Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.
A few months ago, I took a trip to the USA, and you can read my trip reports here:
- Review: United Airlines domestic First Class Boeing 757 from Las Vegas to Newark (today)
- Review: The Standard, High Line Hotel, New York City
- Review: Delta One Business Class Airbus A330neo from New York to Amsterdam
Review: United Airlines domestic First Class Boeing 757 from Las Vegas to Newark
Flying in United Airlines First Class on a transcontinental route in the USA offers a step up from the standard Economy Class experience, with added comfort, complimentary meals, and priority services. On this trip, I flew aboard a United Boeing 757-200 from Las Vegas (LAS) to Newark (EWR) — a flight lasting just under five hours.
One of the main reasons I chose this particular flight was that it offered lie-flat seats in First Class — the only option on this route with such seating. Lie-flat beds are a rarity on domestic flights within the United States, so this was a chance to experience a product normally reserved for long-haul travel.
The Boeing 757 itself is a unique aircraft in United’s fleet. While it is commonly used for longer domestic routes, it is also deployed on international services across the Atlantic and to Latin America. Interestingly, the same premium cabin is marketed differently depending on the route: on domestic flights it is sold as United First, while on international flights the identical cabin is branded as Polaris Business Class. This dual use can sometimes cause confusion but also demonstrates the versatility of United’s 757 fleet.
Have you ever flown in United Airlines’ First Class? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.
- Trip: Las Vegas (LAS) to Newark (EWR)
- Airline: United Airlines
- Aircraft type: Boeing 757
- On time departure: Yes (3 pm)
- On time arrival: Yes (10:30 pm)
- Miles: 2227 miles (3584 km)
- Flight time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Seat: 3A
- Class: First Class
In this review, I’ll cover the full journey from check-in at Las Vegas, to the onboard First Class cabin and seat, to the meal and in-flight entertainment experience. The goal is to provide a detailed, realistic look at what you can expect when booking United domestic First Class on this aircraft type.
- Cost of my ticket
- United Airlines Boeing 757 fleet
- Check-in and lounge at Las Vegas Airport
- First Class cabin
- First Class seat
- Amenities
- Meal
- Inflight entertainment
- Onboard internet
- Verdict
1. Cost of my ticket
I paid $1,200 USD for my domestic First Class ticket from Las Vegas to Newark, which I booked directly through the United Airlines website.
2. United Airlines Boeing 757 fleet
United Airlines operates one of the largest Boeing 757 fleets in the world. While the aircraft itself is no longer in production, United continues to rely on it heavily for both transcontinental flights and international routes to Europe and Latin America.
Some key facts about the United 757 fleet:
- Average age: United’s Boeing 757s are on average around 25 years old, making them some of the older aircraft in the fleet. The oldest United 757 in active service, N12109, was built in 1993, making it approximately 32 years old.
- Seating capacity varies, but domestic configurations usually feature 16–28 seats in First Class/Polaris Business and a mix of Economy Plus and standard Economy.
- The 757 is prized for its longer range and strong performance on shorter runways, which makes it especially useful for airports in Europe.
- Inside, however, the aircraft is showing its age, with interiors that may feel dated compared to United’s newer Boeing 787 Dreamliners or incoming Airbus A321XLRs.
3. Check-in and lounge at Las Vegas Airport
Check-in at Las Vegas was fairly smooth. United’s check-in counters are well-staffed, and the process for First Class passengers typically includes a dedicated line, which helps bypass long queues. Since this was a domestic flight, TSA PreCheck also sped up the security screening process considerably.
Las Vegas airport can get very busy, especially in the mornings, but arriving with about 90 minutes to spare was more than enough. United doesn’t always offer the most polished ground experience, but the efficiency at LAS worked in its favor on this trip.
One thing to highlight for travelers unfamiliar with United’s policies: domestic First Class tickets do not include lounge access. Access to United Clubs requires either a paid membership, a qualifying international business class ticket, or an eligible credit card. Since this flight was purely domestic, I was not able to enter the United Club at Las Vegas. This can be a letdown compared to airlines that automatically grant lounge access with premium-cabin tickets, but it’s standard practice in the United States.
4. United First Class cabin
The First Class cabin in United’s Boeing 757 is arranged in a 2–2 configuration, with four seats across each row. There are a total of 16 seats in First Class, all upholstered in United’s signature dark fabric with leather accents.
Cabin aesthetics are clean but understated — think practical rather than luxurious. Overhead bins provided ample storage space, though passengers with larger carry-ons needed to board early to secure room. Lighting is standard for United’s narrow-body aircraft, and while not modern mood lighting, it is bright enough to make the cabin feel open.
