United adds premium Dreamliners to four new routes

United Airlines will deploy its upgraded 787-9 Dreamliners with Polaris Studio suites on four international routes from Houston starting October. The aircraft feature 99 premium seats and the largest economy screens globally. Service expands to São Paulo, Tokyo, Sydney, and London by early 2027. Starting October 24, United’s Elevated Dreamliners will operate daily flights from Houston to São Paulo, Tokyo, and Sydney. A fourth route to London Heathrow begins January 5. Each plane carries eight Polaris Studio suites, 56 business-class lie-flat seats, and 35 Premium Plus recliners, totaling 222 seats. Economy includes 90 standard and 33 extra-legroom seats. These aircraft replace older long-haul models on select routes and are part of a planned 20-jet delivery in 2026. United previously used them only on San Francisco-Singapore and London routes. The SFO-Seoul and Zurich services will temporarily lose these planes after October but may return later. Upgrades to Polaris Studio require booking a full Polaris fare first. Travelers seeking premium comfort on transcontinental routes now have more options from Houston. Booking early or holding elite status improves access to the limited Studio suites, which include exclusive amenities like caviar service and 27-inch 4K screens.