#406
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 8,729
I think there's a separate thread discussing it, but I think it looks great. And unlike the folks who were blessed with not being vertically challenged, I highly doubt I will personally have any issues with it

#407
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: 64,423
Yes
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-revealed.html
Let's use that thread for discussion of the Polaris seat version of the 763
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-revealed.html
Let's use that thread for discussion of the Polaris seat version of the 763
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
#408
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,747
I find it ironic that none of the Polaris seated aircraft fly from the only Polaris lounge in Chicago. In other words it is impossible to experience the full Polaris experience in 2017.
You can either fly a Polaris seated aircraft or visit a Polaris lounge, but United doesn't see the need to combine the two. A pretty disjointed rollout if you ask me.
That being said, I really enjoy the Polaris lounge at ORD and have even booked a bit longer layover to visit the lounge in the past.
Zeug
You can either fly a Polaris seated aircraft or visit a Polaris lounge, but United doesn't see the need to combine the two. A pretty disjointed rollout if you ask me.
That being said, I really enjoy the Polaris lounge at ORD and have even booked a bit longer layover to visit the lounge in the past.
Zeug
I like the lounge and have connected through only because of being able to flug on the Queen of the Sky's, but with their retirement I'm connecting through SFO to catch the 77W
#409
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 688
My ORD-NRT flight on this Monday 8/14 is showing the Polaris seat configuration (777-200). Have there been any reports of the Polaris config flying out of ORD yet?
Last edited by 1015-1k; Aug 12, 17 at 10:27 pm
#410
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 19,811
The flight is currently scheduled to be operated by N2341U, which, to answer your question, actually flew SFO-ORD yesterday, ORD-EWR earlier today, and is on its way to GRU now.
Good news for people up front; not so good for people in the back.
#411
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 688
The Polaris seat configuration is not yet available on any 777-200. It looks like your flight has been swapped for a Polaris 777-300ER. When that happens, the seat map updates but the text generally doesn't.
The flight is currently scheduled to be operated by N2341U, which, to answer your question, actually flew SFO-ORD yesterday, ORD-EWR earlier today, and is on its way to GRU now.
Good news for people up front; not so good for people in the back.
The flight is currently scheduled to be operated by N2341U, which, to answer your question, actually flew SFO-ORD yesterday, ORD-EWR earlier today, and is on its way to GRU now.
Good news for people up front; not so good for people in the back.
[As an example: crew couldn't figure out how to show the video safety message and resorted to a manual process. Even more difficult for them to find and use the manual props. Looks like some refresher training courses are in order]
Last edited by 1015-1k; Aug 14, 17 at 11:45 am Reason: Update
#412
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: UA Million Mile, Mileage Plus Premier 1K, SkyMiles Gold Medallion, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 875
Any word on when the first 772 is going in to get the new seats? UA is still saying the first 772 will be converted by winter 2017. Since 3 months are needed for the first plane, that would mean it has to go in by early-mid September.
#413
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,622
Best guess is that you are correct when they can remove some from the summer schedule, expect a early 2018 rollout. I also don't think they will have many issues getting it certified as the 772 and 773 cabin widths and distance between doors are the same
#414
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,747
Thanks for the info, jsloan. Confirmed aircraft swap. Sitting in bulkhead Polaris class. Captain asked the [presumably ORD-based] crew whether they'd flown on a 777-300 yet. Nope, they said it was their first time. They're trying to figure out the unique features of the plane, displaying a bit of confusion. Everyone's got a first time!
[As an example: crew couldn't figure out how to show the video safety message and resorted to a manual process. Even more difficult for them to find and use the manual props. Looks like some refresher training courses are in order]
[As an example: crew couldn't figure out how to show the video safety message and resorted to a manual process. Even more difficult for them to find and use the manual props. Looks like some refresher training courses are in order]
#415
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,913
Scheduled to fly in two days on a sUA 772, IAD-MUC and the E+ bulkhead, 20B. Just received a text from United stating that there's an aircraft swap with new seat assignment. Yikes! Now flying on a Polaris 777-300 ER in seat 19C. I swore that I would not fly on one of these planes in economy. I've only flown in Polaris biz on them. I wouldn't have booked this itinerary if I would have known that I'd be in economy. At least, I'm sitting in one of the " best of the worst economy seats" and it's a TATL and not a TPAC.
Also, surprised to see this plane on this route since sUA is flying IAD-MUC for the time being.
Also, surprised to see this plane on this route since sUA is flying IAD-MUC for the time being.
#416
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 493
Scheduled to fly in two days on a sUA 772, IAD-MUC and the E+ bulkhead, 20B. Just received a text from United stating that there's an aircraft swap with new seat assignment. Yikes! Now flying on a Polaris 777-300 ER in seat 19C. I swore that I would not fly on one of these planes in economy. I've only flown in Polaris biz on them. I wouldn't have booked this itinerary if I would have known that I'd be in economy. At least, I'm sitting in one of the " best of the worst economy seats" and it's a TATL and not a TPAC.
Also, surprised to see this plane on this route since sUA is flying IAD-MUC for the time being.
Also, surprised to see this plane on this route since sUA is flying IAD-MUC for the time being.
#417
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1K 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Ti, LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 54,638
#419
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1K 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Ti, LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 54,638
#420
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 19,811