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Reader Report: United Economy Plus on new B777-300ER

Economy Plus

United’s Economy Plus on the new Boeing 777-300ER packs ’em in at 10-abreast (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

United has done a great job promoting the posh Polaris business class product on its brand new Boeing 777-300ER jets. But what’s going on behind the curtain in economy class is probably more important to a larger group of flyers.

This week we heard from a TravelSkills reader who flew Economy Plus between Newark and San Francisco on the new bird and sent us some thoughts on the experience.

First a little background:  United currently has two Boeing 777-300ERs and says it will put a total of 14 of its new 777-300ERs into service during 2017. The aircraft will be configured with 60 Polaris business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout; 102 Economy Plus seats in a 3-4-3 layout; and 204 regular economy seats also in a 3-4-3 layout. Yes, that is 10-across, which seems to be the emerging economy class standard on new B777s at many carriers, including Air France, American, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar, and SWISS, among others.

United is rumored to be considering a “true” premium economy seat since both Delta and American have announced their intentions to do so. But there is nothing definitive from United so far. For now, Economy Plus on United is an economy seat with three extra inches of legroom.

If you have not read it already, here’s our first look at all three classes on United’s B777-300ER.

United Economy Plus

First three rows of United Economy Plus on a B777-300ER- does not appear that bad when it’s empty (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Between now and May 4, United will fly a B777-300ER between San Francisco and Newark six days per week. Late last month it deployed a second B777-300ER on SFO-Newark which means there are now two flying the route (but only through March 8). On March 25,  the aircraft will replace a 747-400 on the very competitive San Francisco-Hong Kong route (also serve by Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines).

Here’s United’s B777-300ER on Seatguru.com

So, what’s that Economy Plus section like? Here what our reader (who asked to remain anonymous) had to say:

I’m a regular reader of TravelSkills based in SF (thanks Chris for the interesting and helpful columns!) and after your post, I decided to try to new 777-300ER for a flight from EWR to SFO [5-6 hours]. Business class looked great, but I flew in Economy Plus, so here’s my review from the cheap seats.

Pros: The lighting is great. The seats are new and outfitted well (including power at every seat). Wifi actually worked pretty well on this flight.

Economy Plus United

Economy Plus on United’s B777-300ER has 34 inches of pitch (Chris McGinnis)

Cons: The economy seats are just too narrow, making the flying experience miserable. I’m not a large person, and I’ve generally enjoyed UA E+, even on long trips. (For example, I flew on a UA 787 Dreamliner SFO-SYD last month in E+ and thought it was actually quite nice.) But my experience in E+ on the 777-300ER was awful.

I found it very difficult to work, and my neighbors and I got to know each other much better than I think any of us would have wanted. You are literally pushed up against the next passenger. Admittedly, my flight was full, and I expect that it would have been a very different experience with an open seat next to me. But with high load factors these days, you can’t count on an open seat next to you.

34 inches of pitch in United Economy Plus- 31 inches in regular economy (Chris McGinnis)

Bottom Line: I understand that United is going to add these planes to its SFO-Hong Kong route and other long haul flights. I flew SFO-HKG on a UA 747 last year, and I thought it was fine (although a bit aged and admittedly not nearly as nice as United’s 787). But I absolutely would not fly a UA 777-300ER in E+ on a long route [14.5 hours] like that.

In fact, based on my experience yesterday, I will actively avoid the UA 777-300ER in E+ on any route and would pay a premium to take a different plane, make a stop, or take another carrier to avoid these absurdly cramped seats.

Economy Plus United B777-300ER

Economy Plus rows 19-22 just behind business class and in front of a bank of lavs (Chris McGinnis)

Thanks for your Reader Report! If you would like to contribute a Reader Report to TravelSkills, check out our Reader Report guidelines.

If you have not read it already, here’s our first look at all three classes on United’s B777-300ER.

Have you flown in a 10-abreast configuration on a B777 yet? Would you fly in United’s? Please leave your comments below. 

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Comments

  2. On one of these now! And for sure this is just a TERRIBLE exprience. There’s just no way to seat anymore on Economy plus without sharing your space with your neighbor. I am a United Million Miler and they just lost a customer

  3. The South China Morning Post (Hong Kong English-language newspaper) published an article on March 31 about Cathay Pacific changing to 10-across economy seating on its 777s, leaving Singapore as the only carrier with 9-across 777 economy seating on SFO-HKG non-stops. Depending on (lack of) economic pressure on Singapore Airlines, I wouldn’t be surprised if Singapore moves to 10-across 777 economy seating. At that point, the only question will be whether one is willing to fly non-stop between SFO and HKG (or other routes where 10-across 777 economy seating is the only practicable non-stop option).

    I fly this route often enough that I know I’ll have to make the trade-offs.

    http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2083585/hong-kong-cathay-pacific-passengers-feel-squeeze-push-profits

  4. Any 10-across config on a 777 is misery. I’m so glad to finally see flyers discussing this in addition to seat pitch. The aisle is so narrow that pax in aisle seats get whacked on the shoulder even by Flight Attendants as they pass. Impossible to sleep or relax. In a middle seat I can barely raise my hands to put food in my mouth with my arms pinned to my sides rubbing against two other humans. Air NZ, Emirates, AA and UA (and many other airlines) are all using this config for standard coach. Take your business elsewhere and tell them why. Don’t just buy a premium coach seat — that’s exactly what they want. To see UA making Economy Plus 10-across is a joke, doesn’t give adequate value to those who pay for it.

  5. The seat width should be fairly comparable between a 787 seating 9 abreast and 777-300ER 10 abreast. The difference is probably more psychological given that you now have 4 individuals in the middle. Remember when some planes were 2-5-2? That dreaded middle seat made the middle section look daunting.

