CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) is set to revolutionize its premium cabin experience with the introduction of a new business class product on its upcoming Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner deliveries in May 2025. The aircraft will feature an unprecedented 64 business class seats, establishing a new benchmark for premium capacity among U.S. carriers.
This strategic move comes as United prepares to receive 140 new Boeing 787s, which will both expand their fleet and replace aging 767 and 777-200 aircraft. Aviation sources indicate the new premium-heavy configuration will debut in early May, featuring door-equipped suites and advanced amenities like wireless charging, flagged ViewfromtheWing.
United 787-9 New Business Class
United’s new 787-9 configuration represents a significant premium capacity increase compared to its current fleet and competitors.
The existing United 787-9s offer 48 business class seats, while American Airlines (AA) currently provides 30 business seats on their 787-9s, with plans to increase to 51 on new deliveries. United’s upcoming configuration will offer 25% more business class seats than American’s new layout and double the premium capacity of Delta Air Lines’ (DL) Airbus A350-900.
The new business class seats will feature sliding privacy doors and wireless charging capabilities, addressing previous concerns about United’s current Polaris product, which was viewed as merely competitive rather than industry-leading when introduced in 2017, Live and Let’s Fly confirmed.
The cabin layout will include two distinct business class sections with a combination of herringbone and reverse herringbone seating arrangements, likely using the Adient Ascent seat platform—the same model selected by Hawaiian Airlines (HA) and American Airlines for their latest premium cabins.
Enhanced Premium Economy Offering
Beyond the business class transformation, United is significantly expanding its premium economy product on these aircraft.
The new configuration will feature 35 premium economy seats arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, representing an increase of 14 seats over their current 787-9 design. This premium-focused strategy aligns with industry trends showing premium economy as a revenue sweet spot—delivering increased yields without requiring the substantial real estate dedicated to business class.
The premium-heavy configuration comes at the expense of economy seating, with 123 economy seats (39 being extra-legroom Economy Plus) representing a reduction of 65 standard economy positions.
Overall, the aircraft gains 39 premium seats while only losing 26 total seats, demonstrating United’s commitment to higher-yield premium segments.
United’s Premium Evolution Strategy
United Airlines has been methodically enhancing its premium offerings over recent years, upgrading business class bedding, amenity kits, and establishing new standards for business class wine service among U.S. carriers.
The airline has recognized that investment in superior catering positively impacts premium ticket sales, supporting their strategic pivot toward brand loyalty and premium positioning.
The current Polaris business class seat, while offering direct aisle access and a pleasant cabin ambiance, has fallen behind competitive offerings from Delta, Air France, British Airways, and even United’s joint venture partners Air Canada and Lufthansa.
The airline began exploring door-equipped seat options three years ago and collected customer feedback on new designs in 2022, suggesting this upgrade has been long anticipated.
Featured Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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