On Sunday evening I flew from Chicago to Frankfurt on United. I happened to fly on a 777-200 that has already been retrofitted to include premium economy seating.
On the 777-200, United will add three rows of premium economy in a 2-4-2 configuration. The premium economy seats have not come at the expense of Polaris business class, where a density of 50 seats is maintained.
At first glance, the seats did not appear quite as spacious as domestic first class seats, though perhaps that was because there were eight across. Let’s not forget that business class on this same aircraft also used to be eight across in a the same 2-4-2 configuration.
The front row includes a legrest/footrest combo while the second and third row includes a fold-down footrest from the seat in front. Each seat has its own power outlet and USB charger in the armrest, along with storage for smaller items like passports, wallets, and mobile phones.
In-flight-entertainment represents an immediate upgrade, with larger screens and noise-cancelling headphones. Unlike economy class, personal handsets are also available.
Finally, I appreciated the coat hooks, which are lacking in United’s economy class seats.
Currently this is not sold as a separate cabin and available on a complimentary basis to MileagePlus Premier members or those who purchase EconomyPlus seating, on a first-come-first served basis. Blankets and pillows are from economy class, no amenity kits are offered, and meals are identical in content and appearance to economy class.
Eventually, that will change. Premium economy will be called Premium Plus and include:
Available on select international flights, United® Premium Plus will give you more space, comfort and amenities. The seats will be more spacious and you’ll enjoy upgraded dining on china dinnerware, free alcoholic beverages, a Saks Fifth Avenue blanket and pillow, an amenity kit and more.
> Read More: Premium Plus, a New Premium Economy Product on United Airlines
CONCLUSION
I wasn’t about to give up my business class upgrade to test these seats on an 8-hour overnight flight, but I suspect this will be a popular option for travelers looking for a bit more space without spending top-dollar for business class fares.
“Testing out”?
I was really interested in your experience.
Instead, you just lost a loyal reader.
Sans rancune.
Yeah, it’s more “snapping some pics while the cabin was partly empty” than “testing out” lol
I’m sorry Peter! Did not mean to mislead you. Hope you will reconsider and continue to read.
Obviously this review is a sneak peak at the hard product. The soft product will come later… and only time will tell how UA pulls this off.
I do like the coat-hooks – that’s definitely a nice touch.
Funnily, I noted Matt’s comment on that too and, for the life of me, can’t remember ever seeing anyone use it in any class of service. I even commented to my partner a few weeks ago that they seem to be kind of a relic of the past. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
In Europe you see them used all the time — today ex-FRA almost everyone seemed to be using them.
What are you talking about? If you wear a suit to the meeting you’re flying to, you don’t want to lean back on a chair while in your jacket.
You’re only displaying your own lack of culture here, buddy.
Looks similar to other airlines, which is a good thing. Curious as to how they will price it. Airlines like EVA price it about 1200-1600 (standard economy around 800), while JAL will price 2200ish, both out of LAX to TPE or NRT. If they price like EVA, I’ll buy it everytime.
United promises business class bedding and plating. I think this may push it to the pricier side. Big question is economy to business class upgrades when premium economy becomes a separate class of service.
Looks a lot like SQ economy
I’m amazed that so many airlines don’t offer legrests in PY. 🙁 They make such a huge difference in terms of comfort!!
“At first glance, the seats did not appear quite as spacious as domestic first class seats,”
Because it’s not! Domestic F on the 738 is 20″ wide; J on the sUA 772 is 19″.
They cannot get those eight-across J seats out of the long-haul fleet fast enough. If only the 77Gs were being retrofitted as well.
Feels like not a lot of difference with these compared to E+ on a 767
Did you note by any chance the registration of this airplane?
I did not, but it was ORD-FRA on Sunday, 30 Sept.
I don’t know what happened to the plane. I’m purposely trying to book a flight between ORD and FRA to get these seats. I’ve tried different departure days (including Sunday) and can’t get the seat maps that show the Polaris / Premium Plus seats.
Just wondering if United has published any timetable of which flights will offer this. I just take EVA when flying to Taipei and take SQ when flying to Seoul as both have this product and it makes such a huge difference. I will happily take United on these trips as soon as they are offered.
It’s an inferior product. Flew it 2x to Europe now. The seats seem like pleather and I sweat a lot in them (even with body powder and I’m in shape).
The seat is narrow, not as wide as Air Canada or British Airways.
It’s very similar to the American Airlines product which is really the bottom rung in my opinion.
Definitely wouldn’t give up LH PE to fly UA…
Not nearly as comfortable as Cathay, Singapore, BA or AC. A step below LH, right inline with American.
I’ve been on this config twice now – in economy+ just behind the new Premium section. A flaw that became apparent very quickly both times is that they took 8 (EIGHT!!) bins out of service to put in the new hard dividers. The average non-upgraded business traveler can no longer have confidence there will be room for their stuff unless they pay more attention to being in the front of the line.
Thanks for sharing.
Lenny/Matthew, how are the economy plus seats right behind the new Premium section? Do you know if the arm rests go up? How is the leg room?
Going to Europe on one of these planes and these seats are the only ones open in the Economy Plus section.
Armrests do go up (except in exit row) and legroom is 4-5″ better than 31″ standard economy.