What’s happening
United will start operating newly delivered Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners fitted with its Elevated interiors on long-haul SFO–SIN (from April 22) and SFO–LHR (from April 30). Before those routes launch, the carrier is scheduling short domestic familiarization flights so crews can practice service in the new cabins.
Which domestic flights will feature Polaris Studio
Social media observers have spotted a Dreamliner scheduled between San Francisco (SFO) and Houston (IAH) from March 29 through April 29. The identified flights are:
– UA 2498 SFO → IAH, departs 9:10 a.m., arrives 3:05 p.m.
– UA 382 IAH → SFO, departs 4:45 p.m., arrives 6:58 p.m.
Fares and award pricing (approximate)
One-way fares found so far:
– SFO→IAH: about $394 economy, $528 Economy Plus, $789 first class (Polaris)
– IAH→SFO first week: roughly $499 economy, $633 Economy Plus, $894 first class; second week drops to about $304 economy, $488 Economy Plus, $744 first class
MileagePlus award seats begin near 21,800 miles for economy and about 64,500 miles for first class in either direction. Prices vary by date and inventory.
Polaris Studio reservations and fees on these hops
On the short domestic familiarization flights, booking first class does not appear to carry an extra fee to reserve a Polaris Studio in the bulkhead rows (rows 1 and 9). United has charged an upcharge on some long-haul flights to reserve Polaris Studios previously (around $499 each way), but that surcharge does not seem to be applied for these brief domestic runs. Keep in mind service on these short flights will mirror standard domestic first class, not the full long-haul Polaris Studio experience.
How to confirm a flight has the new Dreamliner cabin
To verify you re on a jet with the Elevated interiors, check that the aircraft type is listed as Boeing 787-9 and open the seat map on the booking page. The new layout shows two Polaris sections: a forward cabin (rows 1–8) and an aft Polaris cabin (rows 9–17). Middle seats in the forward cabin angle toward each other; middle seats in the aft cabin angle away from each other. Aircraft swaps are possible, so recheck the aircraft type and seat map in the days before departure if you want to try the new seats.
What the Elevated interiors include
Key cabin counts and features on these Dreamliners:
– Eight Polaris Studios, roughly 25% larger than regular Polaris suites
– 56 regular Polaris suites
– 35 Premium Plus seats (listed as Economy Plus on these domestic flights)
– 123 main cabin seats, including 33 extra-legroom seats
Polaris Studios are equipped with 27-inch 4K OLED touchscreens with Bluetooth; six Studios per jet have ottomans that can seat another passenger on long-haul flights. Long-haul Studio bookings also include upgraded amenities such as hoodie pajamas and Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ skincare kits. Regular Polaris suites offer 19-inch screens and closing doors, though United says doors will not be operable initially. Premium Plus seats have larger winged privacy dividers and 16-inch 4K OLED screens; main cabin seats have 13-inch screens. Cabin materials include quartzite surfaces and dark woodgrain paneling.
Bottom line
If you book one of these familiarization hops, expect domestic-style first-class service but an early chance to try United s new seating. Always double-check the aircraft type and seat map before you fly, and be aware deployments can change.