Overview

• Installation begins Sept. 1 on long-haul international flights in Polaris business class and Premium Plus, according to internal communications revealed by aviation watchdog JonNYC.
• Premium transcontinental routes and long-haul Hawai‘i services will follow, with timing disputed between reports citing mid-September and mid-October.
• Meridian says the wired headsets feature cabin-tuned, advanced noise cancellation intended to reduce engine hum and improve clarity on United’s entertainment system.
• The rollout expands beyond United’s earlier plan to equip only the new Polaris Studio suites on incoming Boeing 787-9s.
• The upgrade surfaced via Meridian’s website and internal United memos rather than a broad public announcement, narrowing a quality gap with rivals such as American’s Bang & Olufsen offering.