The Friendly Skies: Flying United’s Economy Class on the 737 MAX 9 from Newark to Cancun
by Krish Patel
United Airlines offers a pretty good Economy Class experience, however, many of the 737 MAX 9s lack seatback entertainment screens. On a recent flight from Newark to Cancun with United, I had the chance to put their MAX 9 to the test. Continue reading to find out if it’s a good product!
Ground Experience
United offers three levels of Economy Class service, ranging from basic Economy to Economy Plus. However, this trip report will cover the standard Economy experience.
At Newark’s Terminal C, Economy Class check-in for United is located on level one. However, I checked in for my flight on level two at the bag drop shortcut because I had completed my formalities online.
United participates in TSA PreCheck, which meant that I was able to get through security faster. However, the Economy Class security lane remains quite packed.
Out of the six boarding groups, United’s Economy passengers board in group three. Boarding commenced at gate C73 right on time. Even as boarding piled up, it was easy to find a seat near the gate. If you’re looking to get some work done, a lot of the seats feature charging ports and table space, which is a good thing if you don’t have lounge access.
Cabin and Seat
On the 737 MAX 9, United’s Economy Class is arranged in a standard 3-3 configuration. The first few rows of coach are Economy Plus and offer extra legroom. Each seat comes with 33.5 inches of pitch and is wide for the standards of an Economy seat.
Many of United’s Boeing 737-9 MAX jets aren’t equipped with seatback entertainment systems and feature a device holder instead. This really reminds me of American Airlines’s elimination of seatback entertainment on most mainline narrow body jets.
The one good thing about this seat is that there are more seatback pockets for literature and personal items. In addition to the seat pockets is plenty of space under the seat in front of you, near which is a charging outlet.
The tray table isn’t the largest size for Economy Class, but extends out towards you.
An adjustable armrest comes with each seat and is outfitted with a button for extra recline.
The headrest is plush and adjustable. Overall, I love the seat in terms of comfort because its material is quite plush.
Located above each seat are large overhead bins that allow for plenty of storage and can accommodate many carry-ons. The 737 MAX 9 features Boeing’s Sky interior, which also includes mood lighting.
As expected on a 737 MAX, the lavatories are very tight. There’s barely any space for your legs and knees to stretch, and the sink barely looks like one.
Food and Drink
In Economy Class on medium short-haul routes, United offers complimentary snacks and drinks, however, you’ll have to pay for premium snacks and alcoholic drinks.
After takeoff, flight attendants rolled the service cart through the cabin offering snacks and drinks. I opted for a chocolate and sea salt quinoa crisp and purchased a tapas snack box. When drinks were offered, I opted for a cup of water.
Mid-flight, coffee and tea was offered to each Economy passenger, and I opted for a cup of lemon and ginger tea. As far as condiments, cream and sugar were both offered.
Amenities
As there’s no entertainment system on this aircraft, earbuds weren’t provided. However, United offered complimentary streaming entertainment on this flight, which still consists of a great selection. You have plenty of movies and TV shows to choose from, including live television, as well as plenty of games and music. There are even videos of scenic destinations that can be found in the relax mode section of United’s entertainment system in other aircraft. Before your flight, you’ll need to download the United app to enjoy the streaming entertainment.
Wi-Fi was available for purchase on this flight, however, it is complimentary for MileagePlus Premier members and eligible T-Mobile members.
In terms of inflight literature, there’s a safety card, a card that shows United’s co-branded cards, and the Hemispheres magazine, which includes a variety of articles and information about United. The magazine is set to disappear in the coming months and will be moved online.
Service
On our flight, the cabin crew were friendly and professional. They went through the cabin on a regular basis to pick up any trash from the snack and beverage service. United has a very professional cabin crew, which is something that I value from a passenger’s perspective.
Booking/Pricing
For one-way flights from Newark to Cancun with United, prices start at around $128, excluding fees for additional luggage. Another option to consider is to complete your booking using miles.
United uses dynamic pricing and doesn’t have an award chart. Prices in miles for the same one-way route start at around 20,000 MileagePlus miles and can vary based on the day. United Airlines miles can be earned on United, their Star Alliance partners, and by credit card spending.
The following personal Chase co-branded credit cards earn transferable points:
● United Club Infinite Card ($525 annual fee)
● United Quest Card ($250 annual fee)
● United Explorer Card ($0 intro annual fee, then $95)
● United Gateway Card (no annual fee)
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to United at a 1:1 ratio and also transfer to Air Canada. United’s Economy Class is also bookable using Air Canada Aeroplan points because Air Canada is also a Star Alliance member. Plus, Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer bonuses are more common with Air Canada than they are with United.
Overall Thoughts
United’s Economy Class makes for a great way to fly from Newark to Cancun. The seat is comfortable, however, I wish that a more substantial snack was provided on an international flight. The lack of no seat back entertainment is quite disappointing, despite United’s comprehensive entertainment selection. The service provided really made this an impressive experience. I would certainly fly with United in Economy again, especially considering that $128 is a great deal for this one-way route. Plus, the United Next Program will add seatback IFE screens to more mainline United aircraft, including the 737 MAX 9.