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When traveling abroad, I always try to purchase one level above an economy seat, if possible. Economy seats never have enough leg room and First Class seats are way too expensive, but Premium seats are just the right price for me and they come with some nice perks; especially on international flights with United Airlines. 

This is the second time I’ve traveled to Japan with Premium Plus seats on United Airlines and I liked my experience so much that I thought I should share it in case anyone was contemplating whether or not they should upgrade their seats.

I was specifically on flight #143 on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from DEN to NRT. The total scheduled flight time was 11 hours and 50 minutes, but we actually arrived in Japan an hour earlier than expected.

The United Premium Plus seats are located right behind the United Polaris cabin and the layout on my flight was a 2-3-2 configuration.

KEY PERKS OF PREMIUM PLUS SEATS

Bag Allowance, Reserved Cabins, & Priority Luggage

With Premium Plus, the baggage allowance is two free checked bags, plus reserved overhead bin space for your carry-on. Since I was taking home lots of gifts for my family in Japan, I needed to check in two large suitcases, so this was a great perk. Regular economy seats on international flights only allow one free checked bag on international flights.

The reserved overhead bin space is also nice since I always have carry-on luggage with me, so having reserved cabins only for Premium Plus seats gives me peace of mind.

On top of all that, you also get Priority Luggage, which means you get an orange tag on your luggage and this tag lets the staff know to offload your luggage first when you arrive at your destination.

You also get dedicated airport check-in lines, but I have never used this since I always check in ahead of time online and just scan my mobile pass at a kiosk. It’s a very quick and efficient process.

Priority Boarding

Premium Plus seats are in Group 2, which is after all the elite levels, military personnel, families, and Group 1. This is usually 5-6 groups before Group 2 gets called.

For organization, United Airlines has roped lines ready for Groups 1 and 2. I usually like to line up early in these lines so that I can be one of the first passengers on the plane from Group 2. Even though Premium Plus seats get reserved cabins, I often find that other passengers in the cabin use up all the space above my seat. To avoid this, I try to grab some space first.

Amenity Kit + Saks Fifth Avenue Pillow and Blanket

When you arrive at your seat, you’re welcomed with a nice travel pouch from Away that includes lip balm, lotion, dental kit, eye mask, ear plugs, and socks.

In addition, each seat has a pillow and blanket from Saks Fifth Avenue. I actually really love the blanket and pillow because it’s super soft. I took mine home with me and they come in handy for my dog. The pillow is just the right size for her and she likes the soft material of the blanket too.

Extra Legroom

One of the main reasons why I like to upgrade my seats is for the extra legroom. A Premium Plus seat is up to 19 inches wide with 38 inches of pitch (distance between your seat and the seat behind you) and six inches of recline.

The seats also include footrests, but I never use these. If anything, I feel like they get in the way, but I know a lot of people like this feature.

The only thing I did not like about my seat (I sat in the last row of the Premium Plus section at 22D) was that the space underneath the seat in front of me was so narrow. The middle seat had the most space, which is understandable, but the space ratio was so odd. I was still able to fit my Lo & Sons backpack carry-on underneath, but it was super tight.

Personal Electrical Socket and USB Outlet

Each seat gets its own power outlet and a USB charger. I always love having this because I use my laptop all the time and I definitely need to charge it at some point; especially on long international flights like this where you’re on the plane for 12 hours. 

The power outlet is actually located behind you under the left armrest. I thought I should note this since I could not find it the first time and I always see other passengers looking for it. I like that they have the outlet behind you so that you don’t caught up in wires when you or other passengers have to get up.

Large Personal Screens, Headphones, and Remote

Premium Plus seats get bigger screens up to 13 inches (compared to economy’s standard 9 inches). First Class seats get an even bigger screen, but I actually prefer the screen size in the Premium Plus seats. It’s just the right size in my opinion. Premium seats also get noise-reducing headphones which worked great.

The large personal screen is a touchscreen, but if you don’t want to touch the screen or your arms start to get tired, there is a remote you can use as well.

Lots of Entertainment

I’m always excited to see what kind of entertainment is offered on international flights and United does a great job with their selection of movies. There’s a ton to choose from and they even have movies that aren’t released to online streaming platforms yet. This is my time to catch up on the latest releases.

In addition, you can also watch TV shows and concerts, listen to music and podcasts, and play some games.

Delicious Food

Throughout the flight, you will get two meal services and one light snack. You’ll also get free drinks including alcohol. When I was younger, I used to take advantage of the free alcohol, but now I just try to drink as much water as I can to stay hydrated.

Our first meal service was about an hour after we took off. We had a choice of Chicken or Pasta. I went with the Chicken Parmigiana and it was delicious. The meal also came with mini tomatoes, mashed potatoes, a great salad that included spinach, a roll, and a Milk brand cookie. Everything tasted great. 

For snacks, we got almonds, chips, M&Ms, and two Turkey and Swiss Baguette Sandwiches. I barely ate the sandwich because it was mostly bread.

For breakfast, about an hour before landing in Japan, we had a choice of French Toast or an Egg and Tomato dish. I chose to get the French Toast dish but wasn’t expecting the sweet berry sauce on top of it, so I could not eat it. I prefer to have my French Toast as plain as possible. The meal also came with a croissant and fruit salad which I liked.

OTHER THINGS TO MENTION

Lounge Access

With a Premium Plus ticket, you don’t get free lounge access, but you can get discounted United Club passes. If you have a long layover or arrive at the airport early, this may be a good option for you.

WiFi

WiFi on the flight was free for messaging, entertainment, and some partner sites, but otherwise, you had to pay $6.99 (or 700 miles) for one hour or $23.99 (or 2400 miles) for the full flight. I usually don’t purchase WiFi on flights, but I had to research something before I landed in Japan, so I purchased WiFi for one hour.

The speed was average and limited. You can only use it for emails and web browsing. You definitely won’t be able to stream videos or download applications (which they note before you make the purchase).

Bathroom

There is no dedicated bathroom for Premier Plus seats, but the bathroom is very close to the seats. The bathroom was rather small for an international flight, but there was still enough room to move around a bit.

IS UNITED PREMIUM PLUS WORTH IT?

Premium Plus seats with United Airlines are absolutely worth it on international flights. You will pay a little extra (prices vary, but most of the time, it’s reasonable), but the priority boarding, extra legroom, and personal power outlets alone are worth it for me. United Premium Plus delivers an exceptional experience that justifies the investment.

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