United Airlines Flyers Score a Long-Awaited Privacy Upgrade

United Airlines has begun unlocking privacy doors on its Polaris business class suites, giving international travelers on select Boeing 787-9 aircraft the option to shut themselves off from the aisle for the first time.

FAA Certification Clears the Way for Sliding Doors

United debuted its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with new "Elevated" interiors earlier this year, but the sliding privacy doors on Polaris suites had been locked in an open position while the airline awaited Federal Aviation Administration certification. That approval has now been granted, and United says the doors are expected to be unlocked across the fleet within weeks.

All premium seating must meet strict FAA certification standards covering safety and evacuation requirements, according to the agency, including flight attendant training on how to instruct passengers using the new seats and features in an emergency. The FAA has noted that while premium seats and suites have grown more complex, the underlying regulatory requirements haven't changed significantly.

United isn't alone in offering the feature. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines both operate business class suites with privacy doors of their own.

Where to Find the New Interiors

United currently flies its Boeing 787-9 with Elevated interiors between San Francisco International Airport and both Singapore Changi Airport and London Heathrow. From September through late October, the aircraft will also serve routes between San Francisco and Seoul's Incheon Airport and Zurich Airport.

Later in the fall, the aircraft will begin operating out of Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, connecting to São Paulo/Guarulhos, Tokyo Narita and Sydney. A Houston-to-Heathrow route is set to begin in early January.

United is also planning similar doors, operable from day one rather than needing later certification, on its upcoming Airbus A321XLR fleet, though it hasn't announced a service start date for those aircraft. The airline expects to have at least 30 Boeing 787s with Elevated interiors in service by 2027.

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