United Airlines First Class Impressions

As I explained in the introductory post to the travel report, I decided to book us on United Airlines from Tampa to San Francisco. In this article, I wanted to share some general thoughts on our experience flying with United, both in terms of hard and soft product.

Why we booked United Airlines

This trip was only planned on a very short notice, so I booked flights just a day in advance. With no non-stop options available, United seemed like the best option to pay for First Class (there were no decent reward options available). Why?

• We could fly from Tampa to Chicago to San Francisco, with the Tampa to Chicago flight on a Boeing 737-900, and especially the Chicago to San Francisco flight on a Boeing 787-8 with United’s new Polaris seats.
• The last two Polaris seats available on the Chicago-San Francisco flight were the ‘honeymoon’ seats right next to each other, so it looked like it was meant to be (if there is such a thing)
• The connection time was the perfect duration (just under an hour) and the flight timing worked well for us

United is generally my least favorite of the “big three” US airlines when I fly within the country. I find Delta generally offers the best customer experience, while being based in Miami, I have been loyal to Americans, and I at least appreciate that Americans have high speed Wi-Fi, which I greatly appreciate. .

United Airlines First Class Catering

Virtually all airlines have adjusted service due to the coronavirus, so what does United’s first-class catering look like right now? The dining options were more or less the same on both flights.

First of all, like the American (and unlike Delta), United primarily serves their full selection of drinks in first class. Everything is served in cans or unopened bottles, with plastic cups.

United Airlines First Class Beverage Service

Then, for flights longer than 2:20, United offers the choice of a snack box or a hot sandwich (for flights departing from some airports, there is no sandwich option).

The “Select Snackbox” was perfectly fine, and exactly what you would expect. There were a few types of crackers, a few types of cheese spread wrappers, beef salami slices, almonds, dried apricots, and a mini Toblerone.

United Airlines First Class Snackbox

However, there is another dining option for passengers, and that is a sandwich. On a flight, that’s all they had when they got to me, so that’s what I had.

I don’t proclaim it lightly, but it was literally the most disgusting thing I’ve ever been served on a plane, and that says a lot. It has been described as “cut chicken on an Italian focaccia” and it apparently contained “homemade” focaccia, chicken, provolone, garlic parmesan butter, and kale cream cheese.

United Airlines First Class Sandwich

First of all, let’s talk about nutritional content. This little sandwich contained 650 calories (well, whatever), and 33g of fat (42% of the recommended daily allowance), and 19g of saturated fat (94% of the recommended daily allowance). And let’s not even talk about sodium or cholesterol.

“Well, that sure will be a real delicious indulgence,” I thought. I can’t even put words to the taste of this thing. I had a bite to eat and decided to call it a day, because it was just terrible – the bread was dry, the taste of chicken couldn’t help but hurt me for the sad life that the poor animal had to live to taste like that, and the processed cheese looked like microwave … well, too bad.

I couldn’t help but wonder, who is the “artist” behind the focaccia? And who “carved” the chicken? And was the Parmesan Garlic Butter and Kale Cream Cheese really necessary?

United Airlines First Class Sandwich

Mmmm, butter and cream cheese!

Let’s be clear: I’m all for airlines cutting back on service due to the coronavirus, and I’m not even against airlines not offering any service to minimize the length of time people have their masks on. . But I just don’t know how a business can serve this in good conscience.

By comparison, American Airlines’ “lobster roll” gave a taste for fine dining. And besides, it made me appreciate the cold but edible turkey sandwich that American currently serves in first class.

United Airlines First Class Seats

What did I think of United’s seats? I enjoyed our flight on United’s 737-900. I found the upholstery of the first class seats to be excellent. On top of that, the legroom and usable space were very good. There was also live TV, although that’s not something that is very close to my heart.

United Airlines 737-900 first class cabin

Overall, this configuration was so much more comfortable than the American “Oasis” first class configuration.

United Airlines 737-900 first class seats

United Airlines 737-900 first class seats

The real pleasure was to fly a Boeing 787-8 with new Polaris seats from Chicago to San Francisco. I’ve reviewed United’s 787 Polaris Business Class on a long-haul flight before, and it’s a great product. Getting international business class seats on a domestic flight is always such a treat, and it was no exception.

United Airlines 787 – 8 seats Polaris

United Airlines 787 – 8 seats Polaris

I knew this route was the right decision when I saw my mom spend the entire flight watching a movie or sleeping, while reclining her seat.

Happy mom to our United Polaris seats!

United Airlines Coronavirus Precautions

All the airlines of course promote things like wearing a mask, improved cleaning, etc., but I was surprised at the lack of disinfectant wipes.

On the first flight, no disinfectant wipes were offered to us – neither when boarding, nor with the snack. Luckily I brought mine (and hand sanitizer), although I’m curious if it was a fluke or just how United work.

Meanwhile, on the second flight, we were handed a disinfectant wipe at the door, but that was it. There was none with the snack box.

United Airlines Disinfectant Wipes

It’s a bit ironic to me that airlines have cut back on in-flight service to minimize contact (which makes sense), and now serve you something you mostly eat with your hands (which makes … less sense) .

United Airlines Wi-Fi

Again, not specific to flying during the coronavirus, but what exactly is United’s deal with Wi-Fi? The airline still doesn’t offer high-speed Wi-Fi on narrow-body planes, unlike American and Delta. Are United planning to introduce faster Wi-Fi, or does the airline think Wi-Fi is just a fad that’s going to go away soon?

United Airlines has the worst Wi-Fi of the ‘big three’ US carriers

I am no longer used to flying long distances!

It has nothing to do with theft per se, but I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that I’m clearly not used to stealing a lot anymore. Or maybe I’m getting old. Or more than likely both.

In my youth, I flew for 48 straight hours and felt full of energy, and even going back a few years, I would take an extreme round-the-world trip, without feeling particularly exhausted.

It was over nine hours between when we boarded our first flight in Tampa and disembarked in San Francisco, and my god, I was so exhausted. I don’t know how I flew so much during the day. Next thing you know, I’m going to start having a jet lag when you fly between Eastern and Central time zones. 😉

At the end of the line

In the end, we were happy with our decision to fly United from Tampa to San Francisco, given the circumstances.

As is the case with most airlines, United has adjusted its in-flight service due to the coronavirus. While I’m totally in favor of this, I’m not sure the coronavirus can be blamed for the ‘sandwich’ United are currently serving.

If you’ve flown United in first class since the start of the pandemic, what has been your experience?