Quick take: From the dated lavatories to the broken Wi-Fi and power outlets, United Airlines’ A320s are in need of an update.
Pros
- The seat had plenty of legroom and a convenient laptop holder.
- Customers can pre-order their meals in the United app five days before the flight.
- Even though the internet wasn’t working, there was plenty of streamable entertainment.
Cons
- In-flight meals were inadequate at best.
- No warning or indication was given that the Wi-Fi would not work.
- Worn-out power outlets might require international plugs to charge your devices.
United Airlines has recently invested significantly in its mainline fleet, demonstrating a seriously needed commitment to enhance the passenger experience. The Chicago-based carrier has ordered hundreds of new narrow-body aircraft equipped with modern cabins and seatback entertainment systems for every seat. They have also begun refurbishing their Airbus A319 fleet as part of their efforts. These enhancements include the installation of 13-inch seatback monitors, new power outlets with USB-C compatibility and adding small wings on each first-class seat to increase privacy between passengers.
But since its older aircraft are more common, I decided to try United Airlines’ offering by flying mid-week from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). However, I must warn you — my experience revealed that United Airlines has ample room for improvement.
Here’s what it’s like flying first class on one of United Airlines’ older Airbus A320 from Seattle to Los Angeles.
How much does first class cost to book on United Airlines?
Usually, United offers two flights per day from Seattle to Los Angeles. Most of these flights are operated on the Airbus A320 aircraft, although occasionally, the airline deploys the Boeing 737-800 and the smaller Embraer E175. United offers different fare options, including basic economy, standard economy, Economy Plus seats with additional legroom and first-class seats.
United calculates ticket costs using dynamic pricing, so award rates vary and correspond somewhat to cash fares — meaning if airfares are high, you can expect to redeem more miles for a ticket. If you’re a Premier elite member or hold an eligible United MileagePlus credit card, you have access to special member pricing on award tickets, which can significantly reduce the number of miles you need to redeem for tickets on United-operated flights.
Below is a breakdown of the expected costs for a nonstop flight between Seattle and Los Angeles during the next year based on current prices:
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| Class | Economy | First class |
|---|---|---|
| Cash price (round trip) | $118 to $754 | $488 to $2,654 |
| MileagePlus miles (round trip) | 14,600 to 71,800 (plus $11.20 in taxes and fees) | 60,000 to 112,200 (plus $11.20 in taxes and fees) |
You can’t bring a full-size carry-on bag if you’re ticketed in basic economy. However, standard economy and first-class passengers can bring a full-size carry-on in addition to a personal item like a backpack or briefcase.
| Class | Change fees | Checked bag fees | Seat selection | Boarding group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | $0 (no changes for basic economy) | $35 ($30 if pre-paid) for the first checked bag, $45 ($40 if pre-paid) for the second checked bag | Standard economy passengers can choose a standard seat at no charge (or from $19 for a seat with a preferred location and up to $96 to select an Economy Plus seat) | Group 3, 4 and 5 (Group 6 for basic economy) |
| First class | $0 | Two free bags up to 50 pounds each | $0 | Group 1 |
United offers complimentary upgrades to its Premier members on domestic flights, though that’s based on availability. On my flight, 32 elite members were not upgraded.
I was able to purchase my one-way ticket from LAX to SEA for $254 — a relatively low first-class fare for the route. If you find a discounted first-class offer, it’s generally the best value to book using cash and to save your miles for a different flight. Some of the best credit cards for booking airfare include:
Checking in and boarding first class on United Airlines
You can check in for your flight 24 hours before departure on the United app to skip the airport check-in lines. As with the American and Delta apps, you can track the status of your inbound flight to stay apprised of potential delays.
United operates out of Concourse A at SEA. There’s a designated priority check-in area. Lines for the self-service kiosks and customer service were short.
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Even with TSA PreCheck and Clear, the security process took almost half an hour. The posted security times for standard screening were around 45 minutes.
Domestic first-class United tickets typically do not grant access to the United Club. However, being a United Club Infinite Card cardholder allowed me to access the United Club lounge by presenting my same-day operated United boarding pass.
Although the club had a basic setup, it provided amenities such as charcuterie, dips, a complete salad bar, a cheese tortellini lunch entree, a bar and well-maintained single-stall restroom facilities. Additionally, the lounge offered a reliable internet connection, enabling me to get some work done before making my way to the nearby gate, just a few steps away.
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The gate area for the Los Angeles flight was top-notch. It boasted ample seating options, and the spaciousness of the high ceilings and large windows allowed natural light to flood the terminal. Some seats near the gate were equipped with convenient power outlets.
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Boarding began on time at 2:20 p.m. The flight attendant in the front of the cabin greeted passengers and offered alcohol-based wipes.
About 15 years ago, United doubled the overhead bin space on this plane by installing larger overhead bins. While they’re not as spacious as the latest bins on wide-body jets or the newer domestic planes like its Airbus A321neos that allow you to put your luggage on its side, the bins accommodated all passengers’ luggage. That helped us get an on-time departure.
Once seated, first-class travelers were given the option of a predeparture beverage of water or sparkling wine served in plastic cups. Additionally, the flight attendant offered to hang passengers’ coats.
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How comfortable was United Airlines first class?
The aircraft for my three-hour flight to Los Angeles was a 1990s-era Airbus A320 with the following seat count and layout in first class.
| Number of seats | 12 |
|---|---|
| Cabin layout | Three rows of seats in 2-2 configuration |
| Seat pitch and recline | 39 inches, 6 inches |
| Seat width | 19 inches |
| Seatback screen | Not offered, only personal device entertainment |
Upon entering the aircraft through the boarding door and turning right, all passengers walk past the three rows of first-class in this single-aisle plane.
