United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus: it’s pretty awesome if you go into it expecting the worst

United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus: it’s pretty awesome if you go into it expecting the worst

In the days leading up to trying United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus for the very first time, I was sort of dreading the work required to put together a full review. 

I mean, I’ve experienced Economy Plus another aircraft types before, and it ain’t all that exciting.

But guess what? It’s a little different on the MAX 8. And by “different,” I mean “a wee bit better than what I was expecting.”

All that dreading definitely dwindled.

UA1502
San Diego, CA (SAN) – Chicago, IL (ORD)
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Aircraft: 737 MAX 8
Registration: N17303
Duration: 3 hours 31 minutes
Seat: 10A (Economy Plus)

United Airlines 737 MAX 8 (N17303) side view
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 (N17303) side view illustration by NorebboStock.com.
UA1502 flight track
Our route from San Diego to Chicago this morning as UA1502.

My full review of United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus

As a reminder, Economy Plus is United’s domestic enhanced economy seating option. It features the exact same seats as economy class, but with a few extra inches of leg room.

You’ll also get priority boarding access, wedged right in between first class and regular economy. That’s pretty much it.

Arrival at the San Diego International Airport (SAN)

It was a bit of a gamble arriving just past 5 AM for 7 AM flight. The airport was socked in under a layer of thick fog, which usually means one thing: delays

Curbside terminal 2 San Diego international airport before sunrise
5:10am. Welcome to a foggy (and groggy) Terminal 2 at the San Diego International Airport!
SANspotter walking into terminal 2 San Diego airport just before sunrise
Just for clarification, it’s me that’s feeling groggy – not the airport. There’s never a time of day when this place doesn’t shine like a diamond.

The status for my flight to Chicago was stubbornly showing an on-time departure. As was every other departure out of San Diego this particular morning. It didn’t make any sense, so I just rolled with it.

Foggy San Diego airport just before sunrise
So yeah. It’s a little foggy out there. Ruh roh.
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 parked at gate 39 San Diego airport
Oddly enough, there was a clearing in the fog in the area immediately surrounding the 737 MAX 8 that would be taking me to Chicago this morning. Either Mother Nature knows not to F with SANspotter… or she’s just looking out for me.
Gate 39 San Diego international airport
Nobody here at gate 39 seems the slightest bit concerned about the possibility of a fog-induced connection-busting delay. I can only dream of being able to give so few f**ks in my day-to-day life.
SANspotter waiting for a flight at the San Diego airport
“They’re gonna delay the flight. I just know it. Watch. Any second now. I’m gonna miss my connection in Chicago, and I’m going to have to spend the night in the airport curled up next to a trashcan. Any second now…”

The boarding process

It’s a good thing I’m not a betting man, because I would’ve easily taken (and lost) a $100 bet against anyone who “guaranteed” that they would start the boarding process right on time. Despite the fog, they were determined to get this flight out of here.

United Airlines economy plus mobile boarding pass San Diego to Chicago
While I wait for the delay announcement, here’s a picture of my Economy Plus boarding pass.
United Airlines zone 1 end zone 2 boarding queue
Alrighty then. Maybe this is going to happen after all? Here I am in the Zone 2 boarding queue (feeling pessimistic AF).
I guess I’m doing a United Airlines 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus review today. Didn’t see that one coming…
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 forward boarding door
Here we go with what will be my first ever ride on a United 737 MAX 8. If the fog clears, that is.

Seat and cabin overview

United Airlines is going through a bit of a metamorphosis at the moment. Most of their other aircraft feature old and tired interiors without video screens and a decent overhead bin space. Not the MAX 8. 

United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus cabin
Well, this is it. Economy Plus here on the MAX 8 doesn’t look all that different compared to other aircraft in the United fleet, but I am digging the instructional graphics in the overhead bins.

The Economy Plus seats are exactly the same as the regular economy seats. Same materials and textures as well. The extra little bit of leg room is nice though  – and well worth springing for an upgrade if you’re over 6 feet tall.

United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus row 10
I have arrived (unscathed and feeling slightly more optimistic now) at row 10. The window seat is mine.
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus leg room
It’s the same as United 737-800 Economy Plus, but with cleaner carpet and less sticky seats.
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus seat pitch
Another way of saying it is that it’s basically regular economy class with a little extra somethin’ somethin’.
Wait, what? I didn’t see any video screens when I flew United 737 MAX 9 Economy Plus a while back. Things are a changin’!
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus electrical outlets
Actually, some things never change. The 110v electrical outlets are still located way down there beneath and between the seats (where few dare to reach).
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus row 10
It ain’t first class, that’s for sure. Then again, first class isn’t what it used to be, and the leg room here in Economy Plus is almost the same as what you’ll get up there. So maybe it’s kind of like first class? I don’t know.
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus view looking forward from row 10
The best way to sum up this experience so far is to say that it seems as if somebody from United flew Delta A321 Comfort Plus recently and said (and I quote) “Hold my freakin’ beer…”

The departure

How the heck did they get us pushed off the gate 5 minutes early in such foggy conditions? I had no idea – at least until we taxied eastward to the threshold of runway 27. Apparently the fog hadn’t reached that far inland – so it wasn’t affecting arrivals or departures at all.

