Review: United Boeing 777 Economy Class, San Francisco to Frankfurt

I know flying long-haul economy class is never glamorous nor ideal but after this flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, I can honestly say that United’s long-haul economy class product isn’t bad. In fact, it was better than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised to see how far along United has come since all the Covid cutbacks. This was a pretty good flight by economy class standards and I wouldn’t hesitate to fly with them again.

At San Francisco International Airport, United operates from Terminal 3 for their domestic flights and Terminal G for their international flights. In Terminal G, the only lounge option for economy class passengers is the American Express Centurion Lounge, and in Terminal 3, the only lounge options are the United Clubs located in Gates E and F. Priority Pass does have several lounge options at SFO but unfortunately, they are located in Terminals 1 and A (international).

Now that all the terminals are connected airside, you can get from Terminal G to 1 and A but that’s a VERY long walk. If you do plan on trekking over there, make sure to leave with plenty of time to make it back to your departure gate. And lastly, Chase Sapphire Reserved cardholders can access the new Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Terminal 2. This is Air Canada’s newest lounge and it’s a stunner with an outdoor deck and views of the runway.

United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Economy Class

I only had an hour to kill in between flights so I just hung out at the Centurion Lounge. People complain that this lounge gets way too crowded (it does) but I do appreciate the good food options and great drinks. After a little while, I then went to gate G7 to take some pictures of the bird and wait for my flight. Boarding started a full 50 minutes before our 7:20 PM departure time. The gate area was crowded but overall, I think the gate agents did a decent job of keeping the boarding process organized and efficient.

Flight: UA 926
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
San Francisco (SFO) to Frankfurt (FRA)
Depart: 7:20 PM (7:19 PM actual) on Monday
Arrive: 3:15 PM (2:54 PM actual) next day
Duration: 10hrs 35mns
Seat: 43D Economy Class

This flight was operated with a 7-year-old Boeing 777-300ER, registration N2332U. This plane was equipped with Collins Aspire economy class seats arranged in a 3-4-3 layout. According to aeroLOPA, these seats offer 17.1 inches in width, 31 inches of pitch, and approximately 3 inches of recline. These are not the best numbers by any means but that’s pretty standard for most airlines nowadays. In Economy Plus, you’ll get some extra room with 34 inches of pitch and up to 4 inches of recline. Each seat is equipped with a personal in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, a USB port, a universal electrical outlet, and an overhead reading lamp. Additionally, each seat also features an adjustable headrest and a personal air vent.

On this flight, I was seated in 43D, an aisle seat in the last row in the forward cabin. In my opinion, seats in the last row of the forward economy class cabin are the best (if you don’t need the extra legroom seats). I like these seats in the last row because there is no one behind you to kick or pull on your seat and you still get a full recline.

The adjustable reading lights and air vents are located overhead. I tend to get hot on flights so I’m always grateful when airlines add this extra touch.

The USB port is located under the TV screen and the electrical outlets are located in between the seats. Even though there are only two outlets for every three people to share, I didn’t find this to be a problem as most people use the USB port to charge their phones. It’s only people with laptops and tablets who tend to need the extra juice. I also like that the outlets are located in front of your seat and not behind your knee like on other airlines.

Storage-wise, there’s not much. You can store your belongings in the seatback pocket in front of you, under your seat, or in the overhead compartments. But because this is the last row, you can store your belongings behind your seat as well.

Entertainment-wise, United’s entertainment systems are loaded with a large selection of new Hollywood and international movies, TV shows, video games, and music entertainment. If you love American entertainment, then you will find that United’s entertainment system is one of the best in the industry. They even have ambient sleep sounds, concerts, and comedy specials to keep you entertained. WiFi is also provided on the majority of United’s airplanes and certain T-Mobile customers can get free internet access for the whole flight.

Waiting at my seat was a blanket and one of United’s new neck pillows. Now, I know these neck pillows are supposed to be revolutionary but in my opinion, they are not great as neck pillows. I found them to be scratchy and not all that supportive. The point of a neck pillow is to keep your head supported but I found these pillows too flimsy to do that. Besides, the routh disposable cover was not something I wanted my neck resting on for 10 hours. However, I do like these pills because when you fold them in half, they make GREAT lumbar support pillows. I don’t think that’s what United intended to do with these things but if you bring your own neck pillow, then you will have a pretty good setup for your neck and lower back.

As the final passengers were boarded, the Captain came on the PA to make his welcome announcements. He welcomed us on board and provided us with the details of our flight. We then pushed back from the gate and made our way to the runway for our 10-hour and 35-minute flight to Frankfurt.

Once we reached our cruising altitude, the seatbelt signs were turned off and the flight attendants prepared for our meal service. I love that United serves a beverage service with a small bag of savory snacks before the main meal service. Beer and wine are also provided complimentary during meal services.

For dinner, our options were either chicken and rice or vegetarian pasta. I opted for the chicken, and I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor and presentation. The white rice was garnished with carrots and edamame and the chicken was tender and flavorful. The meal was served with a side quinoa and grape salad and a packaged bread roll with butter. The dessert was a Milk Bar cookie. Overall, I thought the main dish was delicious and the quinoa salad tasted fresh and healthy. But I was a little disappointed with the cookie. I wished it was an actual dessert and not just a simple packaged cookie. It was also way too sweet for my taste.

After dinner, my meal tray was taken away and the cabin lights were dimmed. I then settled in with a movie before dozing off for a couple of hours. Comfort-wise, these economy-class seats weren’t bad. I thought the headrest was comfortable but the seat was a bit on the hard side and I wished there was a footrest. If you have sciatica issues or struggle with leg numbness during long flights, I would recommend this inflatable seat cushion to provide you with some additional comfort. This inflatable cushion is perfect for economy class seats and it will give your rear end a bit of relief from the hard seat. When I’m flying in economy class, I always pack this in my bag as it can be inflated in seconds and it does wonders for my seat comfort. You can click here to pick one up from Amazon. 

Service-wise, this crew was great and I have to give them some credit here. In between meals, they walked the cabin frequently to take care of passengers. They were friendly and personable and proactively handed out water cups and collected trash.

If you have a hard time sleeping on airplanes because your head bobs back and forth, I would recommend this GoSleep 2-in-1 travel sleep mask. It looks a little funny but trust me, you will get more restful sleep with this mask than with United’s new neck pillow (or any other neck pillow for that matter). It’s a simple eye mask that attaches to the back of your headrest to gently support your neck and head during sleep and it prevents your head from bobbing back and forth. With the lights dimmed, my GoSleep mask, and my seat cushion, I was able to snooze for a few hours after my movie. You can click here to purchase on Amazon.

Halfway through the flight, the crew returned with a snack service. I was so surprised by this. There was only one option, a hot ham and cheese sandwich, but still, that’s so impressive for a 10-hour flight. I wasn’t all that hungry but the sandwich was tasty and it helped me doze off for a couple more hours. Good job, United!

About two hours outside of Frankfurt, the cabin lights were turned on and the flight attendants prepared for our pre-arrival meal service. I went with the scrambled eggs, which were served with some chorizo and breakfast potatoes. The meal was pretty tasty for an airline breakfast. Afterwards, our trays were taken away and the cabin crew prepared for our arrival.

United Airlines Economy Class Bottom Line

Compared to other world-class airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, United doesn’t provide the best economy-class experience by any means but I did enjoy this flight. The seat was nothing to write home about but the catering, service, and entertainment options were top-notch. Overall, this was a pretty good experience and I wouldn’t hesitate to fly with them again in the future.