United Airlines announced on June 2 its new business-class concept called United Polaris, which will be introduced on planes starting Dec. 1. The Polaris business class will assume the space of the previous first and business classes, creating two-cabin aircraft — first on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and subsequently on Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft as well as on Boeing 767-300 and 777-200 retrofits.

The Polaris seats are forward-facing and offer direct access to the aisle, 180-degree flatbed reclining and up to 6 feet and 6 inches of bed space. The pods also feature mood lighting, lumbar support, several storage areas, multiple surfaces for simultaneous working and dining, a 16-inch high-definition entertainment screen, electronic privacy dividers on center-cabin seats, Saks Fifth Avenue bedding and Soho House & Co. amenity kits.

The airline will also open a portfolio of United Polaris business-class lounges in nine locations including Chicago on Dec. 1 and subsequently in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong and London Heathrow in 2017. The lounges will feature custom-designed chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers and chef-inspired hot meals served in a boutique restaurant setting, according to a release.