I’ve flown United’s new Boeing 787-10 in business class, but how is it in economy class?
Sometimes I will decline and upgrade even when it is is available. My supply of upgrade instruments is not unlimited and I made the choice to remain behind the curtain on my flight from Newark to Frankfurt.
First, the flight is so short I cannot even get a great rest even if I skip dinner and breakfast. Second, I thought a review of economy class might be more helpful to readers than another Polaris review.
But what sold me most on sticking with economy class is that the flight was lightly filled. So light, in fact, that I would have my own row of three seats to myself. “Poor man’s first” is no equivalent to business class, but it makes the economy class experience so much more bearable, even in “deep” coach (I was not even seated in Economy Plus).
Flights will be full for the holidays over the next two weeks, but you’ll often encounter many opens seats in the winter on United’s transatlantic flights.
The one thing I missed by not flying in business class was access to the Polaris Lounge. Although my Star Alliance Gold status gave me access to the United Club, that is simply on a whole different (lower) level.
That all didn’t matter since I nearly missed my flight, making it to the gate moments away from boarding commencing. I took NJ Transit from Penn Station and our train got stuck for 42 minutes outside Newark Penn station due to “police activity”…
But I made it…
United Airlines 751
Newark (EWR) – Frankfurt (FRA)
Wednesday, November 13
Depart: 06:20 PM
Arrive: 07:40 AM+1
Duration: 07hr, 20min
Distance: 3,870 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 787-10
Seat: 40J (Economy Class)
I was on the phone with my business partner and rather than annoy others with a loud conversation on the jetbridge, I opted to stay in the gate area. I was last to board around 6:00PM.
United Airlines 787-10 Economy Class Seat
There is a big difference between one seat and three seats. For that reason, I cannot tell you what it is like to be sandwiched between passengers with 30″ of legroom (for that, you can read my Lufthansa Economy Class review).
But the legroom was acceptable when the passenger in front of me did not recline. I loved that the 787-10 has power ports under the seat in front of you, not under your own seats. And the armrests do go up, which helped me to spread across three seats when it was time to sleep.
Row 40 is directly in front of the lavatory. I was a bit worried I would smell fumes from the lavatory and not be able to fully recline my seat. The seats, which feature an articulating seatpan (seat slides forward to give the illusion of greater recline), do recline fully (as fully as any other standard economy class seat). No fumes…
United Airlines 787-10 Economy Class IFE
United’s new IFE interface on the 787-10 is a nice upgrade. The very-responsive touchscreen provided details about the flight, movies, TV, shows, games, and a moving map.
Free disposable headphones were provided.
Wi-Fi internet and streaming video was available. Streaming video is complimentary, but you must download the app before the flight or else you’ll have to pay for wi-fi to download it. Wi-Fi was $36.99 for a flight pass.
United Airlines 787-10 Economy Class Food + Drink
Dinner was served after takeoff and a continental breakfast before landing.
Beverage service began 30 minutes after takeoff, which included a bag of pretzels.
Choices for dinner were “chicken” or “pasta”. The chicken dish was seasoned chicken strips with orzo in a creamy cheese sauce, which I honestly find better than many business class meals. This would be even better if nicely plated…
A grain salad and roll were offered with dinner.
Flight attendants were prompt to pick-up meal trays and followed that up with lemon sorbet and bottles of water.
The entire meal service took 90 minutes, which is not bad at all.
About an hour before landing, a light breakfast was served, which included a warm croissant and strawberry yogurt.
United Airlines 787-10 Economy Class Lavatory
The Dreamliner lavatory is functional, but not large. There are no extra amenities beyond soap.
United Airlines 787-10 Economy Class Service
I must say that I find United often provides better service in economy class than business class. I wouldn’t even say that is because more “junior” and “energetic” flight attendants serve behind the curtain, since all the crew members were mature. But everyone was friendly and there were no scowls or condescension like on my British Airways flight.
