United Activates Sliding Doors on Polaris Business Class Suites

United Airlines has finally activated the sliding privacy doors on its new Polaris business class suites. The Chicago-based carrier's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners have been equipped with these doors for months, but they remained locked in the open position due to regulatory approval issues.

The doors are now operational on select long-haul routes where United faces stiff competition from carriers like Delta and American Airlines. Passengers can close their doors for added privacy during flights, a feature that has been central to the Polaris product's design since its introduction nearly a decade ago.

The reconfigured 787-9 aircraft will carry a premium-skewed layout with 64 Polaris business class seats, including eight larger Polaris Studio suites. The Studios offer roughly 25 percent more personal space than standard Polaris seats and feature a dedicated ottoman that doubles as a companion seat for dining.

United has indicated that it plans to expand the configuration across additional Dreamliners and eventually to its incoming Boeing 787-10 fleet. The airline's loyalty program will also see changes, with award pricing and upgrade instrument redemptions expected to be influenced by the introduction of Polaris Studio suites.