United on Friday announced a new tiered fare structure for its premium cabins, creating a more affordable, no-frills version of Polaris and Premium Plus.
The carrier said it will offer three fare options for premium cabins on long-haul international, transcontinental, and select Hawaii flights – “base,” “standard,” and “flexible.” The lineup mirrors the three fare options available in United Economy, known as “basic,” “standard,” and “flexible.”
The lowest tier comes with fewer amenities and benefits. In Polaris, for example, base fares require an extra fee for seat selection (included in standard and flexible) and do not provide access to Polaris airport lounges.
For both Polaris and Premium Plus, base fares do not include flight changes, upgrades, or refunds, and cover only one checked bag, while standard and flexible cover two.
Exact pricing details for the new tier system were not immediately available.
United said it has redesigned the shopping pages on its website and app to reflect the changes, and will launch the new fare categories in select markets later this month.
“These new tiered options give customers more choice and make it easier to find a fare that includes the benefits they want most – whether that’s a great value, added perks, or maximum flexibility,” United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said in a news release.
There will be no changes to the existing tiers in Economy, officials added, though the options will be displayed on shopping pages in a “new, clearer way.”
