As business class gets better, United Airlines axes first class
By David Flynn, October 26 2016
December marks not only the launch of United Airlines' all-new Polaris business class but the beginning of the end for United's first class.
Fly Polaris in the air, enjoy Polaris on the ground
The Star Alliance member will phase out its 'Global First' offering in favour of the new business class design, which sports many of the creature comforts once reserved for the airline's highest-paying passengers.
Fully-flat beds, large video screens, direct aisle access from every seat, upmarket meals and even bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue are all part of the Polaris package.
Read more: United Airlines launches new 'Polaris' business class seat
It's an evolution which has painted first class into a corner and in United's case, into extinction.
New jets – starting with the Boeing 777-300ER on which the new Polaris seats will arrive in late December 2016, and followed by the Boeing 787-10 and the long-range Airbus A350-1000 – will no longer boast an exclusive first class cabin nestled into the nose.
"Phasing our first class"
Existing aircraft with United's Global First at the pointy end will see those seats ripped out and replaced by business class as part of the rolling Polaris upgrade as United moves towards a streamlined two-tier layout split between business and economy.
"As we update our fleet over the next several years... we will be phasing out the first class cabin and moving toward a two-cabin experience for international travel" the airline says.
In the short term, United will even rebrand its Global First cabin to become Polaris Global First and combine the new Polaris-class meals and service with "the elevated amenities and specialised attention you’ve come to expect from our international first class service."
First class lounges also for the axe
Most Global First lounges will be shuttered and transformed into dedicated Polaris lounges, although it's believed that in some cases – including San Francisco – a larger and more centrally-located United Club will be "Polaris'd" while the old first lounge is converted into a United Club.
Polaris lounges will also be the exclusive domain of business class travellers on United and its Star Alliance partners, with top-tier frequent flyers booked into economy relegated to the United Club.
Each Polaris lounge will feature a tended bar
While many airlines have been winding back on first class, United is among the first to abandon its most-premium cabin.
Competitor American Airlines offers international first class only on its Boeing 777-300ER fleet and some 777-200 jets which have not yet been refurbished with the airline's own new business class seats.
And while Delta Air Lines tops out at business class, its next-generation seats – slated to debut on the Airbus A350 from late 2017 – edge closer to first class suites with sliding doors to turn the seat into a private cocoon.
Also read:
- Qatar Airways readies 'super business class'
- Concept designs for new Singapore Airlines first, business class
- Emirates to launch new luxury first class A380 suites next year
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2012
Total posts 134
As the World of First Class travel shrinks, how long will it be before some airline executive sitting in a marketing boardroom announce's a "new plan" for a radical make over of air travel - by launching "first class". I'll give it five years before it all comes back again!
20 May 2015
Total posts 581
I doubt this.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 14
Delta does this already - Delta First domestically is only marginally better than sitting in the front row of Jetstar!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 444
United really didn't have much to "boast" about its executive "First" class anyway.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1209
The death of First Class is pretty understandable. It is basically a class for people who don't have to pay for the tickets. Most employers are even getting leery about J Class these days with lots demanding flights under 9 hours in Y. My employer is basically Y everywhere and, if necessary, they'll give you an extra day to recover when you arrive.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 413
Oh you mean to tell me an American carrier actually had something called first class?? I would never have guessed it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Oct 2016
Total posts 161
Objectively, the only place First Class fits these days is in the A380, and then it is purely as a function of total payload and weight distribution!
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 49
While J seats are much improved I can tell you from my experience that a true F class is still distinctive. I flew JAL F and walked back to the J cabin and was surprised how cramped it was. The thing with F is space, exclusive cabin, check-in, cabin service, and security (at Narita JAL has a F only security room). For 30 years the rise in corporate, shared private jets has taken the high rollers out of the commercial F cabins. Take Europe, only LH, BA, LX, Alitalia, AF offer int'l F. Compare that to 14 or so carriers in Aust./Asia.
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