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United just dropped three announcements in a single week, and together they represent the biggest upgrade to the airline’s premium product in years. The headline: tickets are now on sale for the first 787-9 Dreamliner with United’s new Elevated interior, featuring the brand-new Polaris Studio suites. At the same time, the entire Guam narrowbody fleet is being replaced with 737 MAX 8 aircraft, and a partnership with Chef’s Table is bringing 11 world-renowned chefs into the Polaris galley starting August 1.
For award travelers, the 787-9 Elevated interior is the one to watch. The inaugural international flight (SFO to Singapore) departs April 22, and SFO to London follows on April 30. If you’ve been waiting for the best time to use MileagePlus miles on a premium cabin, this is it.
Three things United just announced
Polaris Studio suites are now bookable on United’s first 787-9 Dreamliner with the Elevated interior. The inaugural flight is SFO–SIN on April 22, followed by SFO–LHR on April 30. Separately, United is replacing its entire Guam fleet with 737 MAX 8 aircraft featuring seatback screens and Bluetooth at every seat, with the rollout completing by the end of 2026. Starting August 1, Polaris business class will feature new meals created by 11 chefs from the Chef’s Table series.
United Polaris Studio: The New Flagship Business Class
The 787-9 with Elevated interior is United’s most premium aircraft to date, and the centerpiece is the new United Polaris Studio cabin, eight lie-flat, all-aisle-access suites that are 25% larger than standard Polaris seats.
Here’s what sets Polaris Studio apart from standard Polaris:
| Feature | Polaris Studio (new) | Standard Polaris |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 8 suites | 56 seats |
| Size | 25% larger than standard Polaris | Standard |
| Screen | 27-inch 4K OLED (largest among U.S. carriers) | 19-inch 4K OLED |
| Privacy doors | Yes* | Varies by aircraft |
| Companion ottoman | Yes (6 of 8 suites) | No |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Exclusive dining | Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche, exclusive entrées | Standard Polaris menu |
| Amenity kit | Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ skincare | Standard kit |
| Bedding | Saks Fifth Avenue (duvet, day blanket, large pillow, cooling gel pillow) | Saks Fifth Avenue |
| Extras | Noise-cancelling headphones by Meridian, hoodie-pajamas, playing cards | Standard headphones |
*Privacy doors are temporarily unavailable at launch.
Every Cabin Gets an Upgrade
Polaris Studio is the flagship, but the Elevated interior upgrades every seat on the aircraft. The full seat count is 222 across five cabins:
- 8 Polaris Studio suites — the new ultra-premium cabin
- 56 Polaris seats — lie-flat, forward- or center-facing, 19-inch 4K OLED screens
- 35 Premium Plus seats — now with privacy dividers and built-in reading lights (a first for United Premium Plus), 16-inch 4K OLED screens, wireless charging
- 39 Economy Plus seats — 13-inch 4K OLED screens, Bluetooth
- 84 Economy seats — 13-inch 4K OLED screens, Bluetooth, 6 power outlets per row
99 of the 222 seats are in premium cabins, the highest percentage of premium seating among U.S. carriers.
Routes and Timeline
The first bookable flights on the Elevated 787-9:
| Route | Flight | Start date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFO–SIN | UA1 | April 22, 2026 | Inaugural international flight |
| SFO–LHR | UA901 | April 30, 2026 | Second international route |
Ahead of international service, the aircraft may operate select domestic routes between San Francisco and Houston. United plans to have at least 30 787-9s with the Elevated interior flying globally by the end of 2027.
Watch for early award availability
SFO–SIN and SFO–LHR are two of the most popular long-haul routes for MileagePlus redemptions. With the Elevated interior launching on both, award availability in the early weeks could be strong, airlines often release more award seats on newly configured aircraft. Use AwardFares to monitor Polaris availability on these routes and set alerts for the dates you want.
