United bringing new Polaris suites and upgraded cabins to Singapore in 2026

United Airlines introduced its current Polaris Business Class in late 2016, and with the seats now almost a decade old, it’s unveiled the next generation which will debut on its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners by the end of 2025. 

This so-called “Elevated interior” will include two new suites: the Polaris suites and Polaris Studio suites (a “Business Plus” product occupying the first row of each Business Class cabin), with free Starlink connectivity and 4K OLED seatback entertainment screens throughout all classes.

United has also announced that the first international passenger flights will take place in early 2026 from San Francisco to Singapore and London—quite the throw down to Singapore Airlines, given that the national carrier doesn’t expect to introduce its new Business Class seat until Q2 2026.

United’s new B787-9 aircraft

United’s new B787-9 aircraft with the Elevate interior will include a total of 222 seats, divided into:

• Eight United Polaris Studio suites (found in the first row of the two Business Class sections)
• 56 United Polaris suites
• 35 United Premium Plus seats
• 33 United Economy Plus seats
• 90 United Economy seats

This is a very premium-heavy configuration, and indeed, the greatest number of premium seats you’ll find on any United aircraft (or any U.S. carrier for that matter).

All of United’s future 787 deliveries will get the United Polaris Studio suites and Elevated interiors, with the airline expecting 30 of these planes to join its fleet by 2027. For context, United has an impressive 221 B787s on order, the most of any airline in the world. 

Polaris suites

The new United Polaris suites are based on the Adient Ascent platform, also used by Qatar Airways and Hawaiian Airlines on their B787-9s.

Suites are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access for all passengers. All suites have sliding privacy doors, a 19-inch 4K OLED touchscreen (take that, American Airlines!) with Bluetooth audio connectivity, wireless and USB-C charging, and digital seat controls. 

The other interesting thing about the layout is that the forward Business Class cabin has a reverse herringbone layout (where the window seats face the windows, and the centre seats face each other), while the rear Business Class cabin has a mixed reverse herringbone and herringbone layout (where the window seats face the windows, and the centre seats face the aisles).

I’m not the biggest fan of herringbone layouts (see Air New Zealand), but this mixed configuration will at least give passengers more choice- those travelling solo can opt for the reverse herringbone seats, while those travelling as a couple can opt for the herringbone seats and enjoy a not-quite-double-bed. 

Polaris Studio suites

The first row of each of the two Business Class sections will feature four United Polaris Studio suites. This is a “Business Plus” product that will be sold as a separate cabin, and priced higher than the standard United Polaris suites.

Polaris Studio Suites are 25% larger than standard Polaris suites, with privacy doors and an ottoman with seatbelt for companion dining (though the angle in the renders looks a bit awkward, since the guest will be sitting diagonally to the suite occupant).

They will also have 27-inch 4K OLED touchscreens, Bluetooth audio connectivity, wireless and USB-C charging, digital seat controls, quartzite tables and a wool-blend seat matched with wood grain trim. 

Customers who book a Polaris Studio suite will have access to United’s Global Reception area, receive preferred boarding along United Global Services customers, and are eligible for United’s tarmac transfer program, which uses electric Jaguar cars to drive passengers with short connections between gates.

Soft product upgrades for Polaris

United will be making significant investments in their soft product, with Polaris Studio customers receiving hoodie-pajamas and slippers, Meridian noise-cancelling headphones, amenity kits featuring Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ luxury skincare products, United-branded playing cards and a plush velvet throw pillow for the ottoman.

Polaris Studio customers will also be served Ossetra caviar, a post-dessert specialty snack box, exclusive entrée options and Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose champagne. This makes United the only airline apart from Qatar Airways and THAI to offer caviar in Business Class (though to be fair, Qatar and THAI offer it to all Business Class passengers, while United is only offering it to a subset)

All Polaris passengers will continue to receive Saks Fifth Avenue bedding that includes a duvet, day blanket, large pillow and cooling gel pillow. They can access an inflight snack bar featuring brands like Garrett’s, Community and Joe & Seph’s, with Laurent Perrier brut champagne the standard pour. 

The United Polaris sundae cart will get upgraded with limited-time featured Tillamook ice cream flavours with new toppings, alongside the vanilla bean staple.

United Premium Plus and Economy

United will be installing new Premium Plus (i.e. Premium Economy) seats on its B787-9s, which feature soft-touch materials, quartzite cocktail tables and a 16-inch 4K OLED entertainment screen. They will also enjoy Bluetooth audio connectivity and wireless charging, with a privacy divider and built-in reading light for all seats.

Over in Economy, passengers will have 13-inch 4K OLED screens, the largest in Economy (alongside Air New Zealand’s new B787-9s and STARLUX A350-900s), together with Bluetooth audio connectivity. However, power outlets in Economy will be shared, with six outlets per row shared among nine passengers.

New Polaris seats coming to Singapore in 2026

United Airlines currently operates two daily flights between Singapore and San Francisco, both of which are served by B787-9 aircraft.

In early 2026, at least one of these will be upgraded to a new B787-9 with the Elevate interiors and new Polaris suites.

That’s quite a statement of intent if you ask me, given the somewhat frosty historical relationship between the two Star Alliance members (it’s even been suggested that United designated its SIN-SFO service as UA1/2 as a dig at Singapore Airlines’ now-discontinued flagship SQ1/2 service to SFO).

And even though I don’t think United will be challenging Singapore Airlines on the service front anytime soon, it’s undeniable that their new Polaris cabins will be light years ahead of SIA’s current long-haul Business Class product, which dates back to 2013. 

Singapore Airlines will not be introducing its new Business Class seat until Q2 2026, and since it has historically debuted new cabin products on the London and Sydney routes, it could be a while before we see this coming to San Francisco.

Conclusion

United Airlines has unveiled its next generation Polaris cabins, which it expects to receive on the new B787-9s delivered in late 2025.

Most of the features you’d expect to see from a new Business Class seat are present here, including privacy doors, 4K entertainment screens, and wireless & USB-C charging. Another feature to look forward to will be the introduction of complimentary Starlink internet, promising faster speeds throughout the cabin. 

United will be bringing these seats to London and Singapore in early 2026, and it’s certainly going to put some pressure on Singapore Airlines to work quickly on their retrofits.

What do you make of the new United Polaris seats?