I have not been paid by any entity in any way (financially, benefits) to write this United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus review. Any airport, airline, lounge, hotel, and loyalty program policies may have changed since then.
It had been a while since I’d flown United internationally on a relatively long flight. My last European trip saw me cross the Atlantic in Lufthansa’s A380 Business Class and Brussels Airlines’ Premium Economy. But United hasn’t been on my travel plans internationally in a minute, but I rectified that by booking them down south to Bogota, and was pleasantly surprised to see what the experience is like now that they’ve incorporated newer planes on these routes.
Quick Take: United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus Review
| Category | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Seat Comfort | ✅ 8/10 |
| Dining & Beverages | ✅ 7/10 |
| Service & Crew | ✅ 9/10 |
| Lounge Access | ❌ N/A |
| Value for Points/Cash | ✅ 8/10 |
The hard product on the United 737 MAX 8 really makes this more comfortable and manageable for an arguably long hop in the Americas.
Flight Details
Airline: United Airlines
Flight: UA 207
Route: Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – Bogota (BOG)
Cabin Class: Economy Plus
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
Seat: 20A
Booking Method: Cash
Cost: $268.50 USD (one-way)
Date: July 31, 2025
Flight Time: 5h 05m
Preflight
As I preboarded with the other Premier 1Ks, I quickly noticed something fascinating waiting at each United Business Class seat on this 737 MAX 8.
Did you catch it?
Somehow, some way they’ve got Polaris menus, which makes me just that much more interested in getting upgraded to experience this elevated United Business product.
Seat & Cabin
The economy cabin features a 3-3 configuration, offering a modern design with LED lighting and sleek seats.
Today’s seat was 20A, a window seat located on the left side of the plane. Waiting at each seat was a blanket.
Now in terms of space, the emergency exit rows are chocked full of it.
Seat pitch for most economy plus seats is approximately 33 to 34 inches, with a standard recline of 3 inches and a seat width of 17.8
The legroom here is massive. For reference, I’m 6’1″, and my legs here are completely stretched out.
Between each seat in front of you, you’ll find a AC power plug.
Since this is the exit row, the armrest at seat 20A has been replaced with this armrest attached to the emergency exit door.
Dining & Beverages
Once in the air, meal service commenced. On this international route, complimentary beer and wine are offered in all cabins, while spirits are complimentary for Premier 1K and Global Service members.
The meal tray came shortly after, which included a chicken dish, a salad with red vinegar dressing, a bread roll, butter, and a dessert. All perfectly acceptable.
If you’re looking for something more premium, there might be premium food options via the Bistro on Board, but I didn’t bother asking.
In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity
United offers in-flight WiFi and entertainment onboard. As a MileagePlus member, WiFi is available for $8 USD for the flight, or if you’ve got T-Mobile, you can take advantage of the partnership (depending on your carrier plan).
At each seat in economy, you’ll find a 10-inch HD seatback entertainment screen, which has shows, movies, podcasts, USB-A and USB-C charging ports, and Bluetooth headphone connectivity.
Now as you all know, I deeply love my only entertainment on flights, the in-flight map. Unfortunately for me, it never loaded throughout the entire flight. I was beyond devastated.
At this point, I’d like to highlight this connecting flight display that United offers on their in-flight screen. I was impressed with all the connecting flights listed out of Bogota on partner airlines like Avianca and Copa Airlines.
Final Verdict: United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus Review
Previously, I had flown this route, and I don’t remember the experience being as nice as it was this time around. The crew was friendly, the food was acceptable, and the return of the seatback screens help pass the time. I’m happy to have flown with United, and am looking forward to eventually getting that upgrade to United Business.
Overall Rating: 8/10
What are your thoughts? Have you flown in United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram, Threads, or BlueSky!
As always, Live Life One Trip at a Time!
