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American and 
United Airlines have undertaken a major strategic pivot to a premium-heavy long-haul fleet. Currently, 
American Airlines leads the way with 30 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners with all-new cabin interiors. United is not far behind with 20 slated for delivery this year, but the real contest will be down the line, as United has an enormous order for future widebodies. Notably, neither one has chosen to order the upcoming Boeing 777X, and they continue to invest in 787s instead.
These juggernauts of the US domestic market are two pillars of the ‘Big Three’ legacy airline triad. 
Delta Air Lines has gone in a different direction with most of its twin-aisle jets coming from Airbus. Indeed, Delta only placed its first Dreamliner order early this year. American has got a head start on United, but, as the current owner and operator of the world’s largest commercial aircraft fleet, the latter’s long-term investment will put it ahead by magnitudes.
The 787-9P: American’s New Flagship
American Airlines currently has 20 examples of the new 787-9P Dreamliner with 65% more premium seating in the new configuration. The jets debuted in summer 2025 with the first class cabin removed and a new, enlarged business class section. These ‘premium heavy’ widebodies will be joined by 30 more in the future for a grand total of 50 in the fleet. The new seating layout has 51 Flagship seats and 32 premium economy seats for a total of 83 premium options.
The new Flagship Suite is the highlight of the new premium interior. This is the first business class product in the history of American Airlines to have a sliding privacy door on every single suite pod. The front row in business class will also have an extra-large bed space and over 40% more area than the other suites. The business class seats will also have a unique chaise longue, which American calls the first of its kind in commercial aviation.
AA’s new 32-seat premium economy cabin features privacy headrest wings, 13-inch 4K screens, and wireless charging at every seat, according to Runway Girl. These are also the first American widebodies to feature Viasat high-capacity Ka-band Wi-Fi, which will be complimentary for AAdvantage members starting this year. Beyond new deliveries, American is retrofitting its entire fleet of 20 Boeing 777-300ERs to match this 70+ seat premium standard as well.
United’s Elevated Experience
United Airlines is trailing behind American on the timeline, with its first premium heavy 787 Dreamliners rolling out nearly one year later than its rival. However, for travelers who are looking for an elevated experience, it will be worth the wait. The United aircraft will have 99 premium seats, making them the most premium heavy of any jetliner in service in the United States. On top of that, United is currently planning to purchase nearly three times as many of the jets as American.
The new premium heavy United 787 will introduce several firsts and take the crown as the leader in several market categories when the jet is introduced. First off is the United Polaris Studio in the front row of the business cabin, which will be 25% larger than the standard seats in the section. These suite pods will also have the largest in-flight entertainment screen in America, with a 27-inch 4K OLED display.
Next up are the upgraded Polaris Suites. There will be 64 of these in each of the upgraded aircraft. Just like the Polaris Studio, all of these pods will have sliding privacy doors as well as wireless charging in 19-inch 4K OLED screens. The premium economy section will be expanded to 35 seats and will also get wireless charging plus privacy dividers.
Even the economy section is getting an upgrade with the same high-quality seatback IFE screens, albeit slightly smaller at 13 inches wide. Every seat in these new jets, including in economy, will have Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headphones and high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi. On account of the large premium cabins, these special 787s will shrink the economy section from 149 on a standard jet down to just 90 seats.
United Next: An Iconic Carrier’s Bold Strategy
United is pursuing a much more aggressive growth strategy than that of American or Delta Air Lines. Each of these airlines has followed a much more cautious fleet modernization and replacement plan. United has opted to go all in on premium-heavy aircraft with sweeping replacement plans that we’ll see its world-leading fleet of jetliners become not only the largest but the best equipped as well.
The entire US airline industry is undergoing a ‘Great Upgauging’ focused on ‘premiumization.’ United CEO Scott Kirby is betting that by offering more premium seats on larger mainline jets, United can squeeze out low-cost carriers and better compete with Delta for high-paying corporate travelers. Premium-seat customers generate a disproportionate amount of airline profits. High-end travelers are also less sensitive to economic swings, providing airlines with more stable revenue during downturns.
