New Polaris seats on United Airlines’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Leslie Josephs/CNBC
Does it matter where you sit when drinking champagne in first class? united airlines I’d wager that’s not the case for some travelers looking for luxury at a discount.
The company is launching new, cheaper plans for its top-end Polaris and premium economy cabins with many of the same perks, but also a number of restrictions.
Starting this spring, United Airlines will offer “base” Polaris fares that include a spot in the airline’s long-haul business class cabins with lie-flat seats, but will charge customers an additional fee to select seats in advance.
The new ticket class allows for just one checked bag instead of two and includes access to United Club airport lounges, but not Polaris, a luxury lounge with showers and other luxury amenities. Tickets cannot be changed.
Polaris’ other categories are “Standard” and the more expensive “Flexible” option, which allows customers to pay for a new, more spacious Polaris Studio suite.
The new fares show that United, and perhaps soon other airlines, is dividing the front of the plane into smaller categories, from basic economy tickets with restrictions to additional legroom fares, much like Coach has been for the past decade.
United’s new strategy comes as the airline overhauls its nearly decade-old Polaris class and introduces new suites with sliding doors and large screens as customers continue to show they are willing to pay more for better seats. United Airlines and its competitors are racing to add more premium seats to their planes, sometimes by eliminating some economy seats.
A United Airlines spokesperson said Base Polaris passengers will get the same meals (including ice cream) as other passengers on the flight. She declined to say what the price difference between the fares would be, but said the base Polaris fare is intended to be an entry-level point in premium class.
United Airlines has begun similar segmentation for its premium economy class, Premium Plus.
The new option will be available in select markets starting this month and will expand to other international and long-haul domestic markets later this year, United said.
rival delta airlines The company announced last year that it was also considering splitting the front cabin of its planes.
