United Airlines splits business class into tiers on long-haul flights

Zoom in: The company's front-cabin seats, called United Polaris on long-haul flights, will be split into multiple tiers on international, transcontinental U.S. and certain Hawaii routes:

• Base: won't allow for seat selection, flight changes, refunds or United Polaris lounge access.
• Standard: will include seat selection, flight changes and lounge access but no refunds.
• Flexible: includes all of the above.

Zoom in: It's the latest in a series of steps United has taken to squeeze more revenue out of its existing seats.

• Last week the airline announced plans for the United Relax Row, three seats that it said "can transform into a lie-flat mattress-like space after takeoff, ideal for families with small children, couples and solo travelers who want more space."
• Those seats will be available in the economy section but will come with additional amenities, such as "a custom-fitted mattress pad, a specially sized plush blanket, two additional pillows, as well as a plush toy."

State of play: Competitors are scrambling to find more revenue, as well.

• Alaska Airlines this week announced plans for its first lie-flat business class seats on international flights, featuring "privacy doors" and 18-inch HD screens.
• JetBlue raised checked baggage fees, according to multiple reports.

Follow the money: With fuel prices rising from the Iran war, airlines are facing mounting pressure to create more revenue opportunities to offset higher costs.

• Jet fuel accounts for about 30% of airline costs, according to Deutsche Bank.
• Budget carriers like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Group are expected to come under the most pressure because they don't have as many premium options to lean on.

The bottom line: Your next seat in business class might not come with the same perks as before.