United operates the largest international network of any US carrier, and its order for over 180 widebody aircraft is designed to support a 100% recovery and expansion of long-haul business travel. A large portion of United’s order (including 100+ Dreamliners) is required to replace its aging Boeing 767 and older 777 fleets by 2030. United announced its plans in 2022, and American must keep pace with the ongoing improvements of its rivals to stay competitive for lucrative corporate accounts and wealthy travelers.
What Are The Benefits Of Flying In American Airlines’ New Premium Economy?
The refreshed premium economy seats are more comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and technologically advanced than older seats.
What’s The Deal At Delta?
Although Delta Air Lines is not following a similar trajectory with exceptionally heavy premium aircraft configurations, it does have the Airbus A350-900 featuring 40 Delta One Suites. While this is a much lower percentage of the total aircraft capacity compared to American and United, it is a significant change from its predecessors, with many economy seats sacrificed to make way for the enlarged business class cabin.
Delta has also ordered the larger A350-1000, which is expected to introduce Next Generation Suites that will have features like full-height sliding doors that create a private ‘cocoon.’ Similar to the United cabin, there will be wireless charging and high-resolution 4K touch screens for IFE. The A350 also has Bluetooth connectivity, and the business suites will have customizable ambient lighting as well as ‘do not disturb’ indicators.
The Premium Select cabin on the A350-1000 is expected to be one of the largest and most refined in Delta’s fleet. Its seats will offer up to 38 inches of pitch, 18.5 to 19 inches of width, and seven inches of recline. Each seat includes an adjustable leg rest and footrest, designed to feel more like domestic first class. Passengers will also receive elevated meal service with real glassware and linens, along with premium amenity kits.
What You’ll Find On United Airlines’ Luxuriously Retrofitted Boeing 767-300ERs
The widebody features a premium heavy configuration designed to create higher yields for the airline.
Head-To-Head: By The Numbers
The United ‘Elevated’ 787-9 and American’s 787-9P represent two of the most premium-dense widebody configurations in the history of US aviation. While both airlines have sacrificed a significant number of economy seats to expand their premium cabins, United has opted for a higher total premium seat count compared to American.
United has the business class area uniquely configured across two sections, as center seats are in a reverse herringbone facing inward in the front section, while, in the rear section, center seats switch to a herringbone facing outward. Polaris Studio seats are located in the front row of both business class sections for a total of four in each, allowing for a more intimate ‘mini-cabin’ feel. United has removed 65 economy seats compared to its standard 787-9 to accommodate this layout.
|
Specifications |
United 787-9 Elevated |
American 787-9P |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Seats |
222 |
244 |
|
Business-Plus Rows |
8 (Polaris Studio) |
8 (Flagship Suite Preferred) |
|
Standard Business |
56 Polaris Suites |
43 Flagship Suites |
|
Premium Economy |
35 (United Premium Plus) |
32 (Premium Economy) |
|
Economy/Extra Legroom |
123 (39 Plus / 84 Standard) |
161 (18 Extra / 143 Main) |
American sacrificed 41 economy seats, for a 14% total capacity reduction, to achieve its 787-9P layout. Unlike United’s mixed geometry, American’s Flagship Suites are all angled toward the window or center in a standard 1-2-1 configuration, and all eight Flagship Suite Preferred seats are located in the front row of each of the two business cabins. In a novel addition, American has also introduced a new vertical snack monument behind the main business cabin.
The New United Airlines Long-Haul Aircraft Coming In 2026
A look at the new United 787s with the “Elevate” interior and how they fit in the airline as well as in the industry.
The Bottom Line: More Luxury Means Fewer Cheap Seats
While airlines aren’t necessarily making economy seats scarce, they are reallocating aircraft floor space in ways that affect price, and experience reduced supply in the back of the plane leads to higher baseline prices for the seats available. As standard economy becomes more cramped with thinner ‘slimline’ seats, travelers are increasingly nudged to pay double or triple for premium economy just to maintain the comfort levels that were standard a decade ago.
To offset the loss of economy class volume, airlines use strategic revenue management to price every inch of the plane. This often results in basic economy tickets remaining low in headline price but stripped of all perks, such as earning frequent flyer miles. This was a change American Airlines implemented in late 2025.
The investment in premium-heavy widebody aircraft focuses heavily on high-yield international hubs. While international flights get these high-tech cabins, many domestic narrowbody fleets are not receiving the same level of investment, leading to a widening gap in quality between major international routes and smaller domestic ones.
