United Unveils “Economy Graphite” Class Which Includes Pencil For Customs Forms

Great news for travelers looking for a some extra comfort on their international flights. United Airlines just announced a new more premium section in their economy class. If you’re the kind of traveler who looks for a bit more legroom, menu options, or entertainment features, this is not the class for you. If you’re the kind of person who never has a pencil to fill out customs forms, welcome to Economy Graphite.

For only an extra $150 per seat, United will provide you with a very stylish branded pencil, complete with a 2H graphite core sharpened specifically for filling in the pesky squares and circles of various countries’ entry documents. But the perks don’t stop there. The pencil also comes equipped with a built-in synthetic rubber eraser calibrated to render any markings it rubs against a cloudy smudge. This is perfect for passengers with a habit of writing their birthdate with the month first or forgetting whether “sur” means first or last.

Economy Graphite is considered a premium cabin, and United does intend to take measures against those looking to abuse it free of charge. Much like being ushered back to economy when attempting to use a business cabin restroom, flight attendants will be closely monitoring passengers to ensure no non-paying customers ask to borrow pre-booked writing implements when they inevitably forget one. It will be possible, however, to upgrade to Economy Graphite in-flight for $1,000 or 60,000 miles (plus a $75 change fee).

Finally, to address security concerns, all seats in the Economy Graphite section will include a new “Code Grey” flight attendant call button explicitly implemented for pencil related stabbings. But when you’re flying skies this friendly, don’t expect that to be an issue.