Just reflecting after brutal trip this week. I've had my time on UA as as 12 year GS, but also on many other airlines too. EK, SQ, TK, KL, LH, SN, NH, etc etc. My business travels change every so often so it can be Asia one year, all Europe the next, etc etc. For the last year I have been going to Angola. The "easiest" way to get there is through Europe, usually with an extra stop in the US or a 10 hour layover in Europe... pick your poison.

This week's trip took me IAH-IAD-BRU-LAD-FRA-IAH. Brussels Airlines on the way into Luanda, Lufthansa on the way out. UA for the rest of it. 5 days total, so it was quite grueling, but I'd rather get in and get out these days, especially when headed to Angola.

So, on this trip I was in the "throne" seat on SN A330 to LAD and the regular biz seat on LH out of LAD to FRA. And then, out of FRA, I got to settle into 9A on the 772 FRA-IAH. 9A is my go to on the 772.

Let me just say that United lacks in many areas.... but a bulkhead seat in polaris simply blows over 80% of the biz seats out there away. Perhaps even the non-bulkhead seats do as well.

The biz seats in the LH group are straight up garbage. The "throne" seat that is available on Brussels, Swiss, etc, should be renamed the coffin seat. You literally cannot move once in a flat position. I had just done an overnight into Brussels and getting on the 8 hour flight to LAD, so I wanted to sleep. Unless you like sleeping completely flat on your back, this seat sucks. Cannot move your legs at all, nothing. All joking aside, it was like a coffin. The seats on LH are, in my opinion, perhaps the worst biz seats of any western airline (must say Ive never flown the "staring contest" seats on BA though). Even something as simple as the recline function puts you into a bizarre forward, elevating motion which only makes it easier for you to play footsie with your neighbor since there is only a 1/2" partition separating the footwells. When flat, there are areas of the seat (bed) that literally have no padding.... just fabric over the metal frame. For both seats on SN and LH, they have the "amazing" air bladders which let you adjust the firmness of the seats. Complete garbage as they are constantly inflating and deflating. Nice concept in theory, but they suck.

I guess I am saying that every airline has its ups and downs with service, food etc (soft product). I've had some horrible experiences on UA. But, after doing two long hauls in the same week on two other airlines and then boarding into 9A yesterday in Frankfurt, I'll take all the bad service, bad food, etc, if it gets me comfort every single time.

PS. I had one of the best FA's I've had in years yesterday on UA47. 35 years with the airline and just started to do international long haul in December. It's always a roll of the dice and yesterday was a good one!