May 29, 2017, 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 4, 2017, 7:46 pm
#61
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
The only thing I can say about this is that United's seat, while new in layout, is really not anything different from a passenger perspective as the reverse-herringbone seats most airlines are installing. I cannot possibly see how the feedback from this seat could possibly be negative compared to the forward/backward mess AA tried installing and the seats that DL have.
As for the AF seat, that new seat was a minor upgrade of a 10 year old non-lie-flat non-aisle-access design. It was obvious from the moment it was being installed it would be replaced quickly.
At that time, as mentioned, KLM put in new J seats without aisle access in a 2-2-2 (or 2-2) configuration and called it the "New World Business Class". Those seats aren't awful - similar to LH's business class - but they are clearly a cut below especially since KLM doesn't offer a F product. Instead of just continuing with those seats though, they instead brought a completely different 1-2-1 seat concept (a lot more similar to D1 and AF's new J) to the 787.
I think my point here is that these things aren't cast in stone and decisions can certainly be overturned much quicker than one may think *if* there's the corporate will to do it.
Feb 4, 2017, 8:50 pm
#62
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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While the Cirrus seat is very spacious, I find it a bit exposed to the aisle. As you say, we'll have to see how Polaris compares. The odd-numbered windows should be more private than the Cirrus, though they will also likely feel a bit more claustrophobic.
Feb 4, 2017, 9:06 pm
#63
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
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Posts: 4,637
I just hope that the cushioning on the Polaris seats matches that of the sUA IPTE seats. These old bones need that!
Feb 4, 2017, 10:08 pm
#64
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
By most reports, the reverse herringbone (e.g., Cirrus) has been surpassed by the Apex Suite used by KE and JL.
While the Cirrus seat is very spacious, I find it a bit exposed to the aisle. As you say, we'll have to see how Polaris compares. The odd-numbered windows should be more private than the Cirrus, though they will also likely feel a bit more claustrophobic.
While the Cirrus seat is very spacious, I find it a bit exposed to the aisle. As you say, we'll have to see how Polaris compares. The odd-numbered windows should be more private than the Cirrus, though they will also likely feel a bit more claustrophobic.
Apex suite is great for the extra privacy of the window and middle seats, but you have someone directly next to you even for the window seats.
The 1-2-1 staggered layout like ANA is a compromise between the two. Each row has one window and one middle seat that are more private than the other two.
Feb 4, 2017, 10:47 pm
#65
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
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Posts: 2,350
Chinese New Year. Everything to and from HKG was empty.
This 100 times over. The UA seats are so comfortable. I know everyone whines about the 2-4-2, but the bottom line is they are comfortable to sit in, and comfortable to sleep in, even if you're taller. As I keep saying, I don't care if it's a 10-10-10 configuration if I can sleep comfortably.
This 100 times over. The UA seats are so comfortable. I know everyone whines about the 2-4-2, but the bottom line is they are comfortable to sit in, and comfortable to sleep in, even if you're taller. As I keep saying, I don't care if it's a 10-10-10 configuration if I can sleep comfortably.
Last edited by Pat89339; Feb 5, 2017 at 3:56 am Reason: Consecutive posts
Feb 5, 2017, 3:56 am
#66
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Posts: 14,473
Feb 5, 2017, 6:33 am
#67
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
At that time, as mentioned, KLM put in new J seats without aisle access in a 2-2-2 (or 2-2) configuration and called it the "New World Business Class". Those seats aren't awful - similar to LH's business class - but they are clearly a cut below especially since KLM doesn't offer a F product.
Feb 5, 2017, 6:59 am
#68
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,508
I echo this as well on the cushioning, flew UA 787 down to Australia, then flew TG 787, I had same bulkhead seats on same planes, and I was able to get a much better sleep on the UA 787 seat.
Feb 5, 2017, 7:13 am
#69
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,581
Smisek's dead hand is going to negatively impact UA for years to come, sadly.
Feb 5, 2017, 9:23 am
#70
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And the sUA IPTE seat referenced in the thread you quote is a completely different, proprietary UA seat.
Feb 5, 2017, 4:26 pm
#71
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SEA, WAS, PEK
Programs: UA 3K UGS 3MM
Posts: 2,176
GS who simply fly UA to upgrade from biz dilute their yield per square inch by about half when that upgrade clears - F seat takes about 2x the space of a current biz seat.
I don't see many GS who can use P fares as a substitute for most of their travel. The fare restrictions / availability aren't flexible enough.
