United Airlines is set to introduce a new premium seating option called Polaris Studio on its upcoming Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Positioned at the front of the business class cabin, Polaris Studio aims to provide passengers with enhanced comfort and amenities while remaining part of business class rather than a separate first class cabin of service. We’re now seeing what pricing will look like, at least on an introductory basis.
Instead, it struck a reasonable balance in offering an upgraded product without trying to call it first class. United offered a “Global First” cabin until 2018, but in its last decade or so of its existence, the class of service did not offer a meaningful differentiation between business class and became known as “employee class” since so few would buy it (leaving empty seats for employee standby travel).
This new approach will offer “first class” amenities like caviar and rosé Champagne without tricking people into thinking it is a first class product along the lines of Lufthansa or SWISS (two of United’s joint venture partners that still offer first class seating onboard).
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
