By summer 2023, all United Airlines wide body jets used for long haul international flights should feature the new(ish) Polaris seats. This spring we learned about United’s plans for reconfiguring 767-400s. There’s now an update, as the first jet reconfigured jet should be entering service shortly, and we also have the seatmap for the new configuration.
In this post:
United Airlines 767-400s getting new cabins
In 2016 United Airlines revealed its new Polaris business class concept, though the airline sure has been installing the new cabins at a slow pace (in fairness, this is the reality of how things are done at most airlines). As it stands, the one wide body aircraft in United’s fleet to not at all feature the new Polaris seats is the 767-400.
United has 16 of these planes in its fleet, and during the pandemic there had been questions about whether or not United would even keep these planes around (if they were going to be retired, it of course wouldn’t have made sense to reconfigure them).
However, several months ago we learned that United plans to reconfigure all Boeing 767-400s with new cabins, including new Polaris business class and Premium Plus premium economy seats. In addition to new seats, these 767-400s are expected to feature refreshed lavatories, updated Panasonic inflight entertainment, and new LED lighting.
The first Boeing 767-400 to be reconfigured is preparing to once again enter service. Specifically, the plane with the registration code N68061 has been in Hong Kong since July 8 getting cabin work done, and it’s expected to fly to Guam tomorrow, and then enter service in the coming days.
Presumably we’ll soon see United reconfigure multiple 767s at a time, as all 16 767-400s are expected to be reconfigured by spring 2023, in time for the summer 2023 schedule.
How will United’s 767-400s be reconfigured?
How will the number of seats change when United reconfigures its Boeing 767-400s? For context, currently United’s 767-400s feature a total of 240 seats, including:
- 39 business class seats
- 70 Economy Plus (extra legroom economy) seats
- 131 economy class seats
Once reconfigured, United’s 767-400s will feature a total of 231 seats, including:
- 34 Polaris (business class) seats
- 24 Premium Plus (premium economy) seats
- 48 Economy Plus (extra legroom economy) seats
- 124 economy class seats
As you can see, United will “only” be losing nine total seats, representing a ~4% capacity reduction. The airline will be losing five business class seats and 22 extra legroom economy seats, but will be gaining 24 premium economy seats, plus will have a much more competitive business class product.
I’ve always found it interesting how United’s 767-400s don’t have any lavatories at the front of the cabin, as you can see on the above seatmap.
For what it’s worth, the airline will be using the code “76U” internally to refer to these newly reconfigured jets.
Bottom line
United Airlines has started the process of reconfiguring its first Boeing 767-400, and the first plane with the new cabins should enter service shortly. We can expect that the full fleet of 767-400s will be reconfigured by the summer of 2023. United will be installing new Polaris business class seats, as well as Premium Plus premium economy seats. This also means by next spring, United’s Polaris retrofit project should be complete.
It’s good to see that these jets have a bit more life left in them.
What do you make of United’s plans to reconfigure 767-400s?
I wonder what the timeline is for getting the Polaris configured 767's into the HNL-EWR rotation.
Can’t happen too quickly. Just flew that route round trip in first and those old seats are deplorable. Catering has to be upgraded as well.
Are there any misaligned windows in Polaris on this new refit?
I’m running for President. My campaign slogan is to ban @Tim Dunn from commenting on any Delta article. Absolute tool bag. DeLtA!
You need to not take people's opinion so personally. If Tim makes comments you disagree with, move on with your life. Delta has a well run airline operation that is best in class for profitability.
I'm not sure why it is so hard for you or anyone to accept that real facts are still real facts whether you like them or not.
The article specifically notes that United is creating a 4 class (Polaris, Premium Plus, Economy Plus and Economy) configuration on its 767-400s. It is factually accurate to note that Delta did that several years ago.
Those that respond that United did it to its -300ER fleet...
I'm not sure why it is so hard for you or anyone to accept that real facts are still real facts whether you like them or not.
The article specifically notes that United is creating a 4 class (Polaris, Premium Plus, Economy Plus and Economy) configuration on its 767-400s. It is factually accurate to note that Delta did that several years ago.
Those that respond that United did it to its -300ER fleet are incorrect. UA's -300ER fleet does not have the same 4 cabin configuration as what UA envisions for the -400s.
The whole notion that 2 separate topics about the pace of UA's reconfiguration of its widebody fleets begs the legitimate question of why AA and DL have been able to CONSISTENTLY reconfigure its international fleet at much faster rates than UA - and yet there is celebration about UA's plans to reconfigure fleets that will still result in a gap of years beyond what it took other airlines to accomplish.
Either respond to the facts with facts, accept someone else might be right or walk away.
Silencing voices you don't want to hear doesn't mean they are wrong.
Are individual air vents part of the Polarizing?
Why are most of the Economy + seats in the back of the airplane... and most of them in the center section? I'm assuming it is so they could squeeze in one more row of regular economy seats in the more forward section. Otherwise, why would they shove all the E+ people in the center back?
So I booked a J flight on a United 767-400 from BCN to IAD in June 2023... I take it that the airline will then assign a new seat on the reconfigured Polaris seating chart?
With all due respect, Delta reconfigured its 767 4009s several years ago and are now working on their 767 300s
Well, the UA 767-400s were in storage (except for 1 or 2) from March/April 2020 for about a year, delaying the project.
With all due respect, United reconfigured its 767 300s years ago are now working on their 767 400s
Do all United 767-300ERs have Premium Plus and direct aisle access in Polaris? If not, then they are not comparable.
> Do all United 767-300ERs have Premium Plus and direct aisle access in Polaris?
They all have direct aisle access in Polaris (1-1-1), and the last 30 will have PP by Spring '23. I'll take that over the 1-2-1 DL 767 business "coffins" any day.
I would purposely avoid a DL One 767 though, both versions. 1-2-1 is too tight for that aircraft in the way they configured it. At the same time if I wanted PS I would prefer 763/764 over any other DL plane
none of which changes that
1. The DL 763 and 764 have different Delta One products
2. 1/3 of DL's 763 fleet is used on its JFK transcons where it has the highest revenue share to both LAX and SFO.
3. United still doesn't have direct aisle business class access on its entire 767 fleet, something Delta has had for years.
4. United doesn't have Premium Plus on its 767-300ER fleet which were supposedly reconfigured "years ago"
The non-direct-aisle-access business class seats are getting phased out, and are getting replaced directly by the configuration mentioned in the article. After that, all 767s will have DAA
What is wrong with you?
Delta sucks Tim! They have such an inconsistent J product, it is only good on the A350 and A330neo, and Polaris is still better than that! Delta’s seat on the regular A330, and 767-300 (which is the bulk of their fleet) is a disgrace.
Also, let’s not even talk about what a joke Delta’s network is compared to UA.
UA reconfigured all the 300s first and now doing the 400s... just backwards
Anyone know when all the 777-200s will be reconfigured, if at all? The ones flying to/from Hawaii have all the old, super dense J seats that seat forward and backwards
Just put something similar on the article about the 787 polaris. I don't foresee the 777-200 getting true polaris, but maybe a new "medium-haul" first product?
Never. That's the domestic high density config and will not be updated.
And don’t forget that was United’s prepolaris international equipment.
the Polaris AND OR Premium economy plus makes a huge difference on longer flights and worth the difference in price
Any thoughts on why they would put a bunch of economy plus seats in the back middle section of the plane? I would rather sit in a regular seat on the 2 seat side than in a middle economy plus seat.
Hi TJ,
The reasons for doing the middle seats is to provide for extra legroom. The window seat further back do not have economy plus because there would be too many misaligned "true windows" otherwise with the pitch of those seats.