United's Premium Capacity Problem: 787-9s Overwhelm Airport Lounges
United Airlines is facing a challenge as it introduces more Boeing 787-9 aircraft with a larger business-class cabin, increasing premium capacity by 33%.
The new configuration features 64 business-class seats, including eight Polaris Studio suites and 56 standard Polaris seats. This represents a significant change in the airline's premium strategy, shifting focus from maximizing economy capacity to capturing higher-value international demand.
The increased premium seating will put pressure on airport lounges, particularly at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where United's Polaris Lounge is relatively small and several international departures can cluster within a short period.
A review of the LAX schedule found that four United 787 flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Beijing can depart within an hour during peak periods. With the new configuration, these flights alone could represent as many as 256 premium passengers, a significant increase compared to the previous configuration.