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United now offers Polaris seats on 100 wide-body planes

Feb. 06, 2020
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2 min read
United 767-300 High-J Polaris Review ZH
United now offers Polaris seats on 100 wide-body planes
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Believe it or not, this summer will mark the four-year anniversary of United's Polaris business class, which CEO Oscar Munoz introduced in Jun. 2016. And while the carrier continues to fly a significant number of planes with the old 2-2-2 (or even the dreaded 2-4-2) biz seats, United just reached a major milestone, with a total of 100 Polaris-equipped wide-bodies in service.

The carrier's Polaris cabin includes either 1-2-1 or 1-1-1 seating, which means all passengers have direct access to the aisle. It's far more private, too, with privacy dividers and a staggered layout.

United Polaris on a retrofitted 767.

The new seats are now flying on a variety of wide-body aircraft — that includes a mix of retrofitted jets, such as the Boeing 767-300ER and 787-8 Dreamliner, along with brand-new planes, including the Boeing 777-300ER and 787-10.

United's handy Polaris tracker website (above) paints a fairly complete picture, but it's typically a bit delayed. The airline's current Polaris-equipped fleet actually breaks down as:

  • Boeing 777-300ER: 21 of 21 (new)
  • Boeing 777-200ER: 38 of 51 (retrofitted)
  • Boeing 787-10: 11 of 11 (new)
  • Boeing 787-9: 1 of 25 (retrofitted)
  • Boeing 787-8: 1 of 12 (retrofitted)
  • Boeing 767-300ER: 28 of 38 (retrofitted)

As you can see above, if you're traveling on a Boeing 777-300ER or 787-10, you're guaranteed to have the new cabin, while flyers booked on a 777-200ER or 767-300ER have a very good shot. Note that United operates a domestic version of the 777, though, which will not be getting the new seats.

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Finally, 787-8 and 787-9 flights will almost certainly have the older seats, for now, but the airline is actively working to retrofit its Dreamliner fleet, with most aircraft offering new interiors before 2020 is through.

For more on scoring a Polaris-equipped flight, see our detailed guide, Using ExpertFlyer to make sure you’re flying the real United Polaris.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.