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 and the exclusive Polaris Studio 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 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 or consider one of the best United Airlines credit cards to boost your rewards balance.