United Airlines unveiled its newest long-haul cabin, tripling down on its cash cow premium seats.
The "Elevated" business class features two new key perks: sliding doors and oversize "Studios."
Elevated will begin international flights starting April 22. The doors on the suites are still pending certification.
United Airlines just gave its business class a long-awaited facelift as it pushes deeper into the lucrative premium market.
At an event this week in Los Angeles, the airline unveiled its new "Elevated" Boeing 787-9 interior, headlined by two major upgrades: privacy doors and oversize Polaris Studios with an extra seat.
The move isn't a surprise. Privacy doors are a top request among frequent flyers, with carriers like American Airlines and Air India having redesigned their top cabins around them to cocoon passengers from neighbors.
Delta Air Lines got ahead of the trend when it introduced doors on some planes in 2017, making United the last of the Big Three to follow. However, customers will have to wait to use them, as the closing mechanism is still awaiting FAA certification.
The front-row "Studio" concept — where two passengers can dine or meet in a larger enclosed pod — has also been spreading. JetBlue Airways and Virgin Atlantic, for example, offer similar oversize suites; Virgin's converts into a social space for four.
United also refreshed premium economy, called Premium Plus, and coach, but the bigger shift is in the mix: 99 of the 222 seats are now Polaris or Premium Plus — shrinking economy and giving United what it says is the highest share of premium seating among US airlines.
After a short domestic debut, the first Elevated-equipped 787 is expected to enter international service on April 22 from San Francisco to Singapore — a more than 17-hour journey and one of the world's longest flights. Service to London Heathrow begins April 30.
Elevated is part of United's broader push to become the go-to US airline and get more passengers to pay up across its fleet. Its premium revenue rose 11% in 2025, and the airline now offers more than 27 million premium seats across all its routes, accounting for 12% of all seats flown last year.
Speaking at the Airline Passenger Experience Association Global Expo in September 2025, he said the focus on business class helps close the gap with Middle Eastern carriers like Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, which are navigating a war in the region, but are known for their award-winning cabins to and from the US.
Here's a full look at United's new "Elevated" experience:
A majority of the plane is business class.United's flagship business class is called "Polaris."
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Premium demand has been trending higher worldwide for years as people remain willing to pay more for greater comfort when flying. Between the ticket cost and subsequent loyalty revenue, front-of-the-plane cabins are cash cows for airlines.
Sixty-four seats on the new 787‑9 will be a mix of Polaris Studio and standard Polaris — about 25% more than United's current 787‑9s. Premium economy will have 35 seats; coach will have 123.
Six of the eight Polaris Studios have ottomans.United hosted an event in Los Angeles where the media could tour the aircraft.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
United's new Polaris Studio will be 25% larger than standard Polaris, with sliding doors, an ottoman for a companion in six of the eight available seats, and exclusive meals like caviar and Champagne. Its massive 27-inch Bluetooth television will be the largest among US carriers.
Looking at flights on the Singapore route in July, the Studio costs $499 to add each way. Regular Polaris is around $8,000 roundtrip, though pricing varies by season.
On many days in off-peak September, Polaris is priced between $4,000 and $5,000.
Polaris finally has doors, but they don't close yet.The middle section seats have a privacy divider.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
United was the last of the US Big 3 airlines to add sliding doors to business class. Delta has had door-equipped Delta One Suites since 2017, while American debuted its new door-equipped Flagship Suites in June 2025.
Doors remain a key perk that can sway deep-pocket business-class spenders. United will join its competitors in offering them once its doors are fully certified by the FAA, which must sign off on them before they can actually be used.
Polaris sports its regular bells and whistles.Menus are curated by a professional chef.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
United maintained its core Polaris vibe in the redesign.
Passengers still have direct-aisle access, a lie-flat bed, and high-end meals. The Bluetooth television is smaller than the Studio's at 19 inches.
Business class has access to a snack bar.The snack station is unique to United.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
United has offered a self-serve snack bar on CRJ-550 regional jets and Airbus A321neos for years and is now expanding the concept across more of its fleet.
Its new 787s will include one for Polaris passengers. Future Airbus A321neos and Airbus A321XLRs — as well as retrofitted regional jets — will also feature snack stations.
Premium economy got a boost.Premium Plus still has middle seats in the center section rows.
United Airlines
United's new 787s boast 14 more Premium Plus seats than its current version.
The 2x3x2 cabin is positioned and priced between coach and business class. It features large recliners, a reading light, wireless charging, 16-inch Bluetooth-equipped screens, and new privacy partitions.
Coach is largely the usual.The economy section added a few upgrades, like Bluetooth.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Besides color and finishing updates, the economy cabin largely resembles United's current 787-9 design: rows of three seats with 31 to 34 inches of pitch, decent recline, seatback storage, power ports, and headrests.
The 13-inch Bluetooth-capable seatback screen is the world's largest in coach, the airline says. Economy tickets to Singapore range from roughly $1,000 to $2,000 roundtrip this summer.