More likely a GS who mixes in P would end up paying about 33% less, as noted by the example upthread.
And the yield per square inch could then be even higher than current given the floor space difference.
Another part of the equation...J fliers who booked away because of the cramped 2x4/5x2 setups, and who now have a new alternative on UA.
What I can say with certainty.
This is good news to the shareholders / owners / clients of companies where employees are wasting money buying more expensive J fares to sit in the F seat for a J price that fits in policy.
I'm not hearing many complaints here from GS who paid full F fares the majority of the time they rode in F. Which is what's required to make 2x the floorspace viable. The Groupon model of 'buy J, ride in F 80% of the time' doesn't work to support a cabin.
Maybe there are a few routes where it's viable, a la AA's small setup, but not seeing evidence to support the scale of UA's current F footprint, or making radical adjustments to the proposed seat layout. Going to the Super Diamond wouldn't be a terribly radical step.
I don't see many GS who can use P fares as a substitute for most of their travel. The fare restrictions / availability aren't flexible enough.
More likely a GS who mixes in P would end up paying about 33% less, as noted by the example upthread.
And the yield per square inch could then be even higher than current given the floor space difference.
Another part of the equation...J fliers who booked away because of the cramped 2x4/5x2 setups, and who now have a new alternative on UA.
What I can say with certainty.
This is good news to the shareholders / owners / clients of companies where employees are wasting money buying more expensive J fares to sit in the F seat for a J price that fits in policy.
I'm not hearing many complaints here from GS who paid full F fares the majority of the time they rode in F. Which is what's required to make 2x the floorspace viable. The Groupon model of 'buy J, ride in F 80% of the time' doesn't work to support a cabin.
Maybe there are a few routes where it's viable, a la AA's small setup, but not seeing evidence to support the scale of UA's current F footprint, or making radical adjustments to the proposed seat layout. Going to the Super Diamond wouldn't be a terribly radical step.
Feb 6, 2017, 9:39 am
#72
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,629
I'm wondering about a few things on this thread>
1.) I don't see how 772 and 763 can have the same Polaris seat count as current sCO seats.
2.) As for the 763/764, with all aisle access being the issue why can't 1-2-1 be considered with a slight angle rework of the sCO seats? with one seat removed from each row, angle can be increased to add more rows. Polaris accents can be added without the seat.
3.) sCO seats are different for 787 and 772 with 787 having narrower seat. Assume this could be done on 787 Polaris. Don't quite get the single seat in the middle as it would remove at least 20 inches vs. 2 seats (you only need 14 inches for the 787 vs. 772.)
4.) Wonder if 3 class 763s should just get Polaris in front (if Polaris is coming) and leave the back as is with addition of power outlets and PDE. Or just pull the GF seats and put in sCO 767 seats in either 1-2-1 as suggested above or in current 2-1-2 setup. It would be a lot cheaper for these old aircraft.
1.) I don't see how 772 and 763 can have the same Polaris seat count as current sCO seats.
2.) As for the 763/764, with all aisle access being the issue why can't 1-2-1 be considered with a slight angle rework of the sCO seats? with one seat removed from each row, angle can be increased to add more rows. Polaris accents can be added without the seat.
3.) sCO seats are different for 787 and 772 with 787 having narrower seat. Assume this could be done on 787 Polaris. Don't quite get the single seat in the middle as it would remove at least 20 inches vs. 2 seats (you only need 14 inches for the 787 vs. 772.)
4.) Wonder if 3 class 763s should just get Polaris in front (if Polaris is coming) and leave the back as is with addition of power outlets and PDE. Or just pull the GF seats and put in sCO 767 seats in either 1-2-1 as suggested above or in current 2-1-2 setup. It would be a lot cheaper for these old aircraft.
Last edited by Bunky; Feb 6, 2017 at 9:44 am
Feb 6, 2017, 2:30 pm
#74
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the current GF perhaps. The scariest thing in this thread is all those new 788/9 with last decade's Biz seat...by choice!
Feb 6, 2017, 4:18 pm
#75
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Kirby from AA just accelerated the retirement of the backbone of the 3 cabin first fleet (747s - fewer birds - but about same total F seats as 772s), deeming the 773 sufficient.
And sounds like may decide to tweak the 2 cabin J seat that's offered.
DL and AA don't operate under a model that relies on needing to offer F cabin space for a J price, and neither will UA when this is done, leaving behind one of its last vestiges of the bankruptcy era.