Seat Review: United, Sydney to San Francisco, Boeing 777-ER
Seat 7/10
The seat recline is pretty minimal but the seat itself is comfortable enough, if a little slender. There’s enough space for me to tuck my bag under the seat in front of me, and then use it as a leg rest to deliver an extra degree of comfort. I have a personal touch screen TV screen and a decent-sized table, which helps me make the seat home for the 14 hour journey.
Service 6/10
Once we take to the skies the cabin crew take on their duties with the efficiency of a military operation. However, the flight is packed meaning smiles are little hard to come by, and being tucked away in the back corner of the plane means I am frequently overlooked for water refills, garbage collection and immigration forms.
Extras 6/10
Despite it being an overnight flight, a kit with socks, toothbrush and eye mask is not provided, which is disappointing. On the plus side, the earphones are of a decent quality and help to block out the engine noise and the sound of a baby crying a few rows away. A thin blanket and pillow equip me well enough for a few hours sleep.
Food 5/10
The food is no-frills but my pumpkin pasta fills a hole for a good few hours. Sandwiches are also dished out for those that are a little peckish between meals, but fillings of processed cheese and luncheon meat are as good as it gets. A breakfast of fruit and pastries redeems things slightly. And if you’re counting on a couple of glasses of red to help ease you into the land of nod, think again. Alcohol is not offered to passengers without money changing hands.
Entertainment 8/10
The thought of a 14 hour journey with no inflight entertainment is enough to strike dread into any traveller’s heart. So I’m thankful that United upgraded this route to Boeing 777 aircraft the week that I fly, with personal screens now standard in economy. Once my system is up and running, there’s a decent choice of new movies along with a selection of oldies and some TV shows keep me entertained. The personal touch screen TV screen is far from state-of-the-art but it works well enough with some firm prodding.
Overall 64%
There is no doubt that the deployment of the Boeing 777 onto this route has upped the ante dramatically for United with its offer of inflight entertainment making what would otherwise have been a very trying flight into a bearable journey. But while an economy seat is, by and large, an economy seat, there are other areas where the airline could up its game – service, food and beverages and extras in particular.
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