To enhance comfort during longer flights, passengers can adjust the headrest, allowing for a supportive cradle that helps with neck relaxation and promotes a more comfortable sleeping experience. However, the cabin lacks mood lighting or distinctive elements that stand out on newer plane interiors.
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On the upside, I found the 39-inch pitch ideal for stretching out. At around six feet tall, I had plenty of space.
While these seats do not have built-in seatback entertainment, a personal device on the tray table stand can conveniently accommodate a tablet or phone. There’s also a small beverage tray that extends from the center armrest.
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Positioned on the center armrest, the seat control consists of a single metal button that allows you to recline your seat. As you recline your seat, the seat cushion smoothly slides forward. While flyers haven’t traditionally favored this cradle-like design, I found it quite comfortable for the two-and-a-half-hour trip to Los Angeles.
At the front of the armrest is a universal power outlet and a convenient tray for placing your phone while it charges. However, I faced some challenges with charging my phone as the plug needed to be held in place. Thankfully, I had a European-pronged power adapter which allowed my phone to charge without any problems when connected to the outlet. It seems that the outlets accommodating U.S. plugs may be showing signs of wear due to frequent use.
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Every seat has a spacious foldable metal tray table extending from the center armrest. When fully unfolded, this tray table provides ample space for work or other activities, allowing even larger devices like a 16-inch MacBook Pro to be comfortably used. Even when the passenger in front of me reclined their seat, there was still room to continue working.
In my opinion, the seat’s most convenient feature was the laptop holder positioned near the window. This dedicated space was particularly handy for storing my laptop when lunch was served.
Designated for first-class passengers, the lavatory behind the cockpit didn’t get any updates when the plane received new seats. The fluorescent lighting and wallpaper evoked a reminiscent ambience of 1980s office spaces. Additionally, the sink did not feature touchless functionality, which felt outdated.
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United Airlines first-class amenities
United’s amenities were minimal, as they did not provide headphones, pillows, blankets, amenity kits or menus. I was also underwhelmed by United’s decision not to install seatback entertainment on this plane.
Nevertheless, passengers could access various inflight entertainment through the United app, even though the Wi-Fi signal’s internet connection was down. The app offered 207 movies, TV shows and podcasts, including popular titles like “Avatar” and “The Departed.”
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Worst of all, the internet was down for the entire flight. No announcements were made regarding this issue during the boarding process, leaving me unaware and unprepared without any offline work downloaded.
That also meant there was no way to track the flight’s progress, and the flight deck provided no announcements about our journey until the descent. As a result, it was impossible to determine the real-time flight time remaining until we arrived in Los Angeles.
How was the food in United Airlines first class?
For flights on eligible routes, such as my journey from Seattle to Los Angeles, United Airlines offers the option to pre-order a meal. This service allows passengers to reserve their desired meal selection from five days before the flight and up until 24 hours before departure.
The available pre-order main course choices on my specific flight were:
- Mushroom ravioli with Alfredo sauce, mushrooms and marinated cherry tomatoes
- Four-cheese skillet burger with caramelized onion and jalapeño served with a side of crinkle-cut fries
- Sweet chili glass noodle salad with jicama and cucumber served with an optional side plate of garlic-ginger beef
- Chicken meatballs with roasted peppers, polenta and Calabrian chili sauce
- Cheese enchiladas with Spanish rice and street corn
You can also pre-order special meals if you have a dietary preference or restriction. I ordered the chicken meatballs, and the flight attendant confirmed my entree and asked for my preferred beverage shortly after boarding. Customers who didn’t pre-order their meals could select between the noodle salad and cheese enchiladas.
About 20 minutes after takeoff, lunch began with warm almonds and cashews with a drink.
About 30 minutes later, lunch was served. The flight attendant also refilled my drink.
Although the salad and warm roll were satisfying, the chicken meatballs proved to be rubbery and excessively salty. Furthermore, the polenta had been overcooked, giving it a dry, grainy texture. My seatmate skipped lunch, and most passengers didn’t eat much of their meals either.
Similarly, the crumble cake was disappointing as it lacked distinct flavors beyond its sweetness.
Complimentary beverages, including beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks, were readily available. However, no menu was provided, meaning passengers had to inquire about the full selection of options if they didn’t already know what they wanted.
While the flight attendant left the passengers to themselves after the meal service, he remained available for drink requests.
In general, the service provided on the flight was satisfactory, with the flight attendant efficiently fulfilling requests from first-class passengers. However, it lacked a personal touch or any notable elements that would leave a lasting impression.
Would you recommend United first class?
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I couldn’t wait to get off the plane when we landed in Los Angeles. The absence of internet or seatback screens meant there were minimal ways to pass the time, and the disappointing lunch wasn’t good enough to be a distraction.
United Airlines undoubtedly has areas that require significant improvement, particularly in inflight internet accessibility and catering services. Reliable Wi-Fi has become essential for travelers, and unlike Delta and JetBlue, United has no plans to provide flyers with free Wi-Fi. While the airline has tried to enhance its inflight meals, there is still ample room for improvement. The catering and Wi-Fi issues are largely present across the airline’s fleet, even on newer planes.
But the A320 fleet, in particular, is in dire need of refurbishment. Considering that many of these aircraft are already over 25 years old, I’m uncertain whether improvements on the A320 fleet can be expected.
