For the final segment of our royal visit to Versailles, I flew United Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX 8 first class on the 2hr20min flight from Washington (IAD) to Miami (MIA).
Continue reading: Review: United First Class Boeing 737 MAX (IAD-MIA)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
That is not the NEXT cabin. It is UA's New F, which is a generation earlier. The easiest way to tell the difference is NEXT has the mini privacy divider between seats.
An espresso martini and then a cold brew for a flight landing at 9PM? Were you going clubbing that night or something Ben?
The boarding process feels off on UA, *especially* for paid first. Half the plane boards before you. They can keep their widdle TVs with the constant announcement interruptions. While the $2 can of Illy is a nice option and allows the avoidance of terrible sky coffee, I typically purchase a quality coffee beverage in the the terminal. Why not fill up a bottle with draft cold brew for free at the Cap1 lounge at IAD? Find me on AA earning miles that are much more valuable.
The lack of United Club access in this example just hilights how Star Alliance lounge policy sucks for transit pax, IMO probably the most of the 3.
Actually, no. Considering how they monetize paid upgrades so that free status upgrades are almost non-existent, it’s nice UA still allows GS and 1Ks to preboard acknowledging their most loyal customers.
Not really… kind of fits the bill for most policies across airlines. If anything, I think US carriers do quite a good job in comparison for transit lounge access.
In fact, Polaris lounge access doesn’t require an onward ticket, which isn’t the same for overall OW access rules (from the website, had to triple check)
You get Polaris on arrival only when flying United. Few airlines do make exception on arrival but not any alliance wide policy at all.
OW and ST recognize your access during transit not just departure.
Your chili looks like vomit, acutally vomit would be brown, the chili looks like Num 2
Sounds pretty decent. Must pay attention to see if one gets to fly aboard new MAX aircraft or probably will get older, not so nice cabins. Great improvement. The United first class seats are hard as can be and not so attractive looking. My only complaint. Glad you had a decent flight. Too bad for the late departure and arrival.
I was under the impression drinks (including alcohol) were complimentary in United first class for flights over 300 miles.
It is a bit strange that neither your arrival on Austrian nor your departure on United qualified you for access to Lufthansa's or Turkish's lounges at IAD.
1Ks are still the fifth group to board, after:
- Customers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors
- Active military members
- Global Services members
- Anyone flying with children 2 years old or younger
The gate lice problem is bad, as there is no dedicated boarding lane for all of these people.
United still flies ancient 737s with Continental interiors on some of its routes (e.g., IAD-PDX). The first-class seats on these planes wore out decades ago.
Welcome to Star Alliance, the 2nd least hated alliance by many bloggers.
No denied access if this was with Oneworld or SkyTeam.
I believe this is a generation behind NEXT. The seats look like a slightly older version, but I’m not 100% sure.
I flew on two aircraft (both over 20 years old) with the new interiors last month and I was mighty impressed, especially loved the Bluetooth audio and how responsive the IFE was. The seats were comfortable although I do find United’s plain Y seats are tight.
Flew UA Max 8 last weekend, RT for 3 days, IAD-PSP. Outbound - was upgraded to First bulk head aisle - with old interior as shown in picture. Seats needed maintenance, as many people had trouble with the jamming tray tables - and hard to pull out or put back. Also limited leg room in bulkhead. International traveler complained to FA about how bad the seats were, compared to International Asian airlines.
On return - aircraft was swapped to 737-800 - which had the new interior - very nice - but I was in coach - exit row on this flight . Problem is there was no BOB food (except packaged boxes) on the 5 hour flight.
The IAD-PSP flight is a turn - same FA's out and back and all the food is catered in IAD. And they don't serve the hot food for purchase on the return. At PSP, the FA's have to move the used food carts in First to the rear and bring the return food (stored in rear) to the forward galley.
The 737 forward lav is a bit of a joke. I often wonder how passengers of 'ample carriage' negotiate it without getting wedged-in.
Well, at least there were individuals air vents to offer some relief !!
I appreciate your culinary consideration for your fellow pax !
This MAX 8 interior is the United NEXT interior, which first started flying in 2021. The A321neo interior is one generation after that. I don't know if there is a name for that (I assume so, but I don't know off the top of my head).
I flew United First Class Boeing 737 MAX (IAH- PHX) not not too long ago. It was pleasant and I appreciated the pre-order meal options even though I know most of these dishes, aren’t that healthy. The Houston TEX/MEX dish, (which I can’t remember the name of) was quite tasty! Hopefully they will be upgrading soon and serve salmon roe sushi
Haha, to reduce "decision fatigue" a couple years ago, I decided to subscribe to a microwave meal service that delivered in NYC. It wasn't horrible, wasn't great. But one day I was eating the "Tex Mex Chili w/ Polenta Cake" dish in front of my better half, who looked at me blankly and said, "You realize you're just eating airplane food? They're just contracting with the same caterers."
It was exactly your main dish! At least you had some booze to enjoy with it.
I think you can also order these somewhere around Frankfurt. Pretty cheap as well, but no delivery included.
again, you spend a lot of time on an american website for someone who spends their day hating America.
Welcome! and we appreciate your readership 🙂
According to your logic, isn't it asinine to call it strange because just one airport has such discomfort?
You can act otherwise but your hypocrisy is crystal clear.
If you are lucky, they now have a few MAX 8s and MAX 9s lurking around with the new first class seats found on the NEO.
Whatever have the inhabitants of the colonies stooped to now?
Trolling new commentators it would appear. Could this be your only reason of posting herein Plain J, darlink.
Eskimo and Mason …. two of the OMAAT resident, hypocritical nobodies at work again, yes?
Definitely get the Maryland Blue Crab crab cakes exclusive preorder if you are flying first class out of Dulles.
How far United has come. Give Kirby credit, he is reviving UA to being (Arguably) the best domestic in-flight experience across all classes. Plus, you can't even compare this premium product to the pathetic "business class" those airlines offer within Europe.
That's why chili is a terrible idea on a plane. Especially when crab cakes are on the menu or even a great manicotti.