United Launches New Nonstop Flight to Europe from California

United Airlines is making a significant move into Spain: On December 6, the airline revealed its inaugural nonstop service from San Francisco to Barcelona for summer 2024. This new route, along with existing flights, represents a 30 percent increase in travel to Spain next year compared to 2023.

Commencing May 23, 2024, United will operate daily flights between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) using its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. These new flights are now available for booking on United.com.

The new San Francisco–Barcelona route complements a recently launched seasonal service connecting Newark, New Jersey, to Málaga in Spain's picturesque Costa del Sol, which started this year. United now provides direct flights to five destinations in Spain. Last year, the airline also introduced new nonstop flights from Newark to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands and Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, alongside its ongoing service to Madrid.

United already offers nonstop flights to Barcelona from Newark, Chicago O’Hare, and Washington/Dulles.

At present, the only other airlines providing nonstop flights between San Francisco and Spain are Spain's national airline Iberia, which offers seasonal routes to Madrid, and the budget carrier Level, with seasonal service to Barcelona. United is the sole U.S. airline offering nonstop flights from San Francisco to Europe.

With the addition of the Barcelona flights, United will provide nonstop service to eight European cities from San Francisco in 2024:

• Amsterdam (seasonal)
• Barcelona (seasonal)
• Frankfurt
• London
• Munich
• Paris
• Rome (seasonal)
• Zurich (seasonal)

Enhancements to United’s Polaris business-class seating for international flights

The new service to Spain coincides with United's recent announcement of multiple enhancements to its Polaris international business-class seats, following collaborations with Saks Fifth Avenue and Therabody to provide upgraded bedding and onboard amenity kits for long-haul travelers.

Passengers traveling internationally in Polaris will enjoy a duvet and two pillows, including a cooling gel pillow from Saks Fifth Avenue. They will also receive a new amenity kit featuring eye serum, hydrating face spray, hand cream, and a cleansing towelette from wellness brand Therabody. The pod-style United Polaris seats convert into fully flat beds and are equipped with 16-inch seatback screens and noise-canceling headphones.

Moreover, all United international passengers, regardless of class, will have access to Therabody content on their seatback screens, which includes exercises, breathwork, and meditation videos. Additionally, Therabody hand cream and face spray will be provided in the onboard restrooms across the entire cabin.

United is making significant investments in the Polaris product as demand for premium seating continues to rise: The airline reports a 30 percent increase in bookings for United Polaris and United Premium Plus this year compared to 2022.

“We believe the future lies in expanding our presence in the premium market, both for business and leisure travel,” says Mark Muren, United’s managing director of identity, product, and loyalty, in an interview with Dinogo.

United foresees a robust future for international travel, according to Muren. As a result, the airline is pursuing significant international growth in the post-pandemic landscape, including a more than 40 percent increase in service to Australia and New Zealand this year compared to 2022. Additionally, its network in Latin America is now 10 percent larger than it was before the pandemic.

Polaris passengers can look forward to enhanced food and drink selections while traveling internationally. Muren notes that United has introduced over 100 new menu items, recently bringing back the beloved ice cream sundae service and completely revamping its wine offerings.

Muren states, “For many of our customers, enjoying a fine glass of wine and having a great seat are essential parts of the travel experience.”