The travel demand between the United States and Australia is extremely huge and in the summer time, it grows even larger. To help with the extra demand, airlines tend of up-gauge the aircraft increasing the amount of seats that are available. To help with the summer demand, United will be replacing an aircraft on one of their routes and the change is very positive for passengers , especially those who are seated in Business.

United operate flights from Sydney to San Francisco & Los Angeles using their 787-9 aircraft. Starting the 5th of December until the 27th of march, United will replace the 787-9 on the San Francisco service with the 777-300ER.

United 777-300ER (Image – United)

Here is the schedule:

UA870 departs Sydney at 10:30am and arrives into Francisco 7:05 am the same day

UA863 departs San Francisco at 10:55pm and arrives into Sydney at 6:55am +2.

Pictured below is the Business Class product on the 787-9:

United 787-9 Business Class (Image – United)

And this is United Polaris which is featured onboard the 777-300ER. As you can see, the aircraft upgrade is very good for passengers seated in this cabin.

United Airlines 777-300ER Polaris Class (Image – United)

United’s 777-300ER seat 350 people spread across 4 cabins, Polaris, Premium Plus, Economy Plus & Economy. The Polaris cabin contains 60 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with a pitch of 78”and a width of 22.” The Premium Plus cabin contains 24 seats in a 2-4-2 layout with a pitch of 38” and a width of 18.5.” The Economy Plus cabin holds 62 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration with a pitch of 34” and a width of 17.05.” And finally, the Economy seats which have the same 3-3-3 configuration but the pitch is 31” and the width is 17.05.”

The upgrade in aircraft is fantastic news for travellers but it’d be nice to see this become more permanent. The compensation on the Aus – US routes is very fierce and I’m surprised UA don’t want to offer their best product considering Delta use their new suites to Sydney already.

Would you fly United Polaris to Sydney?