New 737 MAX 8 Fleet Replacing Guam Hub Aircraft
While the Polaris Studio announcement targets long-haul premium travelers, United is simultaneously overhauling its Pacific narrowbody operation. The airline is replacing all ten 737-800 aircraft based in Guam with ten 737 MAX 8 aircraft, bringing a consistent, modern cabin product across 15 destinations in the region.
What’s New on the Guam 737 MAX 8
Every aircraft gets United’s signature interior:
- Seatback entertainment at every seat, 13-inch HD in First, 10-inch HD in Economy
- Bluetooth connectivity throughout the cabin
- Wi-Fi available for purchase (Starlink coming fleet-wide by end of 2027, free for MileagePlus members)
- Larger overhead bins
- More extra-legroom seating
- 164 seats total, including up to 14 United First seats
- USB charging at every seat
- Accessibility features for passengers with hearing or visual disabilities
- Medevac capability, front Economy rows can collapse to accommodate a medical stretcher
The inflight entertainment library includes 1,400+ on-demand titles, full seasons of Apple TV+ shows, and 450+ hours of Spotify audiobook and podcast content. Content is available in 16 languages, with expanded offerings in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Japanese for the Pacific market.
Rollout Schedule
The transition is already underway, two MAX 8 aircraft are already based in Guam. Here’s the full timeline:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| April 30, 2026 | First scheduled MAX 8 flights: Guam–NRT, NRT–UBN |
| May 2, 2026 | NRT–ROR service begins on MAX 8 |
| Late August 2026 | All Guam–NRT flights on MAX 8; all UA narrowbody flights from NRT, SPN, and YAP on MAX 8 |
| December 2026 | All Guam narrowbody flights on MAX 8, including Island Hopper |
Destinations Served From Guam
United operates up to 12 flights per day from its Guam hub to 15 destinations, including:
- Japan: Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka, Nagoya (up to 42 flights/week)
- Pacific Islands: Saipan, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Kwajalein, Majuro (via the Island Hopper route connecting Guam and Hawaii)
- Southeast Asia & Pacific: Manila, Koror (Palau), Taipei, Cebu
- Asia via NRT: Ulaanbaatar, Kaohsiung
Check aircraft type before booking
If you’re booking award flights on United’s Guam routes, check whether your specific flight has transitioned to the MAX 8 before departure. The rollout is staggered through December 2026, so some routes will still operate on the older 737-800 until late in the year. AwardFares shows the aircraft type in search results, so you can verify before booking.
Chef’s Table Partnership: New Polaris Dining Starting August 1
Rounding out the premium overhaul, United has partnered with Chef’s Table, the Emmy-winning Netflix documentary series, to introduce 10 new meal experiences in Polaris international business class. Each meal is created by one of 11 world-renowned chefs and is regionally inspired by the departure city.
The Chef Lineup
| Hub city | Chef | Restaurant |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Nancy Silverton | Osteria Mozza (Michelin-starred) |
| New York/Newark | Fariyal Abdullahi | Hav & Mar |
| São Paulo | Manu Buffara | Manu |
| Chicago | Jenner Tomaska | Esmé (Michelin-starred), The Alston, Petite Edith |
| Houston | Justin Yu | Theodore Rex |
| Denver | Penelope Wong | Yuan Wonton |
| San Francisco | David Barzelay | Lazy Bear (two Michelin stars), JouJou, True Laurel |
| Washington, D.C. | Isabel Coss & Matt Conroy | Lutèce (Michelin-starred) |
| London | Tomos Parry | Mountain (Michelin-starred), Brat (Michelin-starred) |
| Tokyo | Tashi Gyamtso | Jimgu, Enowa Yufuin |
Each chef creates a complete meal (appetizer, salad, and entrée) served on flights departing from their home city. The program launches August 1, 2026 and covers all seven of United’s U.S. hubs plus London, Tokyo, and São Paulo.
