United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner Premium Economy Class Review OGG-ORD

I recently flew in United Premium Plus (premium economy) on the United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner OGG-ORD flight from Maui to Chicago. 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 Honolulu to Maui and from Chicago on to Cincinnati) for only 25,000 United Airlines miles, which I thought was a screaming deal.

Our short flight from Honolulu to Maui was a bit delayed, so by the time we made our way to the Gate (Gate 1, the furthest one, of course), we were able to immediately walk onto the plane and  board our next flight, in United Airlines premium economy on a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner.

United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner Premium Economy Class OGG-ORD Details

• Airline: United Airlines
• Aircraft: Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner (B78X)
• Cabin: Premium Economy, 2-4-2 configuration
• Origin: Maui (OGG)
• Destination: Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
• Distance: 4,178 miles
• Departure Time: 4:58 p.m.
• Arrival Time: 5:34 a.m. (+ 1 day) (+5 hour time difference)
• Total Flight Time: 7 hours 56 minutes
• Seat: 22A (window seat on the left 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)

We didn’t have time to visit the Priority Pass lounge in Maui / OGG, which I have heard is one of the worst Priority Pass lounges in the country.

(SEE ALSO: Honolulu / HNL Premier Club: One Of The Worst Priority Pass Lounges (Mmmm Pretzels For Dinner))

Premium Economy passengers do board in Boarding Group 2, so we boarded before the general passengers. In fact, as I mentioned, by the time we got to the gate, they were already boarding, so we were able to walk straight onto the plane.

United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner Premium Economy Class Seats Maui to Chicago

On the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, 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 22! and 22C, which were the 2 seats on the left 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.

United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner 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. I forgot to take a picture of it, but it was fairly similar to this screen on my United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Class flight from SFO-MNL

One thing to note is that unlike my Premium Plus flight from San Francisco to Manila, this Premium Economy flight from Maui to Chicago is considered a domestic flight, so there’s no headphones provided.

United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Maui to Chicago Premium Economy Class Review – Amenities

In addition to no headphones, no amenity kit is provided on the United Airlines premium economy flight from Maui to Chicago, again because United considers this a domestic flight. There is a small blanket (which you can see in the picture of the seat above), but the blanket is not as heavy as the one that was provided on an international flight, and there is no pillow provided either.

I had brought my own travel pillow so it wasn’t a huge deal, but it definitely did not meet my expectations on such a long flight.

United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner Premium Plus Class OGG-ORD Food

Unlike business class, there was not a predeparture beverage served, but the first meal (dinner) came pretty quickly after takeoff. I had the vegetarian meal (spinach cannelloni) which was excellent.

As we approached Chicago, they served a light breakfast meal. Sorry for the blurry picture :-(.

The United Airlines OGG-ORD Premium Economy Class food was pretty good.

The Bottom Line – United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner Premium Economy Class Review Maui to Chicago

My United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Premium Economy Class Maui to Chicago review is that it was a solid option, but definitely a worse option than Premium Plus on an international flight. 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 a few hours of sleep on the flight in 2 chunks. 

I understand (now) that the flight from Maui to Chicago is considered a domestic flight, but I did not understand that when I booked it (my fault). I still would have probably booked it given the cost was so cheap, but of course the cost was so cheap (as compared to the international flights I booked) because you get a worse blanket, less / worse food, no pillow, and no headphones. So that’s something to be aware of.

If you have the chance to fly United Airlines Premium Plus Class on the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, 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 from Maui on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner? Leave your thoughts in the comments below

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