United's Polaris Suites Get Much-Awaited Doors

United Airlines has finally unlocked the defining feature of its new Polaris business class suites - sliding privacy doors. After months of anticipation, the airline has secured FAA certification and begun manually activating the doors across its fleet.

The Polaris Studio suites, which occupy the front row of the business class cabin, offer roughly 25 percent more personal space than a standard Polaris seat, along with a dedicated ottoman that doubles as a companion seat for dining. The door activation marks one of the most significant overhauls of United's premium cabin since Polaris was introduced nearly a decade ago.

The reconfigured Boeing 787-9 aircraft will initially enter service on select long-haul routes where United faces stiff competition, including transatlantic and transpacific flights. The airline plans to expand the configuration across additional Dreamliners and eventually to its incoming Boeing 787-10 fleet.