United Airlines has announced that they will be launching a new subfleet of Airbus A321neo jets called the “Coastliner” later this year on select premium transcontinental routes. This will allow them to offer a true Polaris business class experience on domestic flights for the first time.

The Coastliner will initially serve routes between United’s West Coast hubs of San Francisco and Los Angeles, and Newark. Once the New York JFK service is launched in 2027, it will also be included. The subfleet will consist of 20 Polaris seats, 12 Premium Plus seats, and 129 economy class seats. Passengers flying Polaris will also have access to United Polaris lounges, a first for domestic travel on United.

The main feature of the Coastliner will be the custom-designed, all-aisle access lie-flat seats in the Polaris cabin. These seats have been in development for over five years and have been tested by customers to ensure maximum comfort and privacy. Passengers will also receive amenities such as Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, Perricone MD skincare in amenity kits, and premium headphones from Meridian.

For the first time, United will also offer a premium economy cabin on a narrowbody aircraft, with the inclusion of 12 Premium Plus seats. All seats will have screens and the aircraft will be equipped with high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi. In addition, United is removing three seats to create a snack bar in the rear of the aircraft.

The Coastliner will feature a special livery with distinctive blue bands wrapping around the back of the aircraft. This is part of United’s plan to capture high-yield traffic and reinforce their premium positioning. The first of the 50 planned Coastliners will start flying this summer, with 40 expected to be in service by early 2028.

Currently, these premium transcontinental routes are served by a mix of older 757-200 and 777-200 aircraft, with some 787 Dreamliners. The introduction of the Coastliner will standardize the premium cabin experience and provide a more competitive product for United. However, the success of this move will depend on the demand for premium travel.

United has been aggressively increasing their premium seating across their network, but this strategy may prove challenging if demand softens. Only time will tell if this strategic move will pay off for the airline. The new Coastliner subfleet is set to take flight later this year.