Premium Plus (Premium Economy) seats and Experience
Jun 20, 2019, 9:45 am
#631
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2
PP Seats Never Again
I am a 1 K, 2 Million miles with United and a big guy. Recently, I flew from SFO to Tel Aviv direct. I purchased an aisle PP seat with the assumption that it would be like the domestic first-class type of seat.
Immediately when I sat in the seat, it was apparent that the seat was closer in size to the BH economy class plus domestic seat. Sure, I did not need to compete for an armrest, but the seat width was no better than the domestic seat. The 13.5 hours of travel was miserable and I will never purchase the PP seat again. I would rather be in an economy plus aisle seat where I can raise the outer armrest.
Immediately when I sat in the seat, it was apparent that the seat was closer in size to the BH economy class plus domestic seat. Sure, I did not need to compete for an armrest, but the seat width was no better than the domestic seat. The 13.5 hours of travel was miserable and I will never purchase the PP seat again. I would rather be in an economy plus aisle seat where I can raise the outer armrest.
Jun 20, 2019, 9:59 am
#632
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
I am a 1 K, 2 Million miles with United and a big guy. Recently, I flew from SFO to Tel Aviv direct. I purchased an aisle PP seat with the assumption that it would be like the domestic first-class type of seat.
Immediately when I sat in the seat, it was apparent that the seat was closer in size to the BH economy class plus domestic seat. Sure, I did not need to compete for an armrest, but the seat width was no better than the domestic seat. The 13.5 hours of travel was miserable and I will never purchase the PP seat again. I would rather be in an economy plus aisle seat where I can raise the outer armrest.
Immediately when I sat in the seat, it was apparent that the seat was closer in size to the BH economy class plus domestic seat. Sure, I did not need to compete for an armrest, but the seat width was no better than the domestic seat. The 13.5 hours of travel was miserable and I will never purchase the PP seat again. I would rather be in an economy plus aisle seat where I can raise the outer armrest.
Jun 20, 2019, 12:07 pm
#633
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,834
Jun 20, 2019, 1:18 pm
#634
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,448
It can indeed... the button is on the forward-facing part of the armrest and not immediately visible, but it's there. Took me a little while to find and use, but the extra width was welcome. I haven't tried it on a window seat yet; assuming that armrest is fixed.
Jun 20, 2019, 2:03 pm
#635
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
As someone with broad shoulders, I don't understand this. The PP seat is wider than any economy seat I've ever been it. It's the difference between bumping shoulders with the person beside me and having just enough room that that doesn't happen. It's only 1-2 inches, but since those 1-2 inches make the difference between contact with the neighbor and no contact with the neighbor, I consider it a very significant difference.
I agree that the outer armrest on the aisle is not comfortable.
I agree that the outer armrest on the aisle is not comfortable.
Jun 25, 2019, 12:51 pm
#636
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: CO Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 102
Recently flew Premium Economy on AA (JFK to Milan) and was blown away. Seat was comfortable, nice amenity kit, food good and service excellent. I likened it to domestic First. My traveling companion was less impressed - didn't think it was worth the extra money and would have been fine with Main Cabin Extra (E+ on AA). Looking forward to my first PP trip on UA later this month (EWR to TLV) - looking at the pictures the UA seats (the most important part for me) seem to be identical to AA - same with Delta.
Last edited by eilat59; Jun 25, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Jun 25, 2019, 2:50 pm
#637
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Recently flew Premium Economy on AA (JFK to Milan) and was blown away. Seat was comfortable, nice amenity kit, food good and service excellent. I likened it to domestic First. My traveling companion was less impressed - didn't think it was worth the extra money and would have been fine with Main Cabin Extra (E+ on AA). Looking forward to my first PP trip on UA later this month (EWR to TLV) - looking at the pictures the UA seats (the most important part for me) seem to be identical to AA - same with Delta.
Jun 26, 2019, 12:20 pm
#639
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,834
The PP seats are listed as 6 inch recline
Note on aircraft with PP, E+ is 4 inch recline.
E+ is 5 inch recline of the A3xx and just 3 inches on the 737
Jun 26, 2019, 2:23 pm
#640
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: United Premier 1K , Marriot Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 114
I flew to Japan ORD - NRT last December (12/15) and my plane got switched from a standard 777-200 to a PP equipped 777-300 aircraft 5 days out.
I had reserved a E+ seat the month before almost at the bulkhead and got a notice that my seat assignment had been changed. Looked it up and there was no info about it now being a PP seat, but boy was I surprised when I got on board.
Looking back now it was like winning the lottery because UA is selling these PP seats at a premium on Polaris branded routes. I just got lucky and will probably never happen again.
My opinion might be a little biased since my upgrade was unexpected and fairly exciting but I thought that the furnishings and comfort was definitely a few steps up from E+ and comparable to domestic F.
If offered again ofcourse I would take it but purchasing it outright would depend on the route and season. For business travelers with tighter budgets it might be a nice compromise between business class and E+
I had reserved a E+ seat the month before almost at the bulkhead and got a notice that my seat assignment had been changed. Looked it up and there was no info about it now being a PP seat, but boy was I surprised when I got on board.
