I recently flew in United Premium Plus (premium economy) on the United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER SFO-MNL flight from San Francisco to Manila. This United Airlines premium economy review will talk about seats, food, amenities and so on. I had booked this flight (along with connecting flights from Cincinnati to Houston to San Francisco) for 65,000 United Airlines miles. The first 2 flights were in economy, so not too exciting.
After rushing to the gate, we waited around for a bit but eventually we were ready to board our next flight, in United Airlines premium economy on a Boeing 777-300ER.
United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Class SFO-MNL Details
- Airline: United Airlines
- Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (B77W)
- Cabin: Premium Economy, 2-4-2 configuration
- Origin: San Francisco (SFO)
- Destination: Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)
- Distance: 6,985 miles
- Departure Time: 1:39 p.m.
- Arrival Time: 7:27 p.m. (+10 hour time difference)
- Total Flight Time: 8 hours 47 minutes
- Seat: 21L (window seat on the right side in the 2-4-2 configuration)
United Airlines Lounge Access and United Airlines Boarding Process
Booking a flight in United Premium Plus (what United Airlines calls its premium economy service) does not come with any access to the United Club or United Polaris Lounges.
(SEE ALSO: IAD Polaris Lounge Review Washington Dulles)
Premium Economy passengers do board in Boarding Group 2, so we boarded before the general passengers. However, on this particular flight it felt like there was an inordinate amount of wheelchair passengers and other preboarders. We ended up leaving a few minutes late due to all the delays in boarding.
United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premiun Economy Class Seats San Francisco to Manila
On the Boeing 777-300ER, United Airlines has only 3 rows of premium economy, laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. I was flying with my wife on this flight, and we booked seats 21K and 21L, which were the 2 seats on the right side of the plane. I was in the window seat with my wife next to me in the aisle.
The window seat does not have direct aisle access, so you’re climbing over the person on the aisle. This was okay for us since we were traveling together, but it definitely would have been awkward if it was someone you didn’t know.
The seats reclined a decent amount, and your legroom is sufficient that even if the person in front of you reclines, you still have plenty of legroom. I was comfortable while eating or watching TV. I had a bit of trouble getting comfortable sleeping. I slept about 1 or 2 hours at one point. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get any more sleep, but about halfway through the flight I slept another 4 to 5 hours.
United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Plus Entertainment
There is a large seatback screen at your seat showing a variety of different entertainment. The entertainment had a pretty wide selection of movies, TV shows and other entertainment.
At the seat, there were a pair of headphones. The headphones were pretty comfortable and really good at blocking out cabin noise.
One problem that I ha was that the headphones jack was a little bent.
It went into the port okay, but the sound didn’t come in very well unless I held the jack into the port in a certain way. That was pretty uncomfortable until I managed to jam the amenity kit bag back there.
United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Class Review – Amenities
At our seats was an amenity kit.
It had a standard array of toiletries as well as a sleep mask, face covering earplugs.
Either the amenity kit at my seat was missing or it fell somewhere inaccessible, but I did not have one. I asked for a replacement and they didn’t have any left, but they gave me one of the Polaris amenity kits, which had a few more items.
United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Plus Class SFO-MNL Food
Unlike business class, there was not a predeparture beverage served, but the first meal (dinner) came pretty quickly after takeoff. I had actually preordered the beef / short rib, but apparently it had not been loaded onto the plane, so I settled for the chicken.
My wife as a vegetarian said she would take the pasta
But then they remembered that they had a special meal for her (she had preordered the Asian / vegetarian meal, which was chickpea based)
A few hours later, they came by with a snack basket and also a (hot) chicken and pesto focaccia sandwich. My wife was sleeping at the time, so I took one for her too, but then they also gave her a vegetarian meal and I kept the second sandwich. The potato chips were only okay, but the focaccia sandwich and the blondie were excellent.
As we approached Cincinnati, they served another meal. It’s not really breakfast since we landed at about 7pm local time – the choice was between eggs and what they originally called a pancake but was more like bread pudding. I had the bread pudding which was tasty.
The United Airlines SFO-MNL Premium Economy Class food was pretty good, and the quantity was impressive. I would definitely fly United Airlines Premium Plus / premium economy class again.
The Bottom Line – United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Class Review San Francisco to Manila
My United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Class review is that it was a solid option. The seats were definitely an upgrade over economy, and plenty comfortable for relaxing. It was not super comfortable for sleeping, especially for someone taller, but I did get probably 6 hours of sleep on the flight in 2 chunks.Â
If you have the chance to fly United Airlines Premium Plus Class on the Boeing 777-300ER, it’s not bad, but of course if you can swing the miles to fly in United Polaris Business Class, it’s even better.
Have you flown United Airlines Premium Plus / Premium Economy Class on the Boeing 777-300ER? Leave your thoughts in the comments below
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at
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