I have not been paid by any entity in any way (financially, benefits) to write this United First Class review. Any airport, airline, lounge, hotel, and loyalty program policies may have changed since then.
Domestic U.S. flights have been improving from top to bottom, and United is one of the airlines that has been making marked improvements in both premium and economy cabins. While Delta has long-held the de facto title of most premium U.S. airline (to some, not all), United has been making upgrades across its fleet to position itself as a primary competitor to Delta.
Quick Take: United First Class Review
| Category | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Seat Comfort | ✅ 8/10 |
| Dining & Beverages | ✅ 7/10 |
| Service & Crew | ✅ 9/10 |
| Lounge Access | ❌ N/A |
United Airlines has definitely been upgrading their fleet, and it shows. The experience in first class has been improving, and I’m here for it.
Flight Details
Airline: United Airlines
Flight: UA 2224
Route: Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – Washington National (DCA)
Cabin Class: First Class
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
Seat: 1A
Booking Method: Cash + Complimentary upgrade
Date: April 14, 2025
Flight Time: 3h 02m
Preflight Experience in Houston
Prior to departing out of Houston, I had landed at Terminal B, where I got the chance to check out the United Club Fly. This grab-n-go lounge concept allows some United Club-eligible passengers to grab a quick snack or coffee without committing to a sit-down affair. While obviously not as comprehensive as a regular United Club, it is a nice station to refuel and recharge while on the go. You can check out my full United Club Fly Houston review here.
Thanks to my Premier 1K status, I received a complimentary upgrade for this flight. After boarding, I was offered a pre-departure beverage of water.
Seat & Cabin on the B737 MAX 8
United’s first class cabin on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is in a 2-2 configuration, with 37 inches of pitch.
I usually avoid sitting in the bulkhead because of the reduced legroom, but when its a complimentary upgrade, I won’t mind.
For reference, I am 6’1″, and I felt like there was just enough space, but barely.
Dining & Beverages
On the Houston to Washington National route, there is a meal. Service kicked off with a warm towel.
Followed by warm nuts and water.
Today I selected an Italian-inspired chicken dish, which was topped with tomato sauce and accompanied by some sort of polenta disk and broccolini. On the tray was also a salad and dessert.
The absolute star of the show, though, was the Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding dessert. This little container contains some incredible magic that I can’t describe with words.
In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity
United has been outfitting many of its aircraft with in-flight entertainment screens. They’re pretty responsive, and they’ve been rolling out decent movie and TV options on them. Wi-fi worked well too, allowing me to catch up on work. Additionally, if you’re seated in a window, you have a bonus entertainment source: the outdoors. On this flight, we were flying around and through some strong weather, which made for a bumpy ride.
Final Verdict: United First Class Review
United has been making improvements to its hard and soft products in domestic first class. What I would describe as an attempt to rival Delta seems to be paying off in my opinion, as I’ve felt slightly more consistency across my United First Class experiences. The infotainment screens do a lot, as does the brand new cabins on the 737 MAX and A321neos. Sure, there are the odd birds out that still feature the old Continental first class recliners, but those are far and few between.
Overall Rating: 8/10
What are your thoughts? Have you flown with United in First Class? Let me know in the comments!
As always, Live Life One Trip at a Time!
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