It’s funny how your feelings about an airline can shift over time. After several years of not flying United, I’ve recently had enough trips with them to form some fresh opinions.
We tend to choose United when it makes the most sense in terms of price, schedule, or location—especially to hubs like San Francisco (SFO) and Newark (EWR) from our home airport in Orlando (MCO). Coming back after a long gap gave me a different perspective on what United does well, and where they still lag behind.
And while United’s CEO likes to talk a big game about innovation and customer experience, how does the airline really stack up for the average traveler—someone without elite status or a co-brand credit card?
The short answer: United is fine. Better than some, but not the best in class.
Flying on the Workhorses
On our most recent trip, we flew from Orlando to Newark on a 17-year-old Boeing 737-900. I prefer flying these everyday workhorses instead of shiny new aircraft with refreshed interiors. After all, most passengers don’t get to pick and choose the newest planes—what you see in the fleet is often a decade (or more) behind.
This one fit the bill. It still featured the classic seatback entertainment system with the DirecTV remote located in the armrest. Adjusting the volume felt like wrestling with an old Nintendo controller, and yes, the card slot next to the screen to pay for movies was still there.
Throwback tech: the DirecTV remote living in the armrest.
Seat Comfort in Economy
Legroom in standard economy is precisely what you’d expect from a ~30-inch pitch: cramped. At 6 feet tall, I could manage for the two-hour flight, but it’s far from comfortable.
Standard economy legroom: manageable for two hours, but tight.
Our friends, who were meeting us in Newark from Atlanta, weren’t so lucky. They flew on a 26-year-old Airbus A319 and said it was one of the more uncomfortable flights they’ve had—an experience that made them appreciate Delta even more once they landed.
Cabin view on our flight—older hardware, but clean and functional.
Economy Plus
On some previous trips, I’ve paid for United’s Economy Plus seats, which I reviewed in detail here. The extra few inches of legroom make a noticeable difference, especially on longer flights. But United charges a hefty premium, and it’s not always worth it—particularly on shorter routes.
Yes, the classic moving map still does the job.
A Glimpse Ahead
That said, United had impressed me just enough that we decided to book them for a bigger trip: an overnight transatlantic from Newark to London Heathrow in Premium Economy. The price was the best we could find for a TATL red-eye—50,000 United miles plus $5.60 each—for four travelers, and it included our positioning flights to EWR (as described in this post). Stay tuned for our review of the Premium Economy experience.
Final Thought
Flying United these days is a mixed bag. The airline isn’t terrible—it gets the job done, especially if you’re flying into one of their hubs. But as someone without elite status or perks from a co-brand card, the experience is average at best. If you go in with realistic expectations, you’ll be fine. Just don’t expect to be wowed.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