5. United First Class seat
The United Boeing 757 First Class seat is a fully lie-flat bed, which is unusual on domestic U.S. flights and a real advantage on longer routes such as Las Vegas to Newark. The seat offers a pitch of around 76–78 inches (193–198 cm) when reclined into bed mode, and a width of about 20–21 inches (51–53 cm). While not as spacious as United’s newest Polaris product on wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 (which I reviewed here), it is still comfortable enough for sleeping or working on a cross-country flight.
In front of each seat is a personal 15,4 inch HD touch screen, slightly smaller than what you find on wide-body aircraft but still adequate for enjoying movies and TV. Beneath the monitor is a small storage nook and a footwell/ottoman. The footwell size varies depending on the row: bulkhead seats typically have larger, more open footwells, while other rows have narrower ones, which can feel restrictive when trying to sleep.
The shared armrest features a panel with the seat controls and holds the remote for the entertainment system. A fold-out tray table is also stored in the armrest; once deployed, it takes up much of the space in front of you, which can make it tricky to move around until the table is stowed again. On the other side of the seat, behind the headrest, there is a small and somewhat difficult-to-reach storage compartment that holds a universal AC power outlet and a USB port.
What are the best Business Class seats on United’s Boeing 757?
- Bulkhead seats (row 1) are generally considered the most desirable, thanks to their larger footwells and easier sleeping position. Proximity to the galley and lavatory may mean a bit more foot traffic and noise, but the extra space usually outweighs this drawback.
What are the worst Business Class seats on United’s Boeing 757?
- Because of the 2–2 layout, passengers seated by the window do not have direct aisle access. This setup works well for couples or companions traveling together but is less convenient for solo travelers, who may prefer aisle access without having to climb over a seatmate.
6. Amenities
Unlike international Polaris Business Class flights, no amenities kit, pillows, or blankets are offered on domestic segments. While basic bottled water and headphones are available, passengers shouldn’t expect the same comfort extras that United provides on long-haul routes.
7. Meal
Meal service on this flight consisted of a single plated option: a hamburger with French fries and a side salad. While certainly not gourmet, it was filling and presented better than standard Economy Class buy-on-board meals.
The hamburger was warm and reasonably tasty, though the bread was slightly dry — a common occurrence with airline catering. Beverages included soft drinks, beer, wine, and spirits, all complimentary in First Class.
For a nearly five-hour flight, the lack of choice was noticeable, but at least the offering was substantial compared to shorter domestic flights where only a snack box might be served.
8. Inflight entertainment
One of the stronger aspects of United’s product is its in-flight entertainment system. Each seat features a personal screen with a wide range of movies, TV shows, music, and games. The inflight entertainment can be controlled either by directly touching the TV screen or by using a handheld remote control stored in the armrest. The remote itself has a small touchscreen, which allows passengers to display a different program — for example, keeping the flight map visible while watching a movie on the main screen.
Highlights include:
- Recent Hollywood releases and a strong library of classics.
- Live TV channels on select aircraft.
- Seat-to-seat messaging for chatting with travel companions.
United also provides complimentary headphones in First Class. While functional, they are not 100% noise-canceling and offered only average sound quality. Frequent flyers may prefer to bring their own noise-canceling headset for a better experience.
On this particular flight, the best entertainment was outside the window. The Boeing 757 offered spectacular views of the Grand Canyon after departure from Las Vegas, making it hard to look away even while watching a movie.
9. Onboard internet
On domestic flights, including transcontinental routes like Las Vegas to Newark, Wi-Fi is available for purchase. United offers different pricing tiers depending on the type of access (basic browsing vs. streaming), but there’s no complimentary Wi-Fi included with a domestic First Class ticket.
At the time of writing, United Wi-Fi on domestic flights costs around $8 USD for MileagePlus members and $10 USD for non-members. You can connect by enabling airplane mode, connecting to the “United_Wi-Fi” network, and then visiting unitedwifi.com in your browser to purchase a pass. United is also rolling out free, high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on its fleet, which is accessible with a United MileagePlus account, but not all aircraft have it yet.
10. Verdict
Flying United Airlines First Class on the Boeing 757 is a mixed experience. On one hand, you get a comfortable flat-bed seat, priority check-in, and complimentary dining. On the other hand, the lack of lounge access and very limited amenities mean it doesn’t quite measure up to international Business Class — even though it’s the same cabin design on this aircraft type.
If you’re booking this route, the main value lies in the extra comfort, space, and meal service compared to Economy
Class, especially on a longer transcontinental flight. However, don’t go in expecting luxury — this is more about practicality than indulgence.
Here’s my rating for United Airlines First Class on the Boeing 757:
- Seat comfort (upright): 8/10
- Seat comfort (bed position): 8/10
- Privacy: 0/10
- Food (quality): 6/10
- Food (quantity): 6/10
- Inflight entertainment : 9/10
- WiFi: 8/10
- Service: 8/10
- Cabin design: 5/10
- Overall experience: good: 7/10
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