• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Travel & LeisureUnited Airlines Holdings

Caviar at 20,000 feet: United Airlines will be taking business class to the next level

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 13, 2025, 10:52 AM ET
United Airlines is making Business Class more appealing to some flyers.
United Airlines is making Business Class more appealing to some flyers. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
  • United is boosting its international business-class service. Starting in 2027, some flyers will have access to caviar service, pajamas, and noise-cancelling headphones. The luxury will come with a premium price tag, though.

Flying business class on an international flight is getting swankier on United Airlines.

Recommended Video

The carrier is upgrading the perks to passengers in its Polaris Studio suites starting next year, offering caviar, noise-cancelling headphones, and a soft pair of pajamas to lure flyers to buy a ticket.

The new seating will be a part of a refreshed cabin design in Boeing Dreamliner jets. By 2027, United expects to have 30 planes converted.

Each of those will have eight of the Polaris Studios. And if people back in coach thought they were jealous of the people in the front of the plane before, they haven’t seen anything yet.

The studios will be 25% bigger than current Polaris seats (which have more legroom and convert to a lie-flat bed for sleeping. There will, of course, be privacy doors and some will include an extra ottoman (with a seatbelt) for visitors to the passenger.

As you might expect, this sort of luxury comes with a price—and United’s not ready to disclose that yet. Current Polaris seats are a little under four times the cost of an economy ticket, however.

United is the latest carrier to upgrade its business-class seating. Delta currently offers suites with doors as part of its Delta One service on select flights, and American will offer doored suites starting this summer.

Other passengers will see some upgrades as well. United says flyers in Premium Plus seats will have access to privacy dividers and wireless charging pads. And everyone on the planes will be getting bigger seat back screens.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Travel & Leisure

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Travel & Leisure

Willie Walsh, wearing a blue suit, looks to his right with his mouth slightly open.
EnergyAviation
Jet fuel supply disruptions are comparable to 9/11 and could take months to replenish even if Hormuz Strait is reopening, airline trade group warns
By Sasha RogelbergApril 9, 2026
2 days ago
southwest
North AmericaAir Travel
Less than a year after ditching its famous ‘bags fly free’ policy, Southwest is hiking prices again
By Rio Yamat and The Associated PressApril 8, 2026
3 days ago
Delta’s CEO says AI’s biggest opportunity in aviation isn’t inside the plane—it’s air traffic control
AIFortune 500: Titans and Disruptors of Industry
Delta’s CEO says AI’s biggest opportunity in aviation isn’t inside the plane—it’s air traffic control
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 7, 2026
4 days ago
Ryanair CEO says book summer trips before fares soar, predicting French air traffic controllers more likely to cause flight chaos than fuel shortages
Travel & LeisureAirline industry
Ryanair CEO says book summer trips before fares soar, predicting French air traffic controllers more likely to cause flight chaos than fuel shortages
By Jason MaApril 4, 2026
6 days ago
Watches like this $455,000 timepiece can’t be made by a machine—and that’s exactly why they’re the ultimate flex amid the analog revival
MagazineWatches
Watches like this $455,000 timepiece can’t be made by a machine—and that’s exactly why they’re the ultimate flex amid the analog revival
By Adam EraceApril 4, 2026
7 days ago
Checking a bag on United Airlines now costs $10 more as Iran war sends jet fuel costs up nearly 100% in major hubs
Travel & LeisureAir Travel
Checking a bag on United Airlines now costs $10 more as Iran war sends jet fuel costs up nearly 100% in major hubs
By Rio Yamat and The Associated PressApril 3, 2026
8 days ago

Most Popular

Scottie Scheffler joined Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in golf's $100M club—and donated his entire Ryder Cup stipend to charity
Success
Scottie Scheffler joined Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in golf's $100M club—and donated his entire Ryder Cup stipend to charity
By Fortune EditorsApril 10, 2026
19 hours ago
Mark Cuban admits he made a mistake letting go of the Mavericks: 'I don't regret selling. I regret who I sold to'
Investing
Mark Cuban admits he made a mistake letting go of the Mavericks: 'I don't regret selling. I regret who I sold to'
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
2 days ago
Schools across America are quietly admitting that screens in classrooms made students worse off and are reversing years of tech-first policies
Innovation
Schools across America are quietly admitting that screens in classrooms made students worse off and are reversing years of tech-first policies
By Fortune EditorsApril 10, 2026
1 day ago
The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined
Economy
The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
2 days ago
A Meta employee created a dashboard so coworkers can compete to be the company's No. 1 AI token user—and Zuckerberg doesn't even rank in the top 250
AI
A Meta employee created a dashboard so coworkers can compete to be the company's No. 1 AI token user—and Zuckerberg doesn't even rank in the top 250
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
2 days ago
The Navy confirmed an ‘abundant amount’ of Uncrustables when the Artemis II crew lands. Smucker’s just offered them a lifetime supply
Politics
The Navy confirmed an ‘abundant amount’ of Uncrustables when the Artemis II crew lands. Smucker’s just offered them a lifetime supply
By Fortune EditorsApril 10, 2026
13 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.