United unveils new first-class seats in nearly once-in-a-decade refresh

United Airlines On Wednesday it unveiled its first new seat in nearly a decade for passengers in the front of the plane, becoming the latest airline to upgrade its cabin as carriers struggle for higher-paying passengers.

The new First Class seat for domestic narrow-body flights features better technology such as armrest wireless charging stations and wing-mounted headrests. There will also be an 11″ x 19″ bulkhead between the seats, which are in a two-by-two configuration.

United and competitors like Delta Airlines And JetBlue Airways They have upgraded their Business Class or First Class seats in recent months to provide more privacy and more space for customers willing to pay a premium for travel. Last year, Delta debuted domestic first-class seats that also feature privacy suites at the top of the seat, while JetBlue redesigned the Mint class to offer seats with sliding doors.

Airlines are clamoring for new cabins and planes, but supply chain delays have slowed some of those efforts, including at United, as the airline industry struggles to rebuild itself after the recession of the Covid pandemic.

United’s new first-class seat will debut on A Boeing 737 this month. The company said it expects to have 200 narrow-body aircraft such as 737s and Airbus A321neos on domestic routes by 2026.

“There isn’t one seat that can probably meet all of our needs, but this is the seat around which we want to build our future in the domestic space,” Mark Morin, United’s managing director of identity, product and loyalty, told CNBC.

The seats will feature three types of charging: wireless, a USB-C port, and an AC port. It also features 13-inch screens in the seatbacks, 18-by-8.5-inch tray tables, and a new seat cushion.

Morin said the airline considered dozens of seat variations before settling on this model, which is made by French airline giant Safran.

Not every plane will get the new seat, but United also plans to upgrade its existing first class seat, which it began flying in 2015. Some of the new features will include headrest privacy barriers and new pillows.

United also flies some wide-body aircraft domestically between hubs. Those planes have high-end Polaris seats, which convert into a bed.