June 2nd, 2016
United Airlines 247 Los Angeles (LAX) - Newark (EWR) Departure: 0711 Arrival: 1454 Duration: 4:43 Aircraft: Boeing 777-222(ER)
Registration: N229UA Seat: 8K (Business Class)
Though I usually fly with OneWorld or Skyteam partners, I was a member of Lufthansa's Miles & More program. Lufthansa and United are both Star Alliance member so I can earn miles using it. I was deciding whether to try the new American Airlines Transcontinental A32T first class or United Airline B777-200ER's alternate facing business class. But after looking at mixed reviews on BusinessFirst, I selected United to experience how it really feels like to travel forward or rearwards.
United has four versions of B777-200s - 2 Three-Class, 1 Two-Class and 1 Hawaiian configurations. My flight to Newark was Three-Class International with 8 seats on 1-2-1 config. Global First, 40 seats on 2-4-2 config. BusinessFirst and 221 seats on 3-3-3 config. Economy Plus/Economy Class. Although there are 10 seats per row on BusinessFirst, each seat can be 180 degrees fully flat and had 76 inches of pitch and 20 inches of width. Only the B777 in Hawaiian route configuration had recliner seats installed.
I am not sure when United Airlines introduce the current forward/rear-facign BusinessFirst seats (maybe around 2014). It was really cool seeing alternate facing seats on a plane but it did not last long. As to British Airways' Club World Business Class, there was no privacy at all on United and the slight staggered position was troublesome as passenger in the middle aisle can see the another's face seating at window aisle.
The Cabin:
Compared to most wide-bodies having 1-2-1 or 2-2-2 or 2-3-2 on business class, United managed to squeeze one more seat thus reducing the aisle. As you can see from the photo below, in this 2-4-2 forward/rear-facing seats, the cabin is really open and crowded. There are plenty of large overhead compartments because there is no storage on the seats. This aft section of the cabin has 3 rows(8-10) while the one on the front has only 2 rows (6-7) so it will look compact when the aircraft is full but relaxing during off-peak seasons.
United Airlines B772 Cabin Layout: Alternate front and rear-facing seats.
United Airlines B772 Cabin Layout: Alternate forward and rear-facing seats.
The Seats:
I am not sure what to say regarding forward and rear-facing seats on Unites B777s. They have cramped in 8 seats in one row unlike 6 seats in other carriers. This forward/rear-facing seats provide no privacy at all since there are no screens to divide the passengers. It is good for couples traveling on window seats and family of four on the middle seat but if you are traveling alone, extremely uncomfortable. The only time there is "little" privacy is when you adjust the seat to flat bed mode as the headrest gets blocked by the magazine rack.
The seats are equipped with personal TV screens and remote controllers with really large tray in the middle. Also the armrest in the middle is not divided in fact it is connected with the seat beside so the passenger might not like it when you occupy your arm on the entire space. Furthermore, the armrest is in different levels.
There are no storage space anywhere in the seat except the one under the footrest. You have to stow all your belongings on the overhead compartment.
Seat cushions were comfortable while the pillow was sort of unpleasant and materials inside too soft.
United Airlines B772 Seats.
United Airlines B772 Seats.
United Airlines B772 Seats: Magazine racks in the middle hence there is no screen to divide the seats.
United Airlines B772 Seats: Seat selection buttons.
United Airlines B772 Seats: Footrest and small storage underneath.
United Airlines B772 Seats: Tray table storage.
United Airlines B772 Seats: Air vents overhead.
United Airlines B772 Seats: Reading light turned off.
United Airlines B772 Seats: Reading light turned on.
In-Flight Meals:
Premium classes on US domestic flight, the welcome drinks are not served on glassware. Instead, they will be served on a plastic cups. I was not used to it since most of Asian and Middle Eastern carriers provide welcome drinks in clear glasses even though it is just mineral water.
After take-off while cruising around at FL200-FL300, the cabin crew came and wrote down which meals passengers would like to have. I had a fruit and yoghurt as a starter and Four-Cheese Quiche as the main with some cranberry juice. The dishes were served in clear white china which appeared to be really fresh and appetizing. Only this time, beverages were served in glass with United logo on it.
United states that only on LAX/SFO - JFK/EWR section, they have offered an international product and meals prepared by Executive Chef.
United Airlines B772 In-flight Meals: Welcome drinks.
United Airlines B772 In-flight Menus.
United Airlines B772 In-flight Beverage lists.
United Airlines B772 In-flight Beverages: Cranberry juice and still water.
United Airlines B772 In-flight Starter: Fruit and yoghurt.
United Airlines B772 In-flight Main: Four-cheese Quiche.
In-Flight Entertainments:
United Airlines too has vast variety of latest movies, musics, dramas and many other on there IFE system. All BusinessFirst seats are equipped with 15 inches of wide glossy-finished screen older version of remote controllers. Being 14 years old, I can see lots of dust formation between the casings of the controllers.
United Airlines B772 IFE: Monitor screen.
United Airlines B772 IFE: Monitor screen.
United Airlines B772 IFE: Noise cancelling headphone.
United Airlines B772 IFE: Remote controller
United Airlines B772 IFE: Remote controller
United Airlines B772 IFE: USB port, Power sockets and unused Ethernet port.
Lavatories:
Compared to other airlines, United Airlines B777-200 lavatories are still using analog push button water faucet compared to the sensor types on their competitors. The design was same as economy class but it was equipped with award-winning high-end premium skin and facial care products by Cowshed.
United Airlines B772 Lavatory.
United Airlines B772 Lavatory.
United Airlines B772 Lavatory: Cowshed high-end Skin and facial care products.
Summary:
This Boeing 777-200ER I have used was already been in service for 14 years and I could see signs of aging in the cabin. The privacy on each seat was really worst of worst as you can see what everyone were doing. But there is a good news as United will retrofit the B767s and B777-200s with the new direct aisle Polaris Business Class in the coming years. To view the features of United Polaris Business Class you can visit the company's website. It is completely redesigned from A to Z and features outward-facing herringbone seats. Really wish to try that out too!
Other than the privacy issues on this flight, I really like the meals and how spotless they were served especially the fruits. Cabin crews were highly experienced and friendly throughout the flight. Also the fully flat bed was satisfying for a short nap with "lumpy" pillows and warm blankets. By the way, the temperature of the cabin was little too cold perhaps the captain or F/O set the setting to low or it's just only me who felt cold.
I have not described the p.s. amenity kit above but United distributes them exclusively on transcontinental flights. It comes in a collectible metal box which includes hand sanitizer, a dental kit, eye mask and earplugs that are sufficient on a 5 hours flight. After the flight, I started to understand all those mixed review other passengers wrote since I, too saw all the positive and negative sides on this ride.
United Airlines transcontinental p.s. amenity kit (RIO Olympic Version).