United's New Premium Plus Cabin to Launch This Year
American Airlines and Delta currently offer a true premium-economy product on select international flights, matching the offerings available with select foreign carriers. United's been mum on the topic of premium economy, though — until today.
In a memo to employees, the carrier finally shared its plans to launch a product later this year, called United Premium Plus. According to the note, the new seats will be available "on select international flights," and will include upgraded dining and dinnerware, free booze, an amenity kit and a Saks Fifth Avenue blanket and pillow.
Based on a photo distributed to employees, the seat appears to be the same model currently in use by American Airlines and Delta — it's generally a step up from the seat United offers in domestic first class, though it's possible that refreshed first-class cabins could eventually be updated with a version of the new Premium Plus seat.
For comparison purposes, here's United's proposed seat:
Meanwhile, here's the one you'll find on American Airlines:
And this is the version in use on Delta's Airbus A350s:
While there are more questions than answers at this point, it's clear that United's landed on a specific model, and does indeed have plans to begin rolling out a premium-economy seat of its own. Expect to hear more as we approach the official launch, "later this year."
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