United's Plan to Add Polaris, Premium Plus to 787-8 and -9 Dreamliners
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)
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.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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 | New! 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. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- 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)
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 $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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- 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.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $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.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.