Looking back now it was like winning the lottery because UA is selling these PP seats at a premium on Polaris branded routes. I just got lucky and will probably never happen again.
My opinion might be a little biased since my upgrade was unexpected and fairly exciting but I thought that the furnishings and comfort was definitely a few steps up from E+ and comparable to domestic F.
If offered again ofcourse I would take it but purchasing it outright would depend on the route and season. For business travelers with tighter budgets it might be a nice compromise between business class and E+
Jun 26, 2019, 3:00 pm
#641
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
The width is really the key IMO.
In economy on a 737 (on any airline) you are looking at about a 17-inch wide seat. That is EXTREMELY tight unless the seat beside you is empty. You are just about guaranteed to be bumping shoulders. If both people have broad shoulders you will be pressed up against each other for the whole flight.
In economy on an A319, 320, or 321 (on any airline) you are looking at about an 18-inch wide seat. I have broad shoulders, but I find that if I'm seated beside people who aren't, I won't be bumping shoulders. If I'm sitting beside other broad-shouldered people, there will be some contact. This is why (for me) any airbus is better than any 737. I recently ended up in a middle E- seat on a pmVX airbus on AS (I got to the gate just as an earlier flight was leaving, and I decided to take the middle seat rather than wait at the gate for an hour for my flight -- it was only LAX-SFO). I was lucky enough to be in between two slim / petite women, but I was comfortable for the whole time. I was not "overflowing" into their space, as I would have been on a 737.
The PE seats on UA are 19 inches wide. It's not an embarrassment of space or anything, but it's enough that you're not going to be shoulder-to-shoulder with the person beside you, even if both are broad-shouldered. Also the armrests between the seats are "double", so you aren't fighting for armrest space. It's not that it's a ton of space, it's just that each passenger has their own space, which is big enough for most people. I also found the seat itself comfortable enough. I was on a 10-11 hour flight, I only got up once for a lav break / galley run, and I was never uncomfortable, nor did I feel cooped up or claustrophobic. Definitely not business class, but it was fine. I was also in the aisle bulkhead (20G) which, I guess, has a bit more legroom than the other seats (and of course no one can recline into you)
Domestic F seats are in the 20-21 inch range, usually. This gives more room than almost any one person really needs, which is nice if you want to sit at a bit of an angle or something.
In economy on a 737 (on any airline) you are looking at about a 17-inch wide seat. That is EXTREMELY tight unless the seat beside you is empty. You are just about guaranteed to be bumping shoulders. If both people have broad shoulders you will be pressed up against each other for the whole flight.
In economy on an A319, 320, or 321 (on any airline) you are looking at about an 18-inch wide seat. I have broad shoulders, but I find that if I'm seated beside people who aren't, I won't be bumping shoulders. If I'm sitting beside other broad-shouldered people, there will be some contact. This is why (for me) any airbus is better than any 737. I recently ended up in a middle E- seat on a pmVX airbus on AS (I got to the gate just as an earlier flight was leaving, and I decided to take the middle seat rather than wait at the gate for an hour for my flight -- it was only LAX-SFO). I was lucky enough to be in between two slim / petite women, but I was comfortable for the whole time. I was not "overflowing" into their space, as I would have been on a 737.
The PE seats on UA are 19 inches wide. It's not an embarrassment of space or anything, but it's enough that you're not going to be shoulder-to-shoulder with the person beside you, even if both are broad-shouldered. Also the armrests between the seats are "double", so you aren't fighting for armrest space. It's not that it's a ton of space, it's just that each passenger has their own space, which is big enough for most people. I also found the seat itself comfortable enough. I was on a 10-11 hour flight, I only got up once for a lav break / galley run, and I was never uncomfortable, nor did I feel cooped up or claustrophobic. Definitely not business class, but it was fine. I was also in the aisle bulkhead (20G) which, I guess, has a bit more legroom than the other seats (and of course no one can recline into you)
Domestic F seats are in the 20-21 inch range, usually. This gives more room than almost any one person really needs, which is nice if you want to sit at a bit of an angle or something.
Jun 26, 2019, 3:44 pm
#642
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Does JV between united and Lufthansa mean that the availability should be similar? Looking at flights later this summer and united only sees O class while Lufthansa sees N class (R class equivalent on United) for the same United metal flight. Same everything else the price booking with United is double but with PQD and Lufthansa without.
Jun 26, 2019, 4:03 pm
#643
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 695
Does JV between united and Lufthansa mean that the availability should be similar? Looking at flights later this summer and united only sees O class while Lufthansa sees N class (R class equivalent on United) for the same United metal flight. Same everything else the price booking with United is double but with PQD and Lufthansa without.
Jun 26, 2019, 5:14 pm
#644
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,406
Does JV between united and Lufthansa mean that the availability should be similar? Looking at flights later this summer and united only sees O class while Lufthansa sees N class (R class equivalent on United) for the same United metal flight. Same everything else the price booking with United is double but with PQD and Lufthansa without.
Jun 26, 2019, 7:28 pm
#645
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914