The Executive Meal Option - United BusinessFirst

Normally on an international first class or business class flight, they serve a quite elaborate 6 or 7 course meal. Starting with drinks, warm nuts, and several appetizers on carts, they then move on to salad, soup, and a main course (which can include steak, chicken, fish, or a vegetarian option), followed by dessert and drinks. Not only is this a lot of food, but it can take hours to get through the whole event. For a flight heading west during the day this can be a great thing, it helps pass the time, however on eastbound flights, which usually take place overnight, the downside is that this can take a big bite out of the available sleeping time.

The first time I flew in BusinessFirst, I made the mistake of eating everything offered, which was a horrible idea. I felt stuffed and boated the whole trip, and didn't get a bit of sleep. After that experience, I've learned to be a bit more selective in how many of the courses I eat. When I fly from Houston (IAH) to Frankfurt (FRA) it takes 10 hours or more, so the long meal isn't quite so bad. But, on my recent flight from Newark (EWR) to Stuttgart, Germany (STR), the pilot announced that because of a super strong tail wind, we would be arriving more than an hour early, making the already less than 8 hour flight even shorter. Waiting for the normal meal to complete would take a large chunk out of that time. I decided to go ahead and ask for the expedited meal option. This turned out to be exactly what I needed.

BusinessFirst Executive Meal

The food arrived not long after we leveled off, just as everyone else was getting their nuts and drinks. It included a sampling of the appetizers, a salad, and the main plate of steak, asparagus, and pasta. I ate quickly and was able to get into a pair of shorts and convert the seat into a bed in no time, even before most people were getting their appetizers.

It turned out to be a rough flight though, and I was jolted awake a number of times as we hit rough spots which required the attendants to sit down in a couple cases to keep from becoming airborne. I even wore my seat belt in the bed, which I don't always do, though I probably should. But, getting the meal out of the way was a great option. I will definitely consider it on future overnight flights.

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Houston to Stuttgart, Germany, by way of Newark Liberty in BusinessFirst

This is awesome, my first domestic flight on a plane that has BusinessFirst lie-flat seats! I have flown BusinessFirst before several times, but only on trans-Atlantic international flights. While some say the Continental lie-flat seats are not the best out there (most international first class seats are more like small suites than 'seats' and are much larger and more comfortable), and some other airlines' business class lie-flat seats tend to rate higher, there is just no comparison to the traditional domestic first class seat, especially on the older planes.

In a traditional US domestic first class seat, you get a little more space side-to-side and several more inches between your knees and the seat in front of you, but it is still just an upright seat with a little bit of recline. In fact, on many planes I've found that, service aside, the coach seats are actually more comfortable. It was always a problem when I flew American Airlines for years and ended up on a formerly TWA plane that had not been refitted. The first class seats on those planes were terrible. There were a few times on the 4+ hour trip between Dallas and Seattle that my back wished I was back in coach. Sure the service is better in the first class cabin and you get a bit more room, but MAN my back and neck hurt after those trips! More recently I flew back from Seattle to Houston on a United plane. While the United 'premium coach' seats are great, I think they might have those same TWA seats in first class. There is just no lumbar support in the lower back, and I can never get the headrest adjusted just right.

BusinessFirst Seat Controls

Enter the BusinessFirst "pod" seats. With partitions between and ample room to get up to the isle from a window seat (at least when your neighbor's seat isn't in bed mode!), they give you a great sense of personal space. And the seat itself is endlessly configurable. The seat back can be raised and lowered all the way flat of course, and there is a foot rest that can be raised partially, like a recliner sofa, and when it's all the way up flat, it meets up with a separate foot stool that doubles as additional storage shelf when you're not lying down (except for takoff and landing). The multi-button control panel that adjusts the seat configuration even includes a power lumbar adjustment that helps with the lower back and neck issues.

I very much like the direction the new United is going in adding lie-flat seats to more planes, especially on domestic routes. It gives me a reason to stick with United for my travel, and to upgrade all my flights when possible. That flight to Seattle last week would have been so much more enjoyable if the plane had these new seats! In fact the reason for my routing through Newark today instead of the usual direct flight from Houston to Frankfurt, is because Continental is seasonally flying a 767 instead of the 777 that they normally use on the route. Most Continental 767s have not yet been refitted with the new seats, thus all things considered, for the same cost I'd rather take an alternate routing with the new seats...especially for an 8+ hour overnight flight! 

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