Originally set to take the skies in mid December, the Boeing 787-8 had some setbacks with its retrofit. But, after one more month, the 787-8, N27908, is set to take its first full flight this coming Wednesday, January 15, from San Francisco to Washington, DC. The plane was scheduled to fly from San Francisco to Washington Dulles earlier, but was forced to fly back to SFO because it had a cracked windshield. The plane was set out of service until Wednesday, where it will finally fly again.
The previous seating arrangement of the aircraft had seats in a 2-2-2 seating with 6 rows. This new Polaris cabin features seven rows of seats, in a much more comfortable 1-2-1 configuration.
Credit: ThePointsGuy
This new configuration puts the seat count on the 787-8 down from 36 seats to just 28 seats. This is interesting, as United's business model has been more focused around premium seating on their aircraft, and their recently upgraded aircraft, such as the 767-300 and the 777-200 have had more Polars seats after the upgrade. The reason for this is probably because the routes that are used with the 787-8 often leave with empty Polaris seats and oversold economy cabins, prompting the airline to balance this demand with their available seat supply on the aircraft.
Also worth noting is the 3 rows after polaris, rows 20-22. United has added a PremiumPlus seating arrangement on this aircraft, which has a 2-3-2 configuration rather than the 3-3-3 configuration this aircraft has on Economy Plus and Basic Economy.
United is also currently retrofitting one of their 787-9s, which is planned to be flying later this year. On their website, United also has a "Polaris Tracker", where users can see the amount of aircraft fitted with the Polaris hard product.
What are your thoughts on United's Polaris product? Leave them in the comments section below.
Probe Into Catastrophic Air India Flight 171 Crash Leans Toward Deliberate Pilot Action Despite New Whistleblower Claims » East Asian Aviation Crisis Deepens as China Suspends 49 Major Air Routes to Japan Amid Diplomatic Tensions » "Cancel Takeoff Clearance" Southwest Pilots Abort High Speed Takeoff to Avoid San Antonio Runway Collision »
Comments (0)
Add Your Comment
SHARE
TAGS
NEWS United United Airlines United Airlines 787 787 787 Dreamliner Polaris New Polaris Polaris 787 787 Retrofit United Airlines PolarisRECENTLY PUBLISHED
FedEx Targets May 31 Return for MD-11 Fleet Following Fatal November Crash
A stark divide has emerged between the world’s two largest logistics giants as they navigate the future of the iconic McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter. While FedEx Express is doubling down on the trijet with a target return-to-service date of May 31, 2026, United Parcel Service (UPS) has officially closed the book on the aircraft’s thirty-year tenure following a devastating accident that sent shockwaves through the industry.
STORIES
READ MORE »
American Airlines Flight Attendant Files Landmark Lawsuit Alleging Severe Illness From Toxic Cabin Air Exposure
The aviation industry is facing renewed legal scrutiny this week as a veteran American Airlines flight attendant has moved forward with a high-stakes lawsuit, alleging that a "fume event" aboard a commercial flight left her with permanent neurological damage. Filed in the final days of January 2026, the case brings the "dirty little secret" of toxic cabin air back into the national spotlight, highlighting a growing rift between crew safety advocates and major carriers.
STORIES
READ MORE »
United A321neo "Coastliner" Could Feature Lie-Flat Premium Seating
In a move set to redefine the competitive "pavement wars" between New York and the West Coast, United Airlines has officially teased the arrival of its highly anticipated "Coastliner" service. As of February 2, 2026, the Chicago-based carrier is moving forward with a specialised sub-fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft designed specifically to capture the high-yield premium transcontinental market.
NEWS
READ MORE »