CONCLUSION
I landed ahead of schedule and somewhat rested. Honestly, even if I was looking for things to criticize I’d be hard-pressed to find anything negative to say about this flight. When flying United, I prefer the 767 in economy class because of the 2-3-2 layout, but greatly prefer the 787 over the 777.
Have you flown United’s 787-1o in economy class? How was your experience?
Why do you say “illusion of grater recline” with regards to articulating seatpan? The seat ultimately recliners more right? (Trading off some legroom for it)
I wish everyone did this. American does in their LAA domestic first class seats and I find them to be the most comfortable standard first class seats.
It actually reclines less than old style seats (where only the seatback reclines), but with the seat pan pushed forward, it seems like the recline is equivalent or more.
Do you know if Economy Plus not Premium Economy but Plus has the armrests that go up? Right now, I have a row to myself in coach for a long haul but I get a free upgrade 24 hours before departure. I may again be able to get the entire row because the flight isnt full but if the arm rest dont go up I wont be able to lay down so Ill stay put. Thanks
Yes, armrests do go up except in bulkhead/exit rows.
Glad you had a nice trip. Thanks for the review from the back!
Thanks for the review Matthew! United’s 777’s with their new 3-4-3 seating are tortorous even with extra legroom in Economy Plus. I used to fly them a dozen times a year but have since switched my business to other Star Alliance carriers.
For anyone who is thinking of paying $300-$400 extra each way for Premium Economy, please keep in mind: same food (blue plastic cup), same toilet (share with the other 300+ pax), you can still end up in the middle seat of the “4 seats in the middle”, think twice before wasting almost $1000
It all depends on price, but I’d say the upgrade to the equivalent of a domestic first class seat and meal with a better blanket is not a bad value proposition. I just use the wine glass that comes with dinner for all my beverages.
And you even got a gate at Frankfurt! Do you happen to know the MegaMillion lottery numbers? 😀
I’m a big UA fan but the new Econ seats on the 787-10 are a big step down. The tray is much worse for laptop use. Recline is noticeably worse for trying to sleep on long hauls. I think the airline execs are not really testing these things and they should be.
I prefer the new tray tables but agree that the old seats with only back recline were more comfortable.
I’m assuming yes on a new plane, but do the power ports work without issue?
I have a hard time with a lot of the United power ports both in domestic first class and economy (put your plug in and the light glows red or forcefully pops it back out?) Isn’t there some kind of trick to making this work or are there really a large number of non-functional ports at any time?
I have had this problem as well, that I get around by using a European power converter. No problem on the 787-10 and I had my laptop plugged in the entire flight.
We flew 16 hours from Sydney to Houston, and 17 hours back. Having extra seats next to you must have been lovely for your flight, however a ‘typical’ flight is not always empty.
We were given one meal 2 hours into the flight, then nothing for 12 hours except a 3 inch bread roll, before our final meal just before landing. Our sugar levels dropped considerably making us all unwell.
My youngest son was sick on the floor as there were no sick bags in any of our seat pockets and when I asked for assistance we were told to get the bags ourselves from the bathroom. None of the staff had a smile and my husband heard them complaining in the kitchen about not wanting to be there.
We had also paid for premium economy seats which at check in we were told had been given to someone else, then they had seated my 6 year old son in a different row and isle. We swapped my husband into that seat. Flying solo and on a half empty plane is a completely different experience from flying with children on a crowded plane on a flight where the staff don’t want to give any level of service.
This is the reason that I sometimes carry food with me. I cannot have my life depend on the airline. However, I am still dependent on the airline carrying enough fuel so that the plane doesn’t crash off the coast of Ireland.
Good to have a coach review to change things up. Also nice that the person in front of you had the courtesy not to recline.
I do enjoy reading these coach reviews. You are one of the few, Matthew. While I will do virtual anything to avoid it on long haul I commend you for taking one for the team!