NEWARK, N.J. — Business-class seats now dominate United Airlines’ workhorse Boeing 767-300ERs, and nowhere is that shift more visible than at Newark Liberty International Airport, the hub that sees up to seven daily departures to London Heathrow on the carrier’s newly refurbished, premium-heavy wide-bodies.
Why United rebuilt its aging 767 cabin for today’s traveler
For much of the past decade, airlines have chased higher yields by selling comfort instead of sheer volume. Chicago-based United is following that path with a front-of-plane makeover that emphasizes its Polaris business class and Premium Plus cabins, a strategy designed to offset slim margins in the back. The Boeing 767-300ER entered United’s fleet on April 18, 1991. More than 30 copies arrived through the 1990s, each powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. At one point, the twin-engine jet supplied roughly one-fifth of the carrier’s wide-body capacity. Today, United operates 37 of the type, split between two layouts:
- Twenty-four aircraft carry just 167 passengers. These jets feature 46 Polaris pods, 22 Premium Plus recliners, 43 Economy Plus seats and 56 standard economy seats.
- Thirteen aircraft keep a denser, 214-seat plan with 30 Polaris pods, 46 Economy Plus seats and 138 in standard economy.
The airline plans to retire the entire sub-fleet by 2027, but in the interim the cabin refresh allows United to squeeze more revenue out of high-demand Atlantic markets while giving travelers a noticeably upgraded experience.
Inside Polaris: lie-flat seats and Saks bedding
Rows 1A through 18L make up the Polaris cabin on premium-heavy 767-300ERs. Configured 1-1-1, all 46 Safran Optima seats convert to a fully flat bed measuring 6 feet 6 inches. Seat pitch clocks in at 77 inches, width at 20.6 inches, and every traveler enjoys direct aisle access. A 16-inch HD touchscreen, universal AC outlet and USB port round out the tech. Soft-product perks include Therabody-branded amenity kits plus Saks Fifth Avenue bedding: a day blanket, duvet and cooling gel pillow. Two hot-meal services bookend the flight, and the airline’s much-loved build-your-own ice-cream sundae cart still rolls through the aisles. Polaris customers also gain entry to dedicated lounges at Chicago O’Hare, Houston Intercontinental, Washington Dulles, San Francisco, Newark and Los Angeles; at other gateways they are routed to a United Club or Star Alliance partner facility.
Premium Plus: a middle ground with six-inch recline
Immediately aft of Polaris, rows 20A through 23L house United’s 22-seat Premium Plus cabin in a 2-2-2 arrangement. Each Collins Aerospace MiQ seat is 18.7 inches wide, offers 38 inches of pitch and reclines up to 6 inches. Travelers have adjustable leg and foot rests, 13-inch HD touchscreens, AC and USB power, and a modest amenity kit. When the product debuted in 2019, Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella called it “the perfect option for someone who wants an upgraded experience in the Economy cabin,” Nocella said at the product launch. The fare often undercuts business class by several hundred dollars while delivering many soft-product comforts, including complimentary beer, wine and spirits.
Economy Plus and standard economy still have a role
Beyond the purple-accented Premium Plus divider, rows 31A–31L, 32A–40B and 32K–40L form the 43-seat Economy Plus zone. Seat width remains 18.5 inches but pitch stretches to 34 inches—three more than standard economy—and recline increases up to 4 inches. Aisle-seat armrests move, and each position sports a nine-inch HD screen and AC power. Standard economy fills the tail with 56 seats at 31-inch pitch. Two pairs—rows 43AB and 44AB—are sweet spots, offering 43 inches of legroom plus extendable leg rests.
Where travelers will see the premium-heavy 767 in October
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium show United scheduling more than 1,000 flights on premium-configured 767-300ERs next month. The top trans-Atlantic pairings account for the lion’s share:
- Newark Liberty – London Heathrow: 216 one-way flights / 36,072 seats
- Chicago O’Hare – London Heathrow: 93 flights / 15,531 seats
- Newark Liberty – Naples: 50 flights / 8,350 seats
- Chicago O’Hare – Amsterdam: 31 flights / 5,177 seats
- Chicago O’Hare – Zurich: 31 flights / 5,177 seats
- Newark Liberty – Zurich: 28 flights / 4,676 seats
- Newark Liberty – Nice: 25 flights / 4,175 seats
- Newark Liberty – Frankfurt: 18 flights / 3,006 seats
- Newark Liberty – Athens: 11 flights / 1,837 seats
- Newark Liberty – Paris: 7 flights / 1,169 seats
- Newark Liberty – Geneva: 7 flights / 1,169 seats
- Chicago O’Hare – Dublin: 7 flights / 1,169 seats
- Newark Liberty – Marrakech: 4 flights / 668 seats
- Newark Liberty – Berlin: 3 flights / 501 seats
For travelers originating in or connecting through Newark, Chicago and London, the odds of snagging a lie-flat seat on a relatively petite jet are especially high.
Tips for travelers booking the revamped 767-300ER
- Look for flight numbers in the 3-digit range (e.g., UA16) between Newark or Chicago and London; these are most frequently assigned the premium-heavy layout.
- If booking Premium Plus, choose rows 20A or 20L for the extra space at the bulkhead.
- In Polaris, odd-numbered window seats (A or L) offer the most privacy thanks to their “true” window positioning.
- Row 32 exit-row seats in Economy Plus carry no recline restrictions yet have additional legroom.
- Stop in a Polaris Lounge rather than a United Club when your itinerary and status allow—it’s a markedly different food and beverage spread.
What comes after the 767?
The average age of United’s 767-300ER fleet sits at 29.6 years, and maintenance costs are climbing. New-generation Boeing 787s offer lower fuel burn, quieter cabins and higher humidity—traits that dovetail with the airline’s stated goals of reducing emissions and improving comfort. Until the last 767 exits in 2027, however, travelers can enjoy a wide-body that punches above its weight in business-class real estate, particularly on mid-Atlantic hops where demand for lie-flat seats is robust but overall passenger counts remain modest.
FAQ: United’s premium-heavy 767-300ER
How many Polaris seats are on the premium-heavy 767-300ER?
Forty-six lie-flat pods are arranged 1-1-1 from rows 1 through 18.
What is the seat pitch in Premium Plus?
Thirty-eight inches, with up to a six-inch recline.
Which routes feature the aircraft most often?
Newark–London Heathrow leads, followed by Chicago–London Heathrow and Newark–Naples.
When will the aircraft retire?
United intends to withdraw all 767-300ERs by 2027.
As airlines worldwide double down on premium cabins, United’s aging yet freshly outfitted 767-300ERs provide an instructive snapshot of where the market is headed: fewer seats, more space and higher fares for travelers eager to pay for comfort—at least until the next generation of more efficient jets takes over. — as Nocella told reporters at the launch.
