United Airlines’ first international aircraft to complete the company’s multi-million dollar product enhancement will take flight from Washington Dulles to Frankfurt. With the inaugural flight, United becomes the first U.S. airline to offer 180-degree, lie-flat beds in business class on overseas flights.

“I look forward to spending time with our guests and hearing first-hand how much they are enjoying our fine dining, top-notch entertainment and most importantly, getting a good night’s rest in our new flat-bed seats,” says Graham Atkinson, United executive vice president and Chief Customer Officer, who will be on United Flight 952.

“I am excited to be on this inaugural flight and experience United’s new international business class service,” says Gene Fowler, a frequent United customer who has 1K Mileage Plus status and booked this trip to Frankfurt merely to be on the inaugural flight. “A truly lie-flat business class seat is clearly what a road warrior like me wants most when traveling overseas.” 

Business class customers on United Flight 952 will dine on an appetizer of orange and ginger duck leg confit and soba noodle salad. Morel mushroom risotto and herb-rubbed chicken breast will be one of the many dinner choices created by Chef Charlie Trotter, a world-famous and legendary Chicago Restaurateur.

First class customers will begin with an appetizer of Chef Trotter’s crispy short rib wontons with organic Thai barbecue sauce and sweet and sour cucumber relish. Apricot curry braised lamb medallion is one of the main entrée courses featured on the menu. 

To complement the meals in first and business class, Doug Frost, one of only three people in the world to hold both the title of Master Sommelier and Master of Wine, has selected almost a dozen wines that will be available on United Flight 952.

Following the meal, customers will enjoy a choice of more than 150 hours of on-demand entertainment from a personal 15.4” screen, including movies such as Spiderman 3, Fracture, Waitress, Shooter, Next, Wild Hogs and Catch and Release. First and business class customers will have a selection of 30 movies in all.

As part of United’s international widebody aircraft investment, United Flight 952 will also have a new First Suite, refreshed premium cabin restrooms, and new seat cushions, carpeting, digital inflight entertainment servers and LCD screens in economy.

The new international premium cabins are part of United’s strategy of providing customers with distinct products and services that they expect and value, with a particular focus on serving more frequent business travelers. United is the first and only U.S. airline to offer customers 180-degree, lie-flat seats in its first and business class cabins on its international widebody aircraft and a choice of four different seating sections - United First, United Business, Economy Plus and Economy.
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