Overview
- United will begin flying the Elevated Boeing 787‑9 from Houston to São Paulo, Tokyo Narita and Sydney on October 24, 2026, and will add Houston–London Heathrow on January 5, 2027.
- The Elevated 787‑9 is configured with 222 seats and a premium‑heavy layout that includes 99 Polaris and Premium Plus seats, made up of eight Polaris Studio suites and 56 standard Polaris suites.
- This deployment is the first sustained placement of the Elevated 787‑9 outside San Francisco, signaling a broader roll‑out of the aircraft across United’s long‑haul network.
- The Polaris upgrades on the Elevated plane include sliding privacy doors on business seats, larger 27‑inch 4K/OLED screens, enhanced bedding and upgraded dining such as caviar service in the Polaris Studio cabins.
- United’s move reflects a revenue strategy that favors higher‑yield cabins on very long routes and depends on 787‑9 deliveries and seasonal scheduling, so specific aircraft assignments could change with fleet timing.