Premium Plus (Premium Economy) seats and Experience
Nov 28, 2018, 10:49 am
#91
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
Hopefully nobody was expecting PE to be some kind of revelation in passenger comfort, or a substitute for business class... it isn't at the carriers which have it, and it won't be that at UA. Still, the little bit of additional width, greater legroom, bigger screens and upgraded food/beverage will be welcome.
I've flown the MiQ seat with other carriers and find it to be adequately comfortable, but it's still much closer to the realm of Y than J. I personally prefer the off-the-shelf MiQ seat to the LH PE seat.
The small cabins suggest, to me, that UA will be trying to extract a considerable premium for PE over standard Y. I just hope UA doesn't completely blow up its GPU system to accommodate PE (IOW, Y>J becomes a double instrument-supported upgrade).
I've flown the MiQ seat with other carriers and find it to be adequately comfortable, but it's still much closer to the realm of Y than J. I personally prefer the off-the-shelf MiQ seat to the LH PE seat.
The small cabins suggest, to me, that UA will be trying to extract a considerable premium for PE over standard Y. I just hope UA doesn't completely blow up its GPU system to accommodate PE (IOW, Y>J becomes a double instrument-supported upgrade).
Nov 28, 2018, 11:02 am
#92
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,355
Nov 30, 2018, 8:01 pm
#93
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PDX/OGG/HKG
Programs: UA MM/Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 53
I just booked multiple PP flights (SFO-HKG) which is my usual routing for work. I bought two on Black Friday and one today (all at $675 each) and grabbed 19C which is the bulkhead aisle.
I figured at that price point, it was worth buying well in advance of the inevitable price jump.
The fact that we have early access to these seats before they "go live" in the system is quite nice, although I'm guessing UA is also quietly gauging interest among their Golds and above.
I've been flying this route quarterly since 1999 so I've got good BIS experience with the UA product and planes.
My next trip out is in Feb 2019 and I'll post photos and thoughts if anybody is interested but I will definitely be late to the review-party.
I figured at that price point, it was worth buying well in advance of the inevitable price jump.
The fact that we have early access to these seats before they "go live" in the system is quite nice, although I'm guessing UA is also quietly gauging interest among their Golds and above.
I've been flying this route quarterly since 1999 so I've got good BIS experience with the UA product and planes.
My next trip out is in Feb 2019 and I'll post photos and thoughts if anybody is interested but I will definitely be late to the review-party.
Dec 6, 2018, 9:02 pm
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,890
I thought I saw a post describing a bulkhead wall behind the last row of PP in here, but can’t seem
to find it anymore.
Csn anyone comfirm that there are bulkhead walls behind thre last row of PP, and if there is one in front of row 20? Wondering if there will be bassinet availability in PP, presumably at least in the middle section of row 20. Sounds like if there is a bulkhead behind row 22, whatever the first row of E+ is behind it would have bassinet availability for sure?
to find it anymore.
Csn anyone comfirm that there are bulkhead walls behind thre last row of PP, and if there is one in front of row 20? Wondering if there will be bassinet availability in PP, presumably at least in the middle section of row 20. Sounds like if there is a bulkhead behind row 22, whatever the first row of E+ is behind it would have bassinet availability for sure?
Dec 7, 2018, 12:15 am
#95
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum (LTG), Hilton Gold, United 1K, AA EXP, AS MVP 75K
Posts: 208
The seat map has the PE layout but is not currently being sold as PE on my SFO-HKG flight at the end of January. Are the planes already equipped with PE, it just hasn’t officially gone live? Just wondering if I should grab 1 of the seats in Row 21-23. I was booted from the PE seat I selected once PE went live on my flight to CDG last weekend.
I just booked multiple PP flights (SFO-HKG) which is my usual routing for work. I bought two on Black Friday and one today (all at $675 each) and grabbed 19C which is the bulkhead aisle.
I figured at that price point, it was worth buying well in advance of the inevitable price jump.
The fact that we have early access to these seats before they "go live" in the system is quite nice, although I'm guessing UA is also quietly gauging interest among their Golds and above.
I've been flying this route quarterly since 1999 so I've got good BIS experience with the UA product and planes.
My next trip out is in Feb 2019 and I'll post photos and thoughts if anybody is interested but I will definitely be late to the review-party.
I figured at that price point, it was worth buying well in advance of the inevitable price jump.
The fact that we have early access to these seats before they "go live" in the system is quite nice, although I'm guessing UA is also quietly gauging interest among their Golds and above.
I've been flying this route quarterly since 1999 so I've got good BIS experience with the UA product and planes.
My next trip out is in Feb 2019 and I'll post photos and thoughts if anybody is interested but I will definitely be late to the review-party.
