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United's Plan to Add Polaris, Premium Plus to 787-8 and -9 Dreamliners
Zach Honig
Contributor
July 17, 2019
•
3 min read
United's Plan to Add Polaris, Premium Plus to 787-8 and -9 Dreamliners
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United's brand-new 787-10s come equipped with the carrier's much-improved Polaris business-class seat, with far better privacy plus direct aisle access for everyone in the cabin. The carrier's older Dreamliners have dated 2-2-2 seating, however — a slightly updated version of the same seat that flew with Continental beginning in 2009.
Fortunately, United will soon begin retrofitting its older 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners with the new Polaris seats, and a Premium Plus cabin.
This week, the airline sent updated seat maps to employees, demonstrating the seating arrangement after upcoming renovations. The smaller 787-8, which currently offers 36 lie-flat business seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, spread evenly between two cabins, will drop to a total of 28 seats, plus a 21-seat Premium Plus cabin, 36 in Economy Plus and 158 in coach.
The longer 787-9 will maintain its business-class seat count, meanwhile, with a total of 48 — 32 in the large forward cabin and 16 in a mini-cabin behind the second door. This aircraft will also have 21 Premium Plus seats, plus 39 seats in Economy Plus and 149 in coach — fewer than you'll find on the smaller 787-8.
United's fleet includes just 12 of the smaller Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, which were delivered between 2012 and 2014. While United typically either adds lie-flat seats or maintains the existing count with its Polaris retrofits, the 787-8 will be used primarily for leisure destinations with less business-class demand. The schedule will likely see some tweaks to focus primarily on leisure travel in the future, but for now you'll find this version operating a selection of lower-demand long-haul flights, including:
- Denver (DEN)-Tokyo (NRT)
- Denver (DEN)-Frankfurt (FRA)
- San Francisco (SFO)-Chengdu (CTU)
- San Francisco (SFO)-Tahiti (PPT)
- Washington, D.C. (IAD)-Beijing (PEK)
- Washington, D.C. (IAD)-Zurich (ZRH)
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Then there are 25 of the longer-range 787-9s flying for United, delivered between 2014 and 2018 and now operating key routes, such as:
- Houston (IAH)-London (LHR)
- Houston (IAH)-Sydney (SYD)
- Los Angeles (LAX)-Melbourne (MEL)
- Los Angeles (LAX)-Tokyo (NRT)
- San Francisco (SFO)-Singapore (SIN)
- San Francisco (SFO)-Shanghai (PVG)
Both retrofitted models will include United's true premium-economy product, branded as Premium Plus, with seats in the same 2-3-2 arrangement that you'll find on the 787-10.
While it's not yet clear exactly when and where the new configuration will launch, I'd put my money on it quickly becoming a staple on United's San Francisco-Singapore flights, given the premium demand for that particular market. Personally, I prefer United's Polaris seat over Singapore's product on the Airbus A350, due to the limited seat recline (when not in full bed mode) and the small footwell. While I'd miss Singapore's superior service, a retrofitted United 787-9 feels like the better pick to me.
United expects the first retrofitted 787-8 Dreamliner to enter service in December 2019, with the 787-9 following a few months behind, in early 2020. Retrofitted aircraft will simply be worked into the mix initially, and they'll be assigned to specific flights once enough become available to operate consistent service.
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Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- 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.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $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.