United Airlines A321XLR: New Business Class Polaris Cabins, Routes and More

CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) ordered 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft in December 2019, aiming to replace aging Boeing 757-200s and expand into new long-haul markets. The aircraft type entered commercial service in late 2024 with Iberia (IB) and Aer Lingus (EI), while United is projected to receive its first delivery in early 2026.

The A321XLR will enable United to operate thinner transatlantic routes and selected Latin America services from hubs such as Newark (EWR), with the aircraft configured in a premium-heavy layout featuring an all-new Polaris business class product.

Photo: SMBC Aviation

United Airlines A321XLR Plans and Strategy

United Airlines intends to use the A321XLR primarily on “long and thin” markets—routes that demand long range but don’t justify larger widebody capacity. Examples include Newark (EWR) to Bogotá (BOG) and Newark (EWR) to Edinburgh (EDI).

The A321XLR’s fuel efficiency compared to the Boeing 757-200 makes it a more viable option for such markets.

This flexibility not only allows United to maintain service on routes historically operated by the 757 but also to add destinations where operating larger widebody aircraft would not be profitable, OMAAT flagged.

Detailed Cabin Configuration

United’s Airbus A321XLRs will feature a total of 150 seats in four classes of service:

• 20 Polaris Business Class seats
• 12 Premium Plus premium economy seats
• 36 Economy Plus seats with extra legroom
• 82 standard economy seats

The layout includes one forward lavatory, shared by business class passengers and flight crew, and three aft lavatories positioned alongside a compact snack bar.

Photo: United

Polaris Business Class for the A321XLR

United is introducing a completely new Polaris business class seat specifically designed for narrowbody operations.

Unlike the widebody Polaris product, this seat will adopt a herringbone configuration at a 49-degree angle to maximize density. Each seat will provide a fully flat bed of 75–78 inches in length and direct aisle access.

Notably, the seats will feature sliding privacy doors and a “space-sharing region” design to optimize cabin footprint. Industry reports indicate United’s design is based on the Adient Altitude seat, giving the airline exclusive use of this customized version unless licensed to others.

This approach is comparable to JetBlue’s Mint business class on the Airbus A321LR, though United’s configuration will be denser. By contrast, competing products like Airbus subsidiary Stelia’s OPERA seat or Safran’s VUE concept are considered more spacious, but less space-efficient.

Photo: Adient

Premium Plus and Economy Offerings

The inclusion of Premium Plus on the A321XLR represents a first for United narrowbodies. This cabin mirrors the widebody version with extra recline, legroom, and enhanced service. Configured in a 2-2 layout, it caters to travelers seeking comfort without upgrading to Polaris.

Economy Plus seats will provide additional legroom over standard economy, continuing United’s focus on upselling seating choices. The bulk of the cabin will remain standard economy, with 82 seats in a 3-3 arrangement.

Photo: Tobias Gudat

Competitive Landscape: American Airlines A321XLR

American Airlines (AA), the first U.S. carrier to order the A321XLR, has also committed to 50 aircraft.

American plans to debut its version in late 2025 or early 2026, featuring a similar three-cabin layout with fully flat business class, premium economy, and standard economy.

The A321XLR fills a critical gap in American’s fleet, as the airline retired all Boeing 757s and 767s during the pandemic. With the Boeing 787 as its smallest active long-haul aircraft, American cannot economically serve certain markets that the A321XLR will open.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Bottom Line

United Airlines (UA) is scheduled to introduce its Airbus A321XLR fleet in 2026, with aircraft designed for premium transatlantic and Latin American routes.

The configuration features a new Polaris business class with lie-flat herringbone seats, Premium Plus premium economy, and a balanced economy layout.

While the new Polaris design maximizes density and direct aisle access, its efficiency-driven herringbone layout may not match the comfort of alternative narrowbody premium seats already in service.

Still, the A321XLR represents a strategic step for United, replacing 757 operations and unlocking new destinations with a fuel-efficient narrowbody solution.

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