EWR764

Did I miss this? Where was a guidebook posted?

Great pics and report, by the way. Thanks for sharing!

SFHokie

I read TPG's review of EWR-HKG in PP today and have a few take-aways from it and am looking forward to this experience on April 7 for myself to compare and contrast:

1. If you're used to flying E- or E+, then this product is a big step up with extra space, fancier dishware and some glassware, amenities kit, and quite usable and serviceable blankets and pillows.
2. If you're used to flying J, this product is going to suck as you'll feel like you missed an upgrade to the lie flat seat you oh so wish you actually had.

It seems a lot of TPG's review focused on the terrible service which does happen from time to time on all flights, not just United's. Personally I've had some really great service on my TPAC flights over the past 6-12 months and I'm mostly flying in E+, not J. Though I can understand the beef he has with the over cooked chicken. (I tried for a bad pun there and failed miserably ...) When the food is over cooked, regardless of the cabin you're in, then it's just a bad experience.

People need to remember this is an enhanced economy product and not some "light" version of business class. I think with expectations set accordingly, it'll be a great experience for most flyers.

wpcoe

Speaking of TPG's review, Zach says he was served by the Y-class F/As. I thought I read someplace (here on FT?) that the service was to be presented by the J-class F/As. Anybody have confirmation of which way it's supposed to be?

halls120

I've flown Premium economy on AF, BA, SK, and LH, and while it is indeed closer to Y than to C, it is a far better experience than Y, given the move to even less pitch and seat width in most Y configurations today.

Kacee

It must have been really, incredibly bad service for TPG to give such a poor review.

SFHokie

That's kind of what I was thinking, too. I didn't focus too much on the part of the report about the service as it's really subjective based one someone's POV. Zach usually has good reports, so maybe he was a bit cranky himself 🤔 😎

Kacee

It sounds like he got a classically bad EWR crew. The kind who should not be in service positions.

jmastron

Question about underseat storage alignment (apologies if this was answered already): I'm choosing between a side-aisle or center-aisle seat -- do either have seat tracks preventing a backpack from fitting without intruding somewhat on the next seat over's foot space (as the center-aisle seats in the 3-4-3 E/E+ do)?

dilanesp

You should have chickened out on the beef pun.

(FWIW I agree with your perspective on Premium Economy.)

uastarflyer

emcampbe

JShLin

So... A question. I accepted a TOD upgrade offer to P+ today for 869 tomorrow; however, upon trying to select a seat, it appears that P+ is in fact sold out. I assume that its been overbooked, and should expect to be shunted back into E+ with a refund. That said... Opinions on chances of getting one of the many currently open J seats?

Funny enough, checking my flight status on desktop, it looks like they haven't quite worked out the bugs... it shows as "Polaris Business," while true Polaris is listed as "Polaris First."

Kacee

UA will op-up P+ pax to business to resolve the oversale of the P+ cabin. Op-ups will likely be based on status.

May I ask what the price of the upgrade was?

bballdad175

JShLin

I paid 599, compared to a pre-check-in offer of 1209. I decided it was worth it for a near 15 hr flight. And I guess I'll wait until the gate tomorrow to see how the operational upgrades shake out.