Wondering what the new Polaris business class seat will look like on United Airlines‘ single-aisle aircraft? A recently approved patent shows several key details, including unique design elements which increase cabin density.
It has been recognized that in an arrangement in which the seating elements are orientated at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction, some space can be shared between seated passengers in adjacent seat units to achieve a relatively high PAX density…
– Summary section of patent US11691736B2
Shared shoulder room
The designs show a herringbone layout for seats, set at a 49° angle from the direction of travel. That offset, similar to the recently launched Collins Aerospace Aurora design, allows for a higher cabin density while still delivering a lie-flat bed for passengers.
The newly patented design adds a “space-sharing region” where one passenger gets space at shoulder level and the adjacent passenger gets a bit of extra space for their lower arm, further increasing cabin density.
The patent describes it thusly:
In the space-sharing region, the upper part of the screen may overhang the seat pan of the first seat unit, when the seat units are in the seating configuration. Such an arrangement may provide shoulder space for the second seating unit, without substantially impacting on the useable space for the passenger in the first seat unit (because that overhang may be above the arm space of the passenger in the first seat unit). The lower part of the screen preferably does not overhang the seat pan of the first seat unit when the seat units are in the seating configuration.
The patent document lists several possible dimensions for the seats, but one rendering shows them pitched at 28″ while still providing a 75-78″ bed length. That’s an incredible seating density while delivering direct aisle access for every passenger on board.
Read more: Aurora single-aisle lie-flat business class seats unveiled by Collins Aerospace
The patent renderings also show 14 rows of the seat, which is a large premium cabin. While it could be installed in a smaller layout, this would be in line with the older p.s. cabins that operated premium transcon markets for United in the past. It also aligns with an application submitted in 2019 to allow for higher offset angle seats on the 737 MAX 10. That type has long been expected to have a premium configuration subfleet for transcon ops.
Similarly, the A321XLR is confirmed to have a lie-flat bed option on board for its long-haul mission profile. That is a seat previously described by Patrick Quayle as taking top features of the twin-aisle Polaris design and adapting them to the single-aisle market.
Read more: JetBlue’s Mint Studio to London: Most of the premium, none of the crowd
Based on the measurements included in the documents the seats should be viable for both aircraft types. Both the MAX 10 and A321XLR are anticipated to enter the United Fleet in the next couple years, though certification and production timelines remain in flux for both types.
What’s missing?
Notably absent from the seat descriptions in both patents is any mention of privacy doors. Perhaps that is an option in the design and would not affect either patent so it was excluded. And it seems unlikely that United would go to market at this point without them given the competitive landscape. But that would not be a unique feature to patent at this time, so it is somewhat understandable.
Read more: flyDubai introduces Business Suite lie-flat for 737 MAX
Also notably absent in the design is any sort of extra premium layout for the bulkhead row seats. While some airlines have taken the opportunity to further up-sell within the forward cabin, even in a single-aisle layout, the new Collis Aurora seat keeps that space for galley carts. It is unclear how the United seat will use the additional room on board, but making a more premium passenger offering does not appear to be in the offing based on the drawings.
Who will make the seats?
The patents were filed by United Airlines, but the inventors listed are all employees of UK-based design firm Acumen. The patents are also assigned to United.
Acumen was also the design partner for the original Polaris seats, with Zodiac (now Safran Seats) building them based on the Optima platform. That’s no guarantee for the new single-aisle option, but it seems the most likely candidate.
Read more: SilkAir selects Thompson Vantage for flat-bed upgrades
The patent referenced in this report is US11691736 (specific to the arm overlap).
With thanks to the eagle-eyed B.B. for the tip on this patent.
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So its the Virgin Atlantic / Air NZ seat…
While it bears some similarities to that older product, it is very much not the same. Among other things, it slides into bed mode rather than flipping over. And it is installed at a much sharper angle relative to the fuselage. Nothing is flying yet with the 49 degree offset.
Premium economy starts to look better and better as a product for those who want window seats.
Given the low density, I’m sure the exits just behind the wing will be deactivated, and therefore no mid-cabin lavatory. A similar lavatory layout as JetBlue, two forward and to aft, will make for very difficult pre-departure and inflight service with heavy aisle traffic.
Good luck looking out of the window with that set up, unless you like a stiff neck! I can imagine the seat backs block out most of the window, as they do on NZs coffin style seating. At least the Mint config on B6s 321LRs still have a decent amount of window view even if you do still annoyingly have to turn quite a bit too see out
The sardines are missing from the diagram – was that intentional?
When I see an isle full of bare feet I loose my appetite. Let’s hope the partitions extend the full length of the bed.
Window schmindow
Not a fan at all. This layout leave you with zero feeling of personal space. Flown a few airlines in the past 5 months, and one thing I personally look for is the feeling of having space around me, inside my little cubicle.
Alas, space means fewer seats in the cabin, and the airlines are way more keen to sell seats than not.
Most who fly United business class don’t need to look out the window. We have flown so much.
If you think this is cramped, when was the last time you flew coach?
I dunno…with 1800+ flights so far in my life I still very much appreciate the views.
But it is a bed on a plane, so that’s worth appreciating.
Air Canada had a similar 45 degree angle (approx.) set up in its business class for many years, and I believe that such a configuration is much better than United’s current Polaris configuration, not only for privacy but especially for taller passengers. I believe that one of the main benefits of overseas business travel is the ability to sleep in a lay flat bed, but the little cubby hole in which we have to jam our feet in the current Polaris setup makes that very difficult. Having tried it numerous times, I now specifically try to avoid any overseas travel in a plane with the current Polaris setup.
I was sorry to see some of the negative comments about this new configuration, but it appears that those commentators have not actually flown in such a setup. I hope they will reserve their negative comments until they have been able to try this new Polaris. Again, I believe it would be a great improvement, especially for the lay flat bed.
Well, this one still definitely has a foot well to contend with, as well as the new arm well overlap thing. So, yes, worth seeing how it actually works in service, but definitely some things to be cautious about.
As for the seat angle relative to the fuselage, there are none this sharp flying yet. A couple other airlines have committed to the Aurora seat from Collins that is also 49 degrees. But none are in service yet.
So the person in back of me farts and that is right in line with my head. Stinky!
That drawing reminded me of diagrams of the cargo layout in early 19th century transatlantic slave ships. I wonder when we can expect to see this in coach?
Looks like there is a new “coffin class” on the plane.
I stopped flying Virgin because of the herringbone design, this seems to be the same unless there is privacy built in.