United Airlines splits Polaris business class into 3 fare tiers with fewer perks

United Airlines is introducing a three-tier fare structure for its Polaris business class and Premium Plus cabins, adding a new “Base” option that costs less but strips out several perks available to higher-paying passengers.

Travelers $TRV +0.20% who book the Base Polaris tier get a lie-flat seat, one checked bag, and entry to the United Club, though not the higher-end Polaris lounge. Moving up to Standard or Flexible unlocks advance seat selection, a second checked bag, flight change privileges, and Polaris lounge access. Flexible tickets add a full refund option. Upgrade eligibility is also off the table for Base fare purchasers, Bloomberg reported.

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A United spokeswoman told CNBC that Base tier passengers will get the same meals as others in Polaris, including ice cream. She did not say how much less the Base fare will cost, but said it is meant to make the premium cabin more accessible to more travelers.

The new pricing will be offered on international long-haul flights, some domestic transcontinental routes, and select flights to Hawaii. United has updated its website and app to support the change. The new tiers will launch in some markets this spring and expand to more routes by the end of the year.

United is also expanding the Polaris brand name to the front cabin on some transcontinental and Hawaii flights. Previously, this label was only used for international service. On these flights, Standard and Flexible ticket holders will be able to use the Polaris lounge.

“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,” chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella said in a statement.

For years, airlines have carved coach into price bands ranging from stripped-down basic economy to seats with extra legroom; United is now applying that same logic to the business cabin. Delta Air Lines has previously signaled that it too could break its premium cabin into fare tiers, CNBC reported.

For economy cabins and domestic short-haul routes, United said the existing basic, standard, and flexible fare categories remain unchanged and will simply be displayed in a new format on its booking pages.

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