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United Launching 787-10 Dreamliner on Newark-LAX and SFO

Zach Honig

October 1, 2018 • 6 min read

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Later this year, United will take delivery of its first extended-length Dreamliner, the Boeing 787-10. With a maximum range of 7,400 miles, the larger -10 isn't capable of operating the airline's longest international flights, so it's a better pick for hops to Europe, and even some premium routes within the US.

On Monday, United shared plans to launch its first 787-10 on January 7, 2019. And rather than introduce the plane on long-haul routes, the -10 will initially fly between Newark (EWR) and Los Angeles (LAX), followed by Newark and San Francisco (SFO).

The 787-10 is the first Dreamliner to offer United's new Polaris business-class seat, with 44 available on each plane. There are 21 Premium Plus (premium economy) seats as well, plus 54 Economy Plus seats and 199 coach seats.

The 787-10 will offer a modified version of United's 777 Polaris seat. (Photo by Zach Honig)

At launch, Premium Plus will be sold as Economy Plus (and available free of charge to elites), though United may eventually begin offering full premium-economy service on these transcon routes.

United Premium Plus on the 777-200. (Photo by Brendan Dorsey)

Note that while the seat map is loaded with the correct business-class arrangement, Premium Plus seats don't yet appear.

Just one 787-10 will be used at first, operating a single daily round-trip. The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart LAX at 8:15am on January 7, 2019, with the -10's return leg departing Newark at 6:00pm the same day. While the outbound flight is filling up, as of this writing, there's currently one remaining upgrade or saver award seat available on the return from EWR.

With the 787-10 joining United's premium transcon service, the airline will offer three distinctly different seats between Newark and LAX/SFO. The 787-10 will sport the new Polaris 1-2-1 business seat, the 757-200s will continue to operate with United's ex-Continental 2-2 business seats and the 777-200s will have the airline's original lie-flat business product, with a super-narrow 2-4-2 arrangement. See our guide to "Every United Business-Class Seat Ranked From Best to Worst" for more on what to expect.

The airline will be increasing premium-route frequencies as well — with new boosted service, there will be 12 flights to LAX and 15 to SFO, with more than 700 additional seats available each day during the peak summer months.

Next summer, United will operate the following schedule between Newark and LAX:

City	Departure	City	Arrival	Aircraft
Newark	6:00am	Los Angeles	9:04am	757-200
Newark	7:00am	Los Angeles	9:49am	787-10
Newark	8:50am	Los Angeles	11:43am	777-200
Newark	10:00am	Los Angeles	1:04pm	757-200
Newark	11:00am	Los Angeles	1:48pm	757-200
Newark	1:00pm	Los Angeles	3:48pm	757-200
Newark	3:00pm	Los Angeles	6:09pm	757-200
Newark	4:00pm	Los Angeles	6:53pm	787-10
Newark	5:00pm	Los Angeles	8:09pm	757-200
Newark	6:00pm	Los Angeles	9:09pm	757-200
Newark	7:00pm	Los Angeles	10:09pm	757-200
Newark	8:00pm	Los Angeles	11:04pm	757-200

Meanwhile, here's the peak summer schedule for flights to SFO:

City	Departure	City	Arrival	Aircraft
Newark	6:00am	San Francisco	9:14am	757-200
Newark	7:00am	San Francisco	10:14am	757-200
Newark	8:15am	San Francisco	11:27am	777-200
Newark	9:30am	San Francisco	12:36pm	777-200
Newark	11:00am	San Francisco	2:18pm	757-200
Newark	12:00pm	San Francisco	3:18pm	757-200
Newark	2:00pm	San Francisco	5:18pm	757-200
Newark	3:00pm	San Francisco	6:09pm	777-200
Newark	4:00pm	San Francisco	7:13pm	787-10
Newark	5:00pm	San Francisco	8:30pm	757-200
Newark	6:00pm	San Francisco	9:40pm	757-200
Newark	7:00pm	San Francisco	10:40pm	757-200
Newark	8:00pm	San Francisco	11:40pm	757-200
Newark	9:00pm	San Francisco	12:18am	757-200
Newark	10:00pm	San Francisco	1:18am	757-200

United will be offering almost hourly departures during peak times, with a total of 27 daily flights between the New York City area and LAX and SFO — more than any other airline flying between those cities. Note that the schedule will be adjusted seasonally, and we may see fewer flights on weekends as well.

It's not unusual for airlines to introduce new planes on shorter domestic flights — giving more crews an opportunity to become familiar with the aircraft — before moving them to long-haul routes. United confirmed that the 787-10 is a permanent addition, however, so it'll remain on Newark-LAX/SFO routes indefinitely.

Finally, as part of today's announcement, United announced plans to add an additional nine 787-9s to the fleet, with deliveries beginning in 2020. Those additional planes will be used to replace aging wide-body aircraft, and will eventually bring the total Dreamliner fleet to 64.

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Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

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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 $8,000 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.
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$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
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Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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At launch, Premium Plus will be sold as Economy Plus (and available free of charge to elites), though United may eventually begin offering full premium-economy service on these transcon routes.

Note that while the seat map is loaded with the correct business-class arrangement, Premium Plus seats don't yet appear.

Next summer, United will operate the following schedule between Newark and LAX:

City	Departure	City	Arrival	Aircraft
Newark	6:00am	Los Angeles	9:04am	757-200
Newark	7:00am	Los Angeles	9:49am	787-10
Newark	8:50am	Los Angeles	11:43am	777-200
Newark	10:00am	Los Angeles	1:04pm	757-200
Newark	11:00am	Los Angeles	1:48pm	757-200
Newark	1:00pm	Los Angeles	3:48pm	757-200
Newark	3:00pm	Los Angeles	6:09pm	757-200
Newark	4:00pm	Los Angeles	6:53pm	787-10
Newark	5:00pm	Los Angeles	8:09pm	757-200
Newark	6:00pm	Los Angeles	9:09pm	757-200
Newark	7:00pm	Los Angeles	10:09pm	757-200
Newark	8:00pm	Los Angeles	11:04pm	757-200

Meanwhile, here's the peak summer schedule for flights to SFO:

City	Departure	City	Arrival	Aircraft
Newark	6:00am	San Francisco	9:14am	757-200
Newark	7:00am	San Francisco	10:14am	757-200
Newark	8:15am	San Francisco	11:27am	777-200
Newark	9:30am	San Francisco	12:36pm	777-200
Newark	11:00am	San Francisco	2:18pm	757-200
Newark	12:00pm	San Francisco	3:18pm	757-200
Newark	2:00pm	San Francisco	5:18pm	757-200
Newark	3:00pm	San Francisco	6:09pm	777-200
Newark	4:00pm	San Francisco	7:13pm	787-10
Newark	5:00pm	San Francisco	8:30pm	757-200
Newark	6:00pm	San Francisco	9:40pm	757-200
Newark	7:00pm	San Francisco	10:40pm	757-200
Newark	8:00pm	San Francisco	11:40pm	757-200
Newark	9:00pm	San Francisco	12:18am	757-200
Newark	10:00pm	San Francisco	1:18am	757-200

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4X	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.
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1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	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.
4X	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.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	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.
4X	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.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	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.
4X	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.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
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2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

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