United Airlines is adding some extra bells and whistles to its new Boeing fleet.
The Chicago-based company announced that its Boeing 787-9 planes will offer a larger selection of premium seats as well as new suites, dubbed “United Polaris Studio.”
Positioned at the front of the business class section, the Polaris Studio suites will include a host of luxury amenities for travelers who are willing to dish out more money for the premium experience. Among the offerings are skincare kits, flatbed seating with ottomans, champagne service, and exclusive dining options including “curated food and drinks,” according to the United website.
Also included are wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity and 27-inch screens. United Polaris Studio seats will also be 25% larger than standard United Polaris seats and come with privacy doors, the airline said.
United posted its best quarterly performance in five years earlier this year, raking in $13.2 billion in first-quarter revenue.
Standard United Polaris seats — the tier below the new studio suites — will also see some upgrades, including 19-inch screens and sliding doors.
The Boeing 787-9 aircraft will have 99 premium seats total, the most of any in United’s fleet and the highest percentage among U.S. carriers, according to the airline. That number includes seating in eight United Polaris Studio and 56 United Polaris business class suites.
This nose-to-tail transformation comes as the luxury travel sector continues to expand. Demand for luxury tourism and hospitality is expected to grow faster than any other travel segment, according to a 2024 McKinsey & Company report.
The first international flights planned for the new Boeing aircraft will take off from San Francisco and travel to Singapore and London in 2026.
“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,” the company said in a statement.
The airline industry has been under increased scrutiny in recent months after an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter over the Potomac River in February, killing everyone aboard both planes.
Newark Airport, which has hundreds of departures each day, has also made headlines in recent weeks after multiple air traffic control outages disrupted travel. United Airlines limited flights to and from the New Jersey airport amid the problems.
Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. Before joining the business and finance vertical, she worked at “60 Minutes,” CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program.
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