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United is bringing Polaris fares to the domestic market for the first time.
The Chicago-based carrier is now marketing the forward cabin on premium transcontinental and long-haul domestic flights as Polaris business class.
The change applies to all new bookings and to existing reservations on eligible upcoming flights.
Previously, these seats were sold as United Business. The Polaris designation brings one key change: improved lounge access.
Here’s what you need to know.
Related: United’s new basic Polaris fares are even worse than expected
Domestic Polaris Lounge access
Since these tickets are now marketed as Polaris, domestic flyers will get access to the Polaris Lounge before departure. (This move comes just days after United quietly tightened the Polaris Lounge access policy for travel on partner airlines.)
The eligible premium transcon routes include Newark to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Long-haul flights to Hawaii from Chicago and Newark are also now sold as Polaris.
For what it’s worth, I haven’t noticed any higher fares now that United is selling the premium cabin as Polaris.
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United operates Polaris Lounges in Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, and San Francisco — San Francisco’s is my favorite. You can camp out before departure, after arrival, or during a connection.
It remains to be seen whether United will bring the full long-haul bedding and amenity kit to these newly rebranded domestic routes, or stick with the slimmed-down version that’s been flying for years.
For now, United doesn’t appear to be selling basic Polaris fares in domestic markets. I’d expect that to come soon enough.
(United’s basic Polaris fare structure is now available in most long-haul markets. The surcharge to “upgrade” to a standard fare with Polaris Lounge access is about $400.)
Domestic Polaris fares
The introduction of domestic Polaris fares has been on United’s radar for a while.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Elevated media event in Los Angeles in March, chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella told me the airline has long had a weird in-between where domestic lie-flat seats were sold as United Business and only included United Club access.
United Coastliner A321neo
This move comes as United gears up to introduce the Coastliner Airbus A321neo in the coming months. The 161-seat jet is purpose-built for the transcon market.
It features 20 Polaris suites in a new 1-1 herringbone layout, 12 Premium Plus recliners, 36 Economy Plus extra-legroom seats, and 93 standard economy seats.
Whether you’re traveling on a Coastliner or a wide-body between the coasts, you’re now flying Polaris.
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