United Airlines launches the « Super » Business class: caviar, Maxiskem, fast connection (with Starlink) and Privacy Porta

The decline in consumption and the travel demand that begins to flatten in the United States does not scare United Airlines. The one that came out of the pandemic as one of the few truly profitable airlines raises by introducing An even more luxurious version of the business class – that they do not label as before – but also further reducing the seats of that economy. So much so that more than half of the cabin of the next aircraft will be occupied by the armchairs with the most expensive tickets. A reconfiguration that, according to the professionals, could Increase the revenues per flight on average by 15%.

The characteristics

About ten years after introducing the new Business class, Polaris, United renews it, but also adds a more « rich » version. The next Boeing 787-9 that the company will receive will have thus in everything five travel classes. It starts with 8 Suite Polaris Studio with 25% more space of the existing model which, in addition to allowing you to host a second person to chat or play or work, are equipped with sliding door To isolate yourself from others, 27 -inch screen («the largest Among the US companies, « says United), courtesy set with pajamas, slippers and creams, caviar and alcohol and the very high speed connection – and free – provided by Starlink, Elon Musk’s company.

The other classes

Immediately behind there will be 56 Polaris armchairs, The « base » business classwhich will also be equipped with a sliding door, but those who book will have to « be satisfied » with a 19 -inch screen. Following it will be up to 35 seats of the Premium Plus (no even smaller door and monitor), 33 economy plus seats with a few centimeters more than legs and 90 economy seats. Out of a total of 222 seats, in short, 99 – just under half – will be of premium classes. But considering that they occupy more space of the back of the aircraft, there will be more than half of the cabin, it will welcome customers who have spent more to deal better.

The impact on the accounts

To understand the evolution, just think that On average 3% of passengers in the world flies to the premium classes (including First) and these generate the 15% of revenues. « The new cabin was designed to meet the needs of travelers who ask more and more a personalized product, » he explains to Courier Andrew Nocella, United Airlines Chief Commercial Officer. « The investment is $ 150 million a year». But when it can be noted that for the company it is also a way to increase revenues (and profits), the manager does not hide it: « Of course, those who book in Polaris Studio will pay a greater rate, » he says, without providing numbers.

The timing and routes

The first plane with the new configuration is expected by the end of this year And he must also deal with logistical complexities to have the products in time. The first route that will see the double business will be, in 2026, that between San Francisco and Singapore. « A highly lucrative connection and where our current planes have too many few seats in business to satisfy the question », underlines Nocella. Then it will be up to the San Francisco-Londra.

« We invest in the product »

«There are customers who buy only on the basis of the price and the schedules of the flight, but we believe that many, many customers take care of how we make them feel, how we treat them. For this reason we have embarked on a path to invest heavily, and in great, not only in planes, but in the service, technology, experience and product, to conquer customers faithful to our brand « , comments Scott Kirby, United CEO of United just before presenting the new cabins in Brooklyn, New York. » And we are doing it. This of today is really the next step on this trip, to build and create those that will be some of the best planes in the world for our customers « .