United’s Polaris class is considered its top-tier international business class product, featuring lie-flat seats, direct aisle access, and upgraded dining and amenities. It’s also the kind of cabin where, increasingly, more travelers are willing to spend money for a premium experience—instrument cases included.
Back in October 2022, American Airlines announced it would be removing first-class seating from its international long-haul fleet entirely. Vasu Raja, then the airline’s chief commercial officer, explained the decision during a call with investors, saying “first class will not exist…at American Airlines for the simple reason that our customers aren’t buying it,” CNN reported at the time.
“The quality of the business class seat has improved so much. And frankly, by removing [first class] we can go provide more business class seats, which is what our customers most want or are most willing to pay for,” Raja said at the time.
Delta Air Lines and United have followed similar trends, reportedly cutting their first-class seat offerings by nearly half over the last decade or so. At the same time, they’ve poured investment into upgraded business class products, betting that demand for comfort, privacy, and onboard service is stronger in the business tier.
The Reddit post also arrives as commercial air travel rebounds, with high load factors and steady increases in international demand. In a June report, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) noted that total air travel demand was up five percent in May compared to the same month in 2024. It was a record-setting month for international load factors—the percentage of available seats filled by paying passengers.
“Air travel demand growth was uneven in May. Globally, the industry reported 5 percent growth with Asia-Pacific taking the lead at 9.4 percent. The outlier was North America, which reported a 0.5 percent decline, led by a 1.7 percent fall in the U.S. domestic market,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
Despite the dip in domestic travel, Walsh added that “airlines maintain safe operations with minimal passenger inconvenience” even amid disruptions and instability in some regions.
As for passengers choosing to fly instruments in premium cabins, United, like many airlines, allows travelers to purchase an extra seat for oversized or fragile items such as cellos or guitars. It’s a policy often used by professional musicians who don’t want to risk checking delicate gear into the hold. According to United’s website, the item must be properly secured and cannot exceed specific weight and dimension limits.
In this case, the instrument’s placement in business class—and the humor it inspired—was enough to strike a chord with a neighboring passenger.
“Didn’t get up once,” the original poster wrote. “Kept their seatbelt on 100 percent of the time.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.
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