New details: United’s Boeing 767-400s will receive Polaris, Premium Plus retrofits
United first unveiled its Polaris business-class product in 2016, and the airline has since made significant progress in retrofitting its international fleet with these top-notch cabins.
Now, as the Chicago-based carrier launches its largest-ever transatlantic network expansion, it has some welcome news for the premium passenger experience: there are just a handful of active wide-body jets that haven’t been upgraded with Polaris pods — and that number is rapidly dwindling.
During an April 24 media briefing about United’s international network, Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of international network and alliance, shared that the airline’s 16 Boeing 767-400s are officially getting the Polaris retrofits.
“The retrofits for the 767-400ER, the first one should be either in the hangar or going in the hangar within the next week or two. So the first one, which is a prototype, will be done this summer,” Quayle said then in response to a TPG question.
During the briefing, United didn’t have any additional details to share about the new cabin configurations.
But now, the carrier has revealed more details in an internal memo that was viewed by TPG and confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
Specifically, United’s retrofitted 767-400s will feature 34 Polaris business pods, 24 Premium Plus recliners, 48 extra-legroom Economy Plus seats and 125 standard coach ones. In total, the retrofitted “76U,” as the airline is calling it, will feature 231 seats, which represents a net decrease of nine seats compared to the legacy configuration.
There will be five fewer Polaris pods on the retrofitted jets, but the overall number of premium seats is increasing substantially thanks to the introduction of a Premium Plus cabin.
In addition to the Polaris and Premium Plus cabins, United told employees on Wednesday to expect additional upgrades on these planes, including:
- Refreshed lavatories.
- In-seat AC and USB power across all cabins.
- Updated Panasonic inflight entertainment systems.
- Refreshed jumpseats for crew members.
- New LED lighting throughout the cabin.
Historically, savvy flyers have avoided the 767-400, especially those flying in the pointy end. The jets sported outdated business-class pods arranged in a 2-1-2 configuration, and there was no premium economy cabin either.
During the pandemic, many analysts thought that United would opt to keep the old cabins on the 767-400ERs, especially as the carrier flirted with the idea of retiring the roughly 20-year-old fleet.
Before the pandemic, the jets were a workhorse on flights to Europe and South America, serving destinations such as Milan and Buenos Aires. United acquired these planes when it merged with Continental in 2010.
Once the pandemic decimated demand for long-haul flights, United opted to store these gas-guzzlers and instead use the more fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner for its skeleton international network.
But in February 2021, a chunk of the carrier’s Boeing 777 fleet was grounded following an uncontained engine failure, leaving United with no option but to bring the 767-400ERs back from long-term storage.
At the time, the airline still didn’t have plans to retrofit the planes, leaving savvy flyers to choose a flight operated by a different aircraft for the “true” Polaris experience.
But now, it won’t be long until the 767-400s receive the Polaris cabins that were first unveiled six years ago. “All of the widebodies, inclusive of the 767-400, will be done by the summer of 2023,” Quayle said.
United’s first retrofitted 767-400ER is expected to enter service in “late summer 2022,” the internal memo says.
In addition to retrofitting the 767-400s, United is wrapping up the Polaris conversions across the rest of its long-haul fleet. The airline currently has two Boeing 767-300s and four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners that haven’t been retrofitted, but those will feature the new cabins by the end of this summer, Quayle said.
That’ll leave the 767-400s as the one fleet type awaiting the retrofits, which will happen by summer 2023.
Bottom line
The end is near for United’s years-long Polaris retrofit project. I, for one, can’t wait for the cabin “guessing game” when flying United to be over.
By next summer, all of the carrier’s international widebodies, including the 767-400ER fleet, will be outfitted with the latest cabins, which is sure to be appreciated by anyone who’s booking long-haul routes with United.
Fleet-by-fleet Polaris retrofit update
Boeing 767-300ER
United splits its 38 Boeing 767-300ERs into two different Polaris layouts. There’s a premium “high-J” version with a whopping 46 business-class pods, 22 Premium Plus recliners and 99 coach seats, as well as a “standard” layout with 30 Polaris pods and 184 coach seats.
Fourteen of United’s 767-300s sport the “standard” layout, while 22 of the jets feature the “high-J” version. There are just two 767-300s that haven’t yet been retrofitted, but they’ll be completed (in the “high-J” layout) by the end of the summer.
Taking a look at the seat map for your upcoming flight will confirm which layout you’ll experience.
Boeing 767-400ER
All 16 of these jets will receive the Polaris retrofits by summer 2023.
Boeing 777-200
All United Boeing 777-200s that operate long-haul international routes have already been updated with the latest cabins.
The carrier has a subfleet of 777-200s that primarily serve domestic destinations, including Hawaii, and other short-haul markets. These planes have a very outdated 2-4-2 “dorm-style” business-class cabin, and there are no plans to upgrade these cabins with the Polaris retrofits.
For now, this subfleet of planes, along with the international 777-200s powered by Pratt & Whitney engines are parked pending an investigation into the aforementioned engine failure that occurred last year.
Boeing 777-300
All 22 of United’s Boeing 777-300s are already outfitted with the Polaris and Premium Plus cabins.
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
All 12 of United’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners have already been retrofitted with Polaris and Premium Plus cabins.
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Thirty-four of United’s 38 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners have already been retrofitted with Polaris and Premium Plus cabins. The four remaining jets will be complete by the end of summer 2022.
Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
All United Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners feature Polaris and Premium Plus cabins.
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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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| 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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Intro Offer
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
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- 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.