With competition fiercer than ever United Airlines has unveiled details of its impressive looking United First Suite. However the first installation is still a long way off, not due until the fourth quarter of 2007. Over the following two years the entire 97 widebody international fleet will be upgraded at a cost of $165 (”80m).
The new seat in First Suite is nearly three inches wider than the existing popular United First Suite and reclines to multiple angles or serves as a fully flat 78-inch bed. Each offers what is described as a cutting-edge entertainment system providing a 15.4-inch (39cm) widescreen flat panel monitor with an on-demand digital video and music system that offers multiple selections of movies, TV programmes and video games. United will also offer 50 channels of XM-branded audio content, delivering more than 3,000 songs and a jukebox to create customised play lists. Both the entertainment system navigation controls and content will be offered in several languages.
Among the suite”s amenities are a 110-volt universal plug for laptop power, USB port, an Apple iPod connector and noise-cancelling headphones. The airline points out that it is the only US carrier that offers three cabins of service on all of its international overseas flights.