Upgrade Your United Seat. It’s Cheaper Than Ever

Have you noticed a ton of discounted United Premium Plus tickets for international trips? With prices the lowest they’re likely to be, is now the time to try the latest edition to the Premium Economy fare wars? Or is it all just a ruse to try “The Friendly Skies” once more?

While it’s been just under a year since the introduction of United Premium Plus, you can spot more and more discounted fares to United’s mid-tier upgrade. And, with upgrades to Premium Plus as cheap as they’re likely going to get, FlyerTalk Evangelist findark says “it’s a great time to check it out.” But, even cheap upgrades aren’t always worth it. If you’re still on the fence about upgrading, we’ve factored in a few variables to help you decide.

 

The Price of a Cheap Upgrade to Premium Plus

Let’s take this FlyerTalk forum question as an example:

Hello All:

We are considering purchasing two Premium Plus tickets from North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport. 

We normally travel on the cheapest fare available, so not familiar with the ‘better’ options. The Premium Plus fare is not a great deal more than the Economy fare, so it seems like a good option. 

The best available price for a Premium Plus trip from GSO to CDG is around $1337 flying between Feb. 26 and Mar. 4, including two outbound stopovers (in Newark and Frankfurt, Germany). Comparatively, the cheapest economy seat on that route is around $917, for a difference of $420 per person (no, we couldn’t make those numbers up).

For good measure, we checked out a few other, similar routes. For a trip from, say, Newark, New Jersey to Brussels, Belgium, the cheapest Premium Plus seat was $1,104 for a 7-day trip between Mar. 10 and 17, 2020. On the same dates, an economy seat was only $615 – a difference of $489.

And for a flight between Newark and Frankfurt, the cheapest Premium Plus flight cost $1,060, again flying between Mar. 10 and 17, 2020. The same flight in economy priced out as $633, for a difference of $427.

The pricing quoted was accurate as of the time of writing. As with all flights, your price may vary – but from the prices we found, the difference to upgrade from economy to Premium Plus was in the $400-range. At $200 each way, it may be enough to entice some flyers to move up to the better cabin.

And, in the FlyerTalk forum, some flyers were able to find roundtrip fares in Premium Plus for just $100 more than economy, each way.

 

United Premium Plus Reviews

Although it’s not as luxurious as the United Polaris experience, there’s something to be said for a nicer seat on long flights. Here’s what you get when you upgrade to Premium Plus from Economy:

Premium Plus Seats

• Wider seats (than Economy), more leg space (than Economy Plus), more recline (than Economy Plus), plus an extendable leg rest
• Saks Fifth Ave bedding
• Larger entertainment screens and a set of noise reduction headsets
• Priority boarding, quicker check-in, and shorter airport security lines (via Premier Access®)
• Two free standard checked bags so you can pack more
• Discounted United Club lounge access for a better travel experience
• Reserved overhead bin space for your carry-on bag

Premium Plus Meals

• Menus will be placed at each seat detailing the food options for your flight
• Pre-departure water may be served in a blue cup, time permitting
• Almonds will be served alongside a choice of beverage after takeoff
• The main meal will include a choice of two entrees, plus a salad, bread, ice cream, and a cookie
• Beer, wine (187ml bottles — about two glasses) and spirits will be available free of charge
• You may choose a standard economy meal instead (if you prefer)
• The pre-arrival meal will include a choice of two entrees as well, plus various side dishes, a biscotti and croissant

United promises a better seat with extra recline, two meals and “mid-flight snacks,” along with complimentary alcoholic beverages. FlyterTalkers who tried some of the early flights with the new seats pointed out notable pros and cons about the seating option.

These seats seem to work best for the tall. Said one FlyerTalker, “Lots of legroom! Even though I was in a middle seat, I never felt cramped (I’m 5’10). I’m one of those who has a hard time sleeping on planes, but I was able to get a good couple hours’ rest.” And that was despite limited under-seat storage and “typical economy food.”

But if you’re a larger person, it’s worth noting, as another FlyerTalker did, that “There is also about four inches less space between the tray table and the seat, compared with business first seating. As a larger person that makes a huge difference. No way at all I would ever pay for Premium economy or be upgraded into it unless Economy Plus was totally full and 3-4-3 seating.”

 

Is It Worth Upgrading?

In a word? “Yes.”

While the reviews of Premium Plus are mixed, even the tough critics on FlyerTalk agree that Premium Plus seat is at least marginally better than sitting in United’s traditional economy or Economy Plus. And, when you can find upgrades for as little as $200 each way when you’re flying far it’s worth the investment to get there and back more comfortably.

If you do decide to make the jump, be sure to share your experiences on the FlyerTalk forums after your flights!