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United's Considering Adding Lie-Flat Seats to New 737 Fleet

Aug. 21, 2018
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2 min read
United 737 MAX 9 Tour
United's Considering Adding Lie-Flat Seats to New 737 Fleet
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United's already operating the 737 MAX 9, the largest of Boeing's new single-aisle jets currently flying passengers today. The airline's planning to add 100 of Boeing's extended-length 737s, too, the MAX 10, with deliveries expected to begin in 2020. If an upcoming experiment goes as planned, that longer MAX could end up looking far different from its slightly smaller sibling.

Speaking at a conference in Denver, United President Scott Kirby told reporters that the airline is considering adding lie-flat seats on its MAX 10s. As FlightGlobal reports, United may even begin testing a prototype lie-flat seat with passengers beginning in the fall. If the seat is well-received, a version could be installed on some of United's MAX 10s.

United's 737 MAX 10s would likely offer 2-2 seating, which the carrier currently offers on its 757-200s. Photo by Ravi Ghelani.

The airline could then offer lie-flat seats on additional transcontinental routes, such as Seattle (SEA) to Newark (EWR) or San Francisco (SFO) to Washington, DC (IAD) — both of which do have lie-flat seats on select frequencies now, operated by Boeing 777-200s or 757-200s.

United wouldn't be the first to offer lie-flat seats on the 737 MAX, though — FlyDubai's operating staggered lie-flat seating on its MAX 8s now, and Malaysia Airlines is planning to install a comparable product on its MAX 10s as well. In the US, United's lie-flat MAX would join similar recent additions from American Airlines and JetBlue, both of which offer competing products on the Airbus A321, rather than a 737.

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  • 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.
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  • $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.
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