United’s Newest Polaris Suites Just Got a Major Privacy Upgrade
Travelers hoping for extra privacy have a new option on United Airlines.
Customers can now close the doors to Polaris suites on some Boeing 787-9 aircraft in international business class.
United debuted the Dreamliners with new Elevated interiors earlier this year, but the privacy doors had been locked in an open position pending certification by the Federal Aviation Administration.
That certification has now been granted, and United has begun unlocking the sliding doors. All of the doors are expected to be unlocked within weeks.
Several other airlines also offer suites with privacy doors, including Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.
United plans to offer similar doors, operable from day one, in its upcoming Airbus A321XLR, but it has not announced when those aircraft will enter service.
Why the Privacy Doors Needed FAA Certification
All premium seating must meet stringent FAA certification standards to comply with safety and evacuation requirements, according to the federal agency.
Those requirements include flight attendant training on new aircraft seats and safety features, so crew members can properly instruct passengers in an emergency evacuation.
The FAA notes that while premium seats and suites have become more complex in recent years, regulatory requirements have not significantly changed.
Where United’s Upgraded Boeing 787-9s Fly
United currently operates its Boeing 787-9 with Elevated interiors between San Francisco International Airport and Singapore Changi Airport, as well as between San Francisco and London’s Heathrow Airport.
From September until late October, the aircraft will also operate between San Francisco and Seoul’s Incheon Airport and between San Francisco and Zurich Airport.
In late October, the aircraft will begin serving Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. It will operate flights between Houston and São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and Sydney Airport.
Service between Houston and Heathrow will begin in early January.
The airline expects to have at least 30 Boeing 787s with Elevated interiors by 2027.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
