AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Couches and Coastliners and CRJ-450s. Oh my!
At one of its hangars at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — and flanked by its brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — United Airlines revealed a slate of announcements as part of its annual “United Elevated” event. If you’re a United flyer, there’s plenty to get excited about.
Here’s our on-the-ground recap of five new and exciting things that will roll out or expand over the next couple of years.
United Unveils First “Elevated” Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
The biggest reveal at United’s Elevated event was its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which features the airline’s all-new “Elevated” interior. This aircraft, which we’ll cover in detail in a separate post with plenty of photos, is set to become United’s new flagship.
Up front, you’ll find a completely redesigned Polaris business class cabin with 64 seats. Eight of these are branded as Polaris Studio suites (think business class plus, with elevated service).
On long-haul flights, you’ll pay extra for this differentiated suite and service (around $499), but on domestic flights, you can select these seats without paying extra. Just note that the onboard service won’t differ from the standard Polaris experience behind it when flying within the U.S.
Each business class suite includes doors (which will be operational once approved by the FAA), large 4K OLED touchscreen displays, wireless device charging, air vents, and more.
Behind that, United’s Elevated 787-9 will feature 35 Premium Plus seats, each with 38 inches of pitch. These seats also include 4K OLED touchscreen displays, wireless charging, and winged headrests for added privacy.
In economy, the aircraft will seat 123 passengers, with a portion designated as Economy Plus for extra legroom. Here, United says it will offer the largest seatback entertainment screens in coach, along with ample power outlets and Bluetooth connectivity.
These jets will also feature Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity and self-serve snack bars, and are expected to enter international revenue service in late April 2026.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to United MileagePlus
Meet the CRJ-450: United’s Newly Configured Regional Jet
Have strong opinions of United’s CRJ-200 aircraft? Well, they’re not going away just yet. But they are getting a bit of an upgrade.
Starting in fall 2026 out of both Denver (DEN) and Chicago (ORD), United will launch what it’s calling the CRJ-450.
Inside the CRJ-450, you’ll find a more premium layout with just 41 seats: seven in first class, 16 in Economy Plus, and 18 in standard economy.
United is pitching this as a “private jet-like experience.” These aircraft won’t have overhead bins above first class and will instead feature a dedicated locker for carry-on luggage (which a representative said should reduce the need to gate-check bags), along with Starlink Wi-Fi.
United to Launch Coastliner and Born to Explore A321 Configurations
The Airbus A321 is an incredibly popular jet — and for good reason. United plans to configure its next 100 deliveries of the aircraft in two unique ways.
Like many airlines, United has several Airbus A321XLR aircraft on order. These jets are ideal for flights in the 6-8 hour range, meaning they can cross the Atlantic or reach deep into South America. On these aircraft, United plans to install 20 Polaris business class suites, 12 Premium Plus seats, and 118 economy seats.
It’s worth noting that these Polaris suites will be adapted for a narrowbody aircraft, so they’ll look different from the suites on United’s new Dreamliner. In that sense, they’re more comparable to American Airlines’ A321XLR business class suites, though United’s patented design will differ in both appearance and functionality.
These aircraft will feature Starlink Wi-Fi, a self-serve snack bar in economy, and a colorful “Born to Explore” livery.
But wait, there’s more A321 news.
United also plans to deploy new A321neo deliveries — not XLRs — on transcontinental routes. These “Coastliners” will operate from New York (Newark and potentially JFK, once the airline returns in 2027) to destinations like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
These aircraft will be configured similarly to the A321XLRs, though with 129 economy seats.
United has 100 A321 aircraft on order, with deliveries expected through 2030. Together, these jets will gradually replace the airline’s aging Boeing 757 fleet.
United’s “Relax Row” Turns Coach Into a Couch
Starting in 2027, United will start making coach a bit more comfortable. This'll be especially true for solo travelers or parents with young kids with what it’s calling the “Relax Row.”
Relax Rows will begin rolling out in early 2027 on the airline’s Boeing 787 fleet, along with select Boeing 777 aircraft. Up to 12 rows per plane will gain the ability to convert into a more spacious layout, with a fold-out leg rest that creates a flat surface for resting or sleeping. Each setup will include two pillows and a blanket, plus a stuffed animal if you’re traveling with small children.
United says this feature will be available on more than 200 aircraft by 2030.
Details are still limited on when Relax Rows will be available for purchase or how much they’ll cost, but multiple spokespeople for United indicated that details should be coming soon.
United also mentioned Relax Rows as part of a broader push to make long-haul economy more family-friendly. That's why the airline also announced plans to introduce children’s activity kits, expand family-friendly entertainment options, and offer pre-order meals for kids (think French toast, chicken fingers, and more), while continuing to provide complimentary family seating.
Related: Family Points Pooling: Combine Miles for Faster Free Travel
Connection Saver Is a Big Success
Something United briefly touched on at its United Elevated event was a tool it calls Connection Saver. This feature monitors tight connections and, depending on several factors, can be the reason your connecting flight is held so you and other passengers can make it onboard.
Since rolling it out, United says it has saved more than 4.3 million travelers from missing a connection. That's a big number.
The airline also noted that the internal technology behind Connection Saver only encourages gate agents to hold a flight if it won’t delay arrival. So, even if you wait a few extra minutes at the gate for connecting passengers, you shouldn’t arrive behind schedule.
Related: A Complete Guide to United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Status: Benefits and How to Earn It
Bottom Line
United Airlines’ current leadership isn’t shy about making bold moves and making them loudly. But more importantly, it likes to turn vision into reality quickly, which is pretty admirable.
To that end, there’s a lot for United flyers to look forward to in the months and years ahead. Even if you’re not jazzed about the new CRJ-450, there’s still plenty of neat things on the way. This includes a new subfleet of “Elevated” Dreamliners, swanky Airbus A321s, and a more comfortable experience in coach.
The future of travel (at least as United sees it) is more premium, more comfortable, and more family-friendly. And that’s a direction plenty of travelers can get on board with.