Pushing off gate 39 at the San Diego airport
My sincerest apologies to San Diego ATC for doubting their ability to keep operations running smoothly in dense fog. We pushed off the gate not on time…but 5 whole minutes early. Dayum!
Alaska Airlines 737 taking off from runway 27 San Diego airport
What fog? It’s a pretty nice morning over here on the east side of Lindbergh Field.
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 taking off into the fog San Diego airport
Oh, that fog.

In-flight entertainment

United’s MAX 8’s feature large video screens stuffed with plenty of modern and useful tech. And because you already know I’m not a betting man, I’m not going to wager $100 proclaiming that it’ll keep you thoroughly entertained for hours on end. 

It would. But I won’t.

United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus in-flight entertainment welcome screen
Welcome aboard. That’s what she it said.
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus in-flight entertainment what to expect today's flight screen
Wait a sec. I don’t see anything here about filet mignon. The hell is this Economy Plus sh*t anyway?
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus in-flight entertainment customization and personalization options
In all seriousness, I quite like how customizable the user interface is. I loves me some good UX!
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus in-flight entertainment Bluetooth audio options
Bluetooth connectivity for your listening pleasure. You brought noise canceling headphones, right?

Food and drinks

Shame on me for thinking that they’d be slinging free premium snacks and drinks for Economy Plus passengers. I didn’t happen like that.

Instead, all we got was the same basic drink and snack service that regular economy passengers got. We did get first dibs on items from the food for purchase menu though. I guess that’s something.

United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus tray table
Tray table locked and loaded for the coming feast.
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus free snacks and drinks
But is it really a feast without freshly carved roast beast? Hey, it was free, so I can’t complain too much.
United Airlines 737 MAX 8 economy plus complementary snack
For what it’s worth, someone sitting nearby ordered something off the food for purchase menu that smelled really good. These “breaded bites” were woefully inferior to whatever delicacy that was.
SANspotter drinking water in United 737 MAX 8 economy plus
Water review: Clean and refreshing, with subtle mineral notes. It featured hints of chlorine with an earthy aftertaste. Pro tip: go for the Diet Coke instead.

Seat comfort

Economy Plus isn’t about seat comfort. It’s all about the leg room. Your lower back will hurt just as much as it would if you were sitting way back in row 38. Your buttocks will be just as numb.

Your legs though? They’ll feel great with all that blood flow rushing through them as you stretch them to their fullest. 

United 737 MAX 8 economy plus seat recline
Economy Plus seat recline isn’t even significant enough to mention. Oh wait…
SANspotter sleeping in United 737 MAX 8 economy plus seat
In the spirit of mentioning things that aren’t even worth mentioning, seat comfort is…totally nonexistent (and definitely not worth mentioning). How much longer until we arrive in Chicago?

The descent and landing into ORD

Spirits were high as we began the descent into Chicago. It was a fairly decent flight, the weather was absolutely perfect, and we were even 12 minutes ahead of schedule.

Overflying O'Hare airport
Oh hey, it’s O’hare!
Overflying Chicago on a clear Day
The fact that this is a lake still blows me away – even though I spent the first 22 years of my life in within a 2 1/2 hour drive of this monstrosity.
United 737 MAX 8 landing at ORD
Welcome to Chicago! I can smell the Nuts on Clark from here.

Unfortunately, arriving early at O’Hare isn’t always a good thing. You’ll usually have to sit and wait for a gate open, which is exactly what we had to do. By the time we reached our arrival gate, we were one minute late.

United 737 MAX 8 economy plus under seat storage space
I can’t believe I flew all the way to Chicago and I didn’t even tell you about how nice the under seat storage space is. It’s nice!
Gate B8 jet bridge O'Hare airport
Probably the best thing about United 737 MAX 8 Economy Plus? It won’t kill you (thus rendering the need for this stretcher here in the jetway irrelevant). The fact that it’s here is worrisome though. What is United not telling us?

Pros and cons

At the time of this writing, the 737 MAX 8 just might be one of the best Economy Plus experiences available on United Airlines. It was certainly the best experience I’ve had so far.

Pros

  • The extra legroom really is worth it. Spend the money if you’re over 6 feet tall!
  • The video entertainment system is top notch. I love how customizable everything is.
  • Getting to board and deplane before regular economy class passengers ain’t nothing to scoff at I guess.

Cons

  • No premium snacks? Really?
  • The seats are the same ‘ol same ‘ol. They’re every bit as narrow (and uncomfortable) as what you’ll find in regular economy.
  • Nothing about the experience felt premium – except for the extra legroom.

Comments (3)

  1. Ozzy

    November 4, 2024
    • Scott (SANspotter)

      November 4, 2024
  2. ozzy

    November 4, 2024

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