United Airlines' new 787-9 Dreamliner will have a much different overall mix of seats, including two rows of bigger business-class suites.
The planes will also have more premium seats and far fewer economy seats.
United expects at least 30 of the new-configuration Dreamliners to be delivered by 2027, with the first coming at the end of this year for service in 2026. Flights connecting San Francisco to London and Singapore will be the first operated with the planes.
The new business-class suite concept, to be called United Polaris Studio, will be 25% bigger than a standard Polaris seat. Each of the Dreamliners will have eight Studios, which will run four-across in the front row of the planes' two business-class cabins.
Polaris Studios will have an extra ottoman that can be used by travel companions, as well as privacy doors and 27-inch TV screens. Suite perks will include a caviar course, wireless charging and what United describes as "luxury skincare offerings."
Alongside the Polaris Studios, the Dreamliners will have 56 standard Polaris business-class suites, 35 premium-economy seats and 33 Economy Plus seats with extra legroom. The planes will have just 90 standard economy seats. By comparison, United's current Dreamliner configuration is 48 business-class seats, 21 premium-economy seats, 39 Economy Plus seats and 149 economy seats.
The reconfiguration is in keeping with the trend of dedicating more aircraft space to higher-yielding premium seating at the expense of coach seats, for which revenue growth since the pandemic has been less robust. American Airlines, for example, will be taking delivery of Dreamliners with a new configuration in June that includes its Flagship Suites.
United boasted, however, that the economy seats will have 13-inch screens, which it said would be the largest economy in-flight entertainment screens in the world.
Flight attendant union critiques United priorities
Tuesday's announcement drew a rebuke from the union representing United flight attendants, which has criticized the carrier for prioritizing cabin upgrades over their contract negotiations.
"New cabin interiors -- if done with our involvement -- can be helpful for doing our jobs, and we want happy passengers," Association of Flight Attendants-CWA president Sara Nelson and United AFA president Ken Diaz said in a prepared remark. "But a new aircraft cabin doesn't pay [our] rent, allow us to come to work without stress over paying our bills, attract new applicants or give us the schedule control we need to have a life."