    In fact I’d say flying Boeing in general, you’re going to get roughly 17ish pitch unless you are lucky to find a 8-abreast 787 or a 9-abreast 777. So if you struggle on the new 777-300ER, you’re going to dislike flying 737s also.

    The difference obviously is when the -300ERs get pulled into long haul service… then yeah 13 hours in 10 abreast in a E+ seat might not sound so cool.

  6. You don’t have to be rude, there are ways around this if we stick together and tell each other of other airlines. Good example I see above someone is telling us that Cathy is flying with wider 18 inch seats. If you work hard and research you can find your way around all of this.
    Most important is to make sure the United Airlines know that we are looking around for other ways of flying.

  7. I need that tax break so I can continue to fly FC and not the 17″ seating space in coach. Hopefully more tax breaks to come!!

  8. Congress get involved?? Ha ha ha
    Oh I see what you mean…..looking out for average American just like the $200,000 tax break to the rich under Trumpcare while subsidies go from $13,000 to $4,000

  9. solid advice, tell customers to “stop flying” these airlines, nevermind almost everyone is doing it and some people need to actually go places without paying an arm or a leg to reroute.

  10. only one of those routes is A350. The other is 77W. CX’s 77Ws are still 9 across in Y.

  11. Only airline that offers 8 abreast in economy on the 787 (since ANA went to 9abreast). It’s why I try to fly JAL over ANA

  12. I don’t fly long distance very often but the 3-4-3 on a 777 in coach is nothing new. Pretty sure KLM and Air France have flown this way between the east coast and Europe for a long time. It was pretty miserable but not as bad as a 747 flight I had a few years ago where the entertainment system box was where my feet where supposed to go. I asked the flight attendant how I could possibly sit here and she just shrugged. I was happy to fly a 777 back with some space for my toes due to the entertainment system being elsewhere.

    Anyway I fly Jetblue EL between JFK and SFO when possible even though the $100 premium is skyway robbery. Their regular coach is fine too but in EL you have a better shot at an empty seat next to you.

  13. Japan Airlines on their 777-300ER have 19 inch wide seats and 34 inches of leg room in cattle section.

  14. On the SFO-HKG route, Cathy is operating the all new Airbus 350 with 9 across and 18″ wide seats in coach and 20″inches wide in Premium Economy with 8 across. United has the A350-1000 on order.

  15. I think a lot of people are confused that Economy Plus on United is “premium” economy. Yes, it’s better than standard economy with a few extra inches of legroom, but is not the same as a true premium economy product you’ll find on many international carriers. If you want a wider seat, a legrest, extra legroom, and maybe an upgraded meal, then you need to fly a carrier who offers true premium economy and avoid United’s “Economy Plus.”

  16. American has more than announced “intentions”– it’s already flying the first couple of frames, I believe. Delta says this Fall…while still foisting Comfort + as a “premium” seat. Right.

    As for the 787 in coach, two words: Japan Airlines

  17. Interesting that the 787 was OK but this isn’t, I thought the 787 in economy was as narrow (according to seatguru the 787 is actually worse, 17.3 vs 17.5″). I’d love to know more about the differences if there is one, as I’d been avoding the United 787s. Actually, according to seatguru Uniteds 747s are even worse with 17″ width in economy, but that doesn’t sound right (although they’re also older seats so maybe have wider arm rests or something). Is there a definitive place to get the width stats of different seats?

    Unfortunately, the problem is with so many airlines going to 10 across, there won’t be a way for me to complain with my money…

  19. I personally have said how awful this would be since the first time Chris posted this about six months ago.
    I am sorry but until customers stop flying these “flights of pain and grief” telling United that they can take their ten across and put it were it doesn’t shine, they will continue to make things uncomfortable and dream up new ways of making a buck at our expense.

    They don’t care about their customers, they care about the bottom line and how much money they can make at our expense.
    Chris and everyone else, how many folks over 50 years old will get sick on a 14 hour flight sitting in that position? This is the cause of blood clots among older people, flights are tough in the beggining, letting people sit this way will creat vein problems and possible blood clots on planes. So as far as I am concern, they can even take their economy plus and shove it because frankly the leg room means very little when you can’t move because the seat is so thin.

    What a shame that United, could have made a big statement for “loyal” customers by making economy-plus nine across instead of the coach ten across. Then they had something that they could bargin with people. I checked the seat map and economy plus is in nine rows, but only seven of those rows is all the way across (they have two rows that economy plus is the window seats, not in the middle). For the shake of making something really good in Economy plus they could of taken nine seats out and had a “true” economy plus section. They could of even charged more for this and people would pay. So instead of getting 60 people to pay $200 more, they can now have more seats to sell on the cheap to folks, thus causing this problem.

    But their greed is too much and they couldn’t care about their so called “loyal” customers.

    Sorry but we should be writing about other airlines to fly that have the old seats that we can barely stand on 14 hour flights.

  20. Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm. At some point congress will get involved (which is rarely a good thing). Of course they rarely put there far a**es in coach to experience true travel.

  22. I’m a touch confused. Is it narrower than a traditional coach seat? Typically it is extra leg room not butt room. Why is I more “cramped”?

  23. As long as any other aircraft operated by any other airline goes to my destination, only a very recently sustained closed-head injury would lead me to buy a ticket in a 10-across, 3-4-3 airplane.

  24. Well, I’d rather fly a 777 domestically than anything else that a US airline offers. (A 787 would be nice too but I don’t know of any domestic 787 routes).

    But 3-4-3 is tough even in Economy and it’s a joke to call something “Premium Economy” and still have 3-4-3.

    Now, Polaris looks nice and 1-2-1 looks at least twice as good as BA’s 2-4-2 on the same plane. But surely anything called Premium Economy should at most be 2-3-2?

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