Summary
- United Airlines is undergoing a massive retrofit project for its narrowbody fleet as part of its post-pandemic growth plan, promising a new domestic cabin experience.
- Passengers can expect upgrades such as improved privacy in first class, seatback entertainment screens with Bluetooth connectivity, LED mood lighting, and bigger overhead storage bins.
- While some Airbus A319s have already been retrofitted, the project is delayed until 2026 due to global supply chain issues.
As part of the United NEXT campaign designed to navigate the airline through a vigorous post-pandemic growth process, United Airlines revealed a significant retrofit project for its narrowbody fleet in 2021. The project promises a new domestic cabin experience with numerous upgrades, allowing it to enhance passenger experience to the next level.
Although factory-fresh aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 MAXs, will already be delivered with this new cabin interior, the retrofitting process will also be applied to United Airlines’ existing domestic fleet. While the project completion has been delayed to 2026, it still kicked off successfully with the Airbus A319 fleet – here are some upgrades passengers can look forward to.
1 Privacy in first class
The older domestic first class seats on the United Airlines’ Airbus A319 fleet used to feature a leather recliner with a small cocktail table and side seat storage facilities in a two by two configuration. With the retrofitted cabin design, the airline kept the same passenger layout configuration but slightly upgraded the first class recliner seats.
Photo: United Airlines
While the recliners stay, they can now be pushed back slightly further than before, and feature better padding – a small change but one that passengers should notice. Although unadjustable in height, the headrest folds on either side to provide better neck support during the flight. There are miniature privacy wings on each seat from the hard shell and movable armrests for convenient access.
2 Keeping passengers entertained
Perhaps one of the most notable interior upgrades on the Airbus A319s will be the installation of seatback entertainment screens. While the screen sizes will vary across the different cabins, the high-definition settings are common across classes, ensuring crisp viewing quality for all passengers. However, it’s worth noting that only first class passengers will get a remote.
Photo: United Airlines
Even with the traditional headphone jack at the bottom of each screen, the new seatback installations also include Bluetooth connectivity to easily pair passengers’ wireless audio devices. There are also accessibility enhancements like magnification and high-contrast text options for easier reading or viewing.
3 Setting the mood
Another small yet notable interior upgrade is the installation of LED lighting across the entire aircraft to set the mood for passengers when boarding and during flight. At this time of writing, it’s uncertain if there are other colors besides a relatively deep purple and dark blue hue.
Photo: United Airlines
Regardless of the color available, it’s certainly better than the bright, traditional aircraft cabin lights. And because mood lighting has only become a standard installation on newer-generation aircraft in recent years, having it on the much older Airbus A319s makes the narrowbody feel and look more modern.
4 More storage space
Another prominent upgrade feature – especially for passengers who enjoy carrying a little more on their trips, is the bigger overhead storage bins that are very similar to those found on United Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAXs – a feature that the airline knew was well appreciated. But just how much bigger are these overhead bins?
Photo: United Airlines
Previously, the bins could likely only have an estimated maximum of four or five carry-ons. But as per the instructions on the bins, passengers should store their baggage on the side – if this is closely followed, each of the bigger bins allows a one-to-one passenger-to-carry-on storage ratio.
While the new upgrades might sound exciting, it’s worth noting that not every Airbus A319 has been retrofitted yet, with the slow progress primarily caused by supply chain issues.
What do you think of these cabin upgrades, and have you already experienced them? Let us know in the comments below.
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United Airlines
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- UA/UAL
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, Guam International Airport, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1931
- Alliance:
- Star Alliance
- CEO:
- Scott Kirby
- Country:
- United States
