Fly United Polaris Studio Suites Domestically for a Limited Time

For a limited time, you have a rare opportunity to fly in United's brand-new international business class suites without leaving the country. The airline is introducing its latest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, featuring [elevated interiors](https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-boeing-787-elevated-interior-polaris-studios-coming-soon/) and the exclusive [Polaris Studio](https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-new-cabins-hands-on/) suites, on a domestic route. These special flights are designed to help crews get familiar with the new aircraft before they begin long-haul service in late April. ## **Domestic Flight Schedule & Pricing** If you want to get a sneak peek of this top-tier product, you'll need to book a flight between **San Francisco (SFO)** and **Houston (IAH)**. These special flights are scheduled to run from **March 29 through April 29**. Keep an eye out for these specific flight numbers: * **San Francisco to Houston:** UA 2498, departing at 9:10 a.m. * **Houston to San Francisco:** UA 382, departing at 4:45 p.m. One-way fares from SFO to IAH start at **$789** for a first-class seat in the Polaris cabin, with Economy Plus from **$528** and standard economy from **$394**. If you’re flying from IAH to SFO, first-class fares start at **$894** during the first week of service before dropping to **$744** in the second week. For those looking to use award miles, you can book a first-class seat starting at **64,500** [United MileagePlus miles](https://thepointsguy.com/loyalty-programs/know-united-mileageplus/) or an economy seat from **21,800** miles. ## **Identifying and Booking the New Aircraft** To make sure you’re booking the right flight, you’ll need to do a little detective work. First, check that your flight is being operated by a **Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner**. The most reliable way to confirm is by checking the seat map. The correct aircraft will have two distinct Polaris business class cabins: a forward cabin with **rows 1-8** and a smaller second cabin with **rows 9-17**. The most desirable seats, the *Polaris Studio* suites, are located in the bulkhead **rows 1 and 9**. On these domestic flights, you can select these premium spots at no extra cost, a significant perk considering United plans to charge extra for them on international routes. A word of caution: airlines sometimes make last-minute aircraft swaps due to operational needs, so there's always a small chance the plane could be changed. ## **Features of United's New 'Elevated' Interiors** This new aircraft interior represents a major upgrade across all cabins. Here’s what you can expect: * ***Polaris Studio***: There are eight of these extra-large suites, which are about **25% bigger** than the standard Polaris seat. They boast huge **27-inch 4K entertainment screens** with Bluetooth connectivity, a large side table, and a personal wardrobe. * ***Polaris Suites***: The main business class cabin contains **56** of these updated suites. They feature new **19-inch screens** and privacy doors, though the doors are not yet operational. * ***Premium Plus***: In the **35** premium economy seats, you’ll find new winged privacy dividers and crisp **16-inch 4K screens**. * ***Economy***: Even the **123** main cabin seats see an improvement, with new **13-inch screens** that are a big step up from older models. The entire cabin has an upscale feel, with sophisticated finishes like dark woodgrain paneling and quartzite surfaces. ## **Conclusion & Next Steps** This short-term domestic service offers a fantastic chance to experience United’s best international seat at a domestic price point. It’s important to remember that while you get the new hard product, the onboard service will be the standard domestic first-class offering, not the full international Polaris experience with elevated dining and amenities. After these familiarization flights end, these new Dreamliners are scheduled to begin flying internationally on **April 22**, starting with the route from San Francisco to Singapore (SIN). If you're looking to book one of these flights with miles, now is a great time to learn more about the [United MileagePlus program](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/know-united-mileageplus/) or consider one of the [best United Airlines credit cards](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/united/) to boost your rewards balance.