Dec 7, 2018, 5:33 am
#96
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I thought I saw a post describing a bulkhead wall behind the last row of PP in here, but can’t seem
to find it anymore.
Csn anyone comfirm that there are bulkhead walls behind thre last row of PP, and if there is one in front of row 20? Wondering if there will be bassinet availability in PP, presumably at least in the middle section of row 20. Sounds like if there is a bulkhead behind row 22, whatever the first row of E+ is behind it would have bassinet availability for sure?
to find it anymore.
Csn anyone comfirm that there are bulkhead walls behind thre last row of PP, and if there is one in front of row 20? Wondering if there will be bassinet availability in PP, presumably at least in the middle section of row 20. Sounds like if there is a bulkhead behind row 22, whatever the first row of E+ is behind it would have bassinet availability for sure?
The PP area was rather empty so she sat in those seats for a few minutes (in Row 20 and Row 21). She thought that she would like to sit in the bulkhead for a flight like HKG-ORD. But felt that the other seats would still be a little cramped.
Dec 7, 2018, 5:38 am
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,344
I thought I saw a post describing a bulkhead wall behind the last row of PP in here, but can’t seem
to find it anymore.
Csn anyone comfirm that there are bulkhead walls behind thre last row of PP, and if there is one in front of row 20? Wondering if there will be bassinet availability in PP, presumably at least in the middle section of row 20. Sounds like if there is a bulkhead behind row 22, whatever the first row of E+ is behind it would have bassinet availability for sure?
to find it anymore.
Csn anyone comfirm that there are bulkhead walls behind thre last row of PP, and if there is one in front of row 20? Wondering if there will be bassinet availability in PP, presumably at least in the middle section of row 20. Sounds like if there is a bulkhead behind row 22, whatever the first row of E+ is behind it would have bassinet availability for sure?
Dec 7, 2018, 6:12 am
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,462
The seat map has the PE layout but is not currently being sold as PE on my SFO-HKG flight at the end of January. Are the planes already equipped with PE, it just hasn’t officially gone live? Just wondering if I should grab 1 of the seats in Row 21-23. I was booted from the PE seat I selected once PE went live on my flight to CDG last weekend.
Dec 7, 2018, 6:27 am
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,890
Dec 7, 2018, 6:39 am
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,344
There are two pics in my post. One shows where the mags/safety cards go, and the other showing the Premium Plus sign shows the divider between row 20 and business.
Dec 7, 2018, 5:44 pm
#101
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PDX/OGG/HKG
Programs: UA MM/Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 53
The seat map has the PE layout but is not currently being sold as PE on my SFO-HKG flight at the end of January. Are the planes already equipped with PE, it just hasn’t officially gone live? Just wondering if I should grab 1 of the seats in Row 21-23. I was booted from the PE seat I selected once PE went live on my flight to CDG last weekend.
You'll probably get bumped back to 30 which is the first row of E+. It happened to me on my HKG-NRT-SFO route in May. I had bought it and scored 19C which is the E+ "mini-cabin" on the planes that have not been upgraded yet.
My Feb trip still has me in 19 E+ section and has not changed to a PP seat map. That could change and I could get bumped back. It's happening to a lot of people.
Dec 21, 2018, 8:32 pm
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,890
whoops. Didn't come back here for a while, and somehow missed the photos in your post on page 1. I was looking at the OP, which didn't show that. Yours did (as well as a couple of newer posts, just above.
Dec 28, 2018, 7:07 pm
#105
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
First experience on refitted 772 Premium Plus seat
I took NRT-IAD flight today. I ended on a middle-section aisle seat on the first row. My original seat was a middle seat on the second row. After about 6 hours, my butt began to feel hurt. I put additional support on the seat to survive the 12 hour journey.
Positive impressions:
1) the aisle seat can become wider after lowering the arm rest (additional 2-3 inches);
2) tray table can be easily pull out and stored;
3) controls for seat recline and footrest are easy to use;
4) the seatback screen is bigger than in Economy cabin.
5) footrests other than the first row are nice.
Less favorite impressions:
1) seat cushion
2) video/audio/light controls
3) footrest on the first row (cannot extend forward much)
4) pulling out the video screen on the first row is not easy.
Finally, will I pay for these seats? I might do it with GPU on the lowly G fare.
Positive impressions:
1) the aisle seat can become wider after lowering the arm rest (additional 2-3 inches);
2) tray table can be easily pull out and stored;
3) controls for seat recline and footrest are easy to use;
4) the seatback screen is bigger than in Economy cabin.
5) footrests other than the first row are nice.
Less favorite impressions:
1) seat cushion
2) video/audio/light controls
3) footrest on the first row (cannot extend forward much)
4) pulling out the video screen on the first row is not easy.
Finally, will I pay for these seats? I might do it with GPU on the lowly G fare.