- Relax Row turns three economy seats into a flat “bed”
- It’s coming to Boeing 777 and 787 long-haul flights starting in 2027
- You get three screens and eight power ports on top of the extra comfort
In addition to offering another Starlink test flight and confirming that over 340 planes with faster, free Wi-Fi are flying daily, United Airlines also formally showed off its latest, next-generation Elevated look. The new cabin was originally teased in 2025, but we saw the next-generation Polaris seats – and the even roomier Polaris Studio cushions – as well as Premium Plus, Economy Plus and standard Economy offerings in person. Suffice it to say, screens and ports do not disappoint.
But like Steve Jobs or Tim Cook, United Airlines also held back a “one more thing” and it’s kind of brilliant. The Relax Row, as United calls it, will arrive on long-haul flights operated by Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft starting in 2027, and it could be the biggest change to the airline’s economy class in quite some time.
Similar to Air New Zealand’s Economy Skycouch, United’s Relax Row will let you book an entire trio of seats—essentially a row—equipped with special legrests that come up to fill the floor space, turning the three seats into a kind of four-poster bed. The airline is pitching it to singles, couples and, perhaps most importantly, families with photos showing a parent and two children, comfortable and cozy, on Relax Row mid-flight.
The article continues below
You also don’t want to just use the equivalent of Economy Plus seats with a leg rest. United Airlines will offer the Relax Row with a mattress pad, linens, two pillows, and, if children are on the reservation, two adorable-looking stuffed animals.
In addition, you get the most screens – even more than what Polaris Studio offers – as you have three 13-inch 4K OLED panels. But the real game-changer here might be power and ports. You get two standard wall plugs and two USB-C ports per seat for a total of eight power sources.
It’s best the two USB-C ports, the wireless charging pad and the outlet you get in the Polaris or Premium Plus. And although you probably don’t need more than e.g. three ports, it is a notable advantage beyond the ability to stretch out and lie completely flat. This means you can charge laptops, tablets, a Nintendo Switch, earphones or headphones and still have room for your phones. Quite handy.
The big advantage here is that for long-distance routes, the Relax Row should be a more affordable way to get comfortable without spending a ton compared to the Polaris Studio, Polaris, or Premium Plus. United Airlines hasn’t shared exact prices, but essentially you’ll book three seats, with the Relax Row as an extra cost on top. It is expected to be comparable to Economy Plus and less than the more premium options.
If the prices are right, it will be a bit business class for the rest of us. That said, costs will almost certainly vary by route and aircraft configuration, with the latter affecting the availability and number of Relax Rows installed.
For now, it’s a really exciting addition to United’s seating lineup – and the first in the United States. The only real comparison is Air New Zealand’s Economy Skycouch, which has proven popular enough to stick around. Based on a quick search around the time of publication, the SkyCouch costs between $499 and $1,000 and is also installed on 777 and 787 aircraft.
Like the airline’s rollout of fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet, we’ll have to exercise some patience until 2027, when United Airlines is set to formally debut Relax Row. For now though, let’s hope we see more “one more thing” from the airline in the near future.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.



