Experience United Airlines 787-9: Premium Plus Class

Flight Overview

I recently took a flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok with United Airlines, enjoying the Premium Plus service on a Boeing 787. It was a short yet exciting journey throughout the day.

Every day, United Airlines operates a flight between Hong Kong and Bangkok to optimize the use of the 787-9 before heading back to Los Angeles. This flight falls under the "Fifth Freedom" category, meaning United sells tickets specifically between HKG and BKK, although the fares are typically higher than those of competitors.

Check-in and Boarding

This flight was the third leg of my journey from Burbank – San Francisco – Hong Kong – Bangkok. When I checked in at Burbank, the system only provided a boarding pass for the leg to Hong Kong, likely because I had an overnight layover in Hong Kong before flying to Bangkok. This also meant I couldn't get a boarding pass via mobile, but I managed to obtain it at the counter.

After relaxing in the KrisFlyer lounge of Singapore Airlines, I arrived at the gate early to board, although I had hoped for an upgrade to Polaris Business Class. Ultimately, I was upgraded to Premium Plus with seat 20D, an aisle seat (the window seat was no longer available).

Details on Premium Plus Class

The Premium Plus cabin on the Boeing 787-9 has a 2-3-2 seating configuration, which is not fully flat but still better than the 3-3-3 layout in Economy. There are a total of 21 seats in this cabin, with a 38-inch seat pitch and a width of 19 inches. While the differences from Economy Plus aren’t vast, the additional width, deeper recline, and extra personal space are genuinely appreciated.

The seats are upholstered in purple, with neck pillows and blankets provided upon boarding. However, storage space isn’t ideal, and the seats aren't entirely conducive for sleeping—a common feature of today’s Premium Economy seats.

In-flight Entertainment and Wi-Fi

Each seat in Premium Plus comes equipped with a large screen featuring United's latest in-flight entertainment system. The screen quality is excellent and user-friendly, offering a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and games. Even though I had to work during the flight, I appreciated the large screen and the flight map.

As for Wi-Fi connectivity, it is available for around $8 for MileagePlus members, but I found the connection quality to be inconsistent, which is somewhat typical for United Airlines.

Restroom and Dining Services

The onboard restroom was relatively small and nothing special compared to other flights. Regarding dining services, no drinks were served before takeoff. After we took off, breakfast was served with options of porridge or scrambled eggs. I opted for the eggs, which came with sausage and hash browns. While the meal wasn’t perfect, I appreciated the quality of the eggs and the fruit.

Conclusion

We landed in Bangkok slightly behind schedule, but overall, the flight experience was very positive. Premium Plus seats are suitable for short flights, but they still feel closer to Economy than Business. The good service and breakfast left a positive impression on me during this flight, and I genuinely enjoyed flying on United's "Fifth Freedom" routes in the Asian region.

Article reference and editing from: Live and Let's Fly