United Economy Plus
 

I am going to France on United and I am undecided on whether or not to spend the extra $$ for Economy Plus. I know there is extra legroom but is the seat better and do you have more of a recline? I am short so the extra legroom would be nice but it won't benefit me like it would a tall person.

If there are other benefits please advise.

Thanks.

Have you looked on seatguru.com? Without knowing the route and type of plane, it's hard to say.)

I am flying IAD-GVA on May 30. Here is a link to that flight.

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Uni..._767-300_B.php

I did look at seatguru before posting and it just said, "standard economy plus seat," when I hovered over the seats. However you inspired me to check again and I spotted something I hadn't seen before. On the side it says:

Economy Plus Class
Pitch: 34.0
Width 18.0
71 standard seats with 5.0 recline


Economy:
Pitch 31.0
Width 18.0
80 standard seats with 4.0 recline

I hate to be a total ignoramus but what does this mean? I understand the width is 18" and it looks like there is a slightly better recline in E+, but please explain the pitch.

Thanks.

Pitch is essentially how far you can recline.
I would not travel over the pond in anything but E+. It's not better food or a better seat but even as a short person, the extra length makes a big difference in trying to get some sleep.

Because of the additional (if slight) additional recline, we also opted for E+ on flight to Istanbul. We bought inflatable foot rests, too.

OK thank you both. It's $119 each way and if it's more comfortable it's worth it for an overseas flight.

The inflatable foot rest is also a good idea.

Completely agree re E+. Those few extra inches make quite the difference on a long flight. I've never noticed that the seat reclines anymore with E+, just the additional pitch. Will have to take notice next flight. I thought pitch was the distance between the back of your seat and the back of the one in front of you-related really to legroom. Not sure how it relates to how far you can recline unless the extra pitch allows the seat to go back further?

I usually pile up some of our carry on and use it for a footrest -- a backpack or something like that works. But I will be interested to hear how the inflatable footrest works. SF, which ones did you buy?

Pitch is the distance between point A on the seat in front of you and the same point on your seat. The advantage of economy plus is that the back of the seat in front of you, when reclined, is not right in your face. The tray table works no better and is almost useless if the seat in front of you is fully reclined (I think they usually ask people to unrecline when they are feeding you). Another advantage is that on many planes, economy plus is at the front of the tourist section, so you get off the plane sooner.

We got this one for my daughter when she went to Amsterdam recently (but I don't necessarily trust her judgment). I'll let you know what I think after our trip (which isn't until June).

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/prod...FaI-MgodQzoAHQ

An extra 3" of seat pitch gives you 3" more space in front of you.
http://tinyurl.com/a5u7mhc

Here's my contrarian views:

1. It's not cheap. $119 per person can get you a nicer hotel, or longer stay in Europe.
2. 767 is not the most uncomfortable plane in E-. You will survive.
3. You don't get anything other than extra pitch.
4. IAD-GVA is not that long a flight, and you'll be sleeping. You won't notice the pitch with your eyes closed. [Unless you're super tall and your knees are touching the seat in front.]

Instead, watch out for the TOD (tens of dollars) offer that MAY appear when you do OLCI. You may be able to fly business for just several hundred dollars extra per person, with no need to use miles or anything. Just cash.

What is TOD. I assume OLCI is online check in? They rarely make an offer on any of the UA flights I fly on these days. IAD to various points in Europe. One can apply for an upgrade using miles and $$s. those that have status have priority and then as I understand it is how many miles u have. I do this sometimes and have always managed to be upgraded and I am a lowly Premium Silver.

TOD = Tens Of Dollars. UA often offer very cheap upgrades to all flyers (not just elites) to upgrade to domestic first class or international business class very cheaply - hence the nickname TOD - at check-in only. My mom has done one-way EWR-HKG (15.5hr flight) for under $800 extra. And these do not require the use of miles.

BTW, looking up UA974 on May 30, it's this version, not the one the OP originally posted:

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Uni...767_300_ER.php

It's a newly converted type into international 2-class, with CO-like BusinessFirst flat-beds.

Thanks rkkwan, I didn't have the flight # handy so I searched on seatguru using the date and origination/destination function but evidently that is not reliable.

I appreciate all responses, this gives me a lot to think about.

Interesting on the TOD -- years ago I would get offered that, but haven't had it happen in many years. It seems all the flights i go on are full with people upgrading into biz or 1st. Would be nice to have the type of offer you describe.