United Unveils New Domestic First Class Seats With Wireless Charging

United Airlines announced a new domestic First Class seat, which will include wireless charging. This seat design marks the airline’s first update to its domestic First Class seats since 2015.

The new seats will have vegan leather upholstery, bigger seatback screens and tray tables, privacy panels, Bluetooth connectivity, Italian quartzite cocktail tables, and an ergonomically-designed cushion. Passengers will also be able to charge multiple devices simultaneously with three different types of charging docks at each seat.

You might want to sit down for this. 😉 Our new domestic United First seat has:

🔋 Wireless charging
📺 13-inch screen with Bluetooth connectivity
💺 Privacy divider and winged headrests
🥂 Large tray table and bottle holders

Coming to 200+ new and retrofitted planes by 2026. pic.twitter.com/8FJsvS1aqQ

— United Airlines (@united) July 12, 2023

“The new United First seat is designed around the modern traveler—more charging options, bigger spaces for devices, food, drinks, personal items, and extra privacy,” says Mark Muren, United’s Managing Director of Identity, Product, and Loyalty.

“As we evolve the onboard experience, we’re upending old industry norms and anticipating future needs to accommodate the new ways people live and travel.”

The larger seatback entertainment will have a 13-inch high-definition screen with Bluetooth capabilities and a remote to control the system. There will also be a larger tray table with a built-in tablet holder and ample space for most laptops. The airline intends to allow passengers to use the area efficiently with the Italian quartzite cocktail tables and bottle holders between the seats.

Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines

One of the most significant updates is the installation of privacy panels between neighboring seats. This divider, along with winged headrests and tray tables that can be pulled out from the outer armrests, will provide passengers with greater privacy than ever before.

Moreover, the seats have a 5-inch recline feature and an ergonomically designed cushion that sits 1 inch lower to accommodate individuals of various heights.

Photo: United Airlines, Boeing 737-800NG. Courtesy of Denver International Airport.

Newly revealed seats will be debuted on one of the airline’s Boeing 737s this month and continue to roll out on others this summer. By 2026, United expects the new seats to be on 200 domestic planes, including the Airbus A321neos, 737 MAXs, and 737 NGs.

Seats on select 737, A319, and A320 aircraft will be redesigned with new upholstery, seat cushions, and winged headrests to make the experience more comfortable for passengers.

Technology Upgrades

A couple of months ago, the North American carrier also launched a slew of upgrades to its iPhone app. United became the first to utilize Live Activities for iPhone, allowing passengers real-time access to their boarding pass, gate, and seat number.

Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines

The carrier also launched a countdown clock on the Lock Screen for passengers to get detailed information on their flight, including flight status, estimated arrival and departure gates, baggage claim updates, inbound aircraft status, and more. All of the new improvements allow passengers to access need-to-know flight information without going into the app for updates.

Everything the airline has launched, from the new seats to the technology upgrades, is meant to make the experience for passengers as seamless as possible. The airline is leveraging current technology and passenger feedback to create products that make passengers’ time in the air more comfortable.