Meals are origin-city specific
The Chef’s Table meals are only served on departures from each chef’s hub city, not the return. If you want Nancy Silverton’s menu, you need to depart from LAX; Jenner Tomaska’s from ORD; and so on. For award travelers, this is worth factoring into your routing when you have flexibility on where to connect.
How to Find United Polaris Award Availability With AwardFares
Between the Elevated interior launch, the Guam fleet upgrade, and new Polaris dining, there’s never been a better time to put MileagePlus miles toward a United premium cabin flight. The challenge is finding availability, United uses dynamic award pricing, so the cost in miles for the same route can vary dramatically by date.
Search United MileagePlus award flights →
1. Search United MileagePlus Availability
Select United MileagePlus as your loyalty program in AwardFares to see live award seats across United’s network, including Polaris, Premium Plus, and Economy cabins on both domestic and international routes.
2. Search the New Elevated Routes
To search for Polaris availability on the new 787-9 Elevated routes, enter your route, for example, SFO to Singapore or SFO to London and filter by business class. AwardFares shows live pricing in miles alongside the aircraft type, so you can confirm whether a specific flight is operating the Elevated 787-9.
3. Set Up Alerts for Your Preferred Dates
If the dates you want aren’t showing Polaris availability yet, set an alert. AwardFares will notify you when award seats open on your route, so you don’t have to check manually. This is especially useful for new routes where availability patterns haven’t stabilized.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do tickets go on sale for the United 787-9 Elevated interior?
Tickets are on sale now (as of March 19, 2026) at united.com and on the United app. The inaugural international flight is UA1, San Francisco to Singapore, departing April 22, 2026.
What is United Polaris Studio?
United Polaris Studio is a new ultra-premium business class cabin on the 787-9 Dreamliner with Elevated interior. It features eight lie-flat, all-aisle-access suites that are 25% larger than standard Polaris seats, with privacy doors, a companion ottoman, 27-inch 4K OLED screens (the largest among U.S. carriers), wireless charging, Bluetooth, exclusive dining with Ossetra caviar, and Perricone MD amenity kits.
What routes will the United Elevated 787-9 fly?
The first two international routes are San Francisco to Singapore (UA1, starting April 22, 2026) and San Francisco to London (UA901, starting April 30, 2026). United plans to have at least 30 Elevated 787-9 aircraft flying globally by the end of 2027.
When will United replace the Guam fleet with 737 MAX 8?
The rollout begins with scheduled MAX 8 flights from Guam to Tokyo-Narita on April 30, 2026. By late August, all United narrowbody flights from Narita, Saipan, and Yap will be on MAX 8. By December 2026, all Guam-based narrowbody flights, including the Island Hopper, will operate with 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
What is the United and Chef's Table partnership?
United has partnered with Chef’s Table, the Netflix documentary series, to create 10 new meal experiences for Polaris international business class. Eleven world-renowned chefs from United’s U.S. hubs and key international cities are each creating a complete meal (appetizer, salad, entrée) inspired by their home city. The meals launch August 1, 2026.
Will the 737 MAX 8 in Guam have seatback screens?
Yes. Every seat on the Guam-based 737 MAX 8 has seatback entertainment, 13-inch HD screens in United First and 10-inch HD screens in Economy, along with Bluetooth connectivity, USB charging, and Wi-Fi available for purchase.
How many premium seats are on the Elevated 787-9?
The aircraft has 99 premium seats out of 222 total: 8 Polaris Studio suites, 56 Polaris seats, and 35 Premium Plus seats. That’s the highest percentage of premium seating among U.S. carriers.
When will Starlink Wi-Fi be available on United flights?
United plans to roll out Starlink to its entire fleet by the end of 2027. Starlink access will be free for all MileagePlus members and will include streaming services, gaming, and other inflight entertainment features.
How can I find award flights on the new Elevated 787-9 routes?
Search United MileagePlus on AwardFares and enter routes like SFO–SIN or SFO–LHR. Filter by business class to see Polaris availability and pricing in miles. You can also set alerts to get notified when award seats open on your preferred dates.
