Take Advantage of the UA/CO Merger to Get Much Better Domestic Seats
Continental and United are still rolling out their new international premium seats (Business Class for Continental; First and Business Class for United), all of which means that there’s an opportunity to score a better seat on some domestic routes. But whether it’s an old or new premium seat, they offer a much better experience than a standard domestic First Class seat.
Continental’s International Seats on Domestic Routes
You can nab Continental’s new flat-bed international Business Class seat on some 757 domestic routes, notably from Newark (see chart on page 9). Configured 2x2, the seat is 23 inches wide and has 58 inches of pitch. On other domestic routes, look for Continental’s B767s, which have a Business Class seat that reclines 156 degrees, is 21 inches wide, and has 55 inches of pitch. Continental’s domestic First Class seat reclines 110 to 115 degrees and has 37 to 38 inches of pitch (53% less).
United’s International Seats on Domestic Routes
This flat-bed seat (76 inches long when reclined, 23.5 inches wide, 77 inches of pitch) turns up on some domestic routes (see chart on page 9) using the B767, which also offers United’s new First Class Suite. There are six First Class Suites (78-inch-long beds, 31-inch-wide seats, 78 inches of pitch). Other domestic routes using United’s international B777 also offer flat-beds in First Class (21.5 inches wide, 78 inches of pitch), and a seat that reclines 147 degrees in Business Class (20.5 inches wide, 55 inches of pitch).
Old international First and Business Class seats are still a much better experience than standard domestic First Class seats.
Continental and United’s International Seat Specifications
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Cheapest Way to Get the Seats
On mid-to-long range flights, such as the transcon, use miles for an upgrade or an award ticket. Both airlines charge 50,000 miles (80,000 to Hawaii) for Business Class and 70,000 miles for First Class. The upgrade will cost 40,000 miles on the lowest economy fare plus a co-pay of $150 round-trip. (Hawaii is 60,000 miles on the lowest economy fare plus a $1,000 co-pay round-trip.) Upgrade to one of these seats and the value you’ll receive will be significantly more—perhaps double the value for your miles!
Getting the Miles
Continental allows you to buy up to 60,000 miles per year and United up to 100,000 miles, at 3.5 ¢ per mile. On the Washington-Los Angeles route the First Class fare is about $5,000 (plus taxes), whereas buying the 70,000 miles required for a seat comes to $2,633 (including taxes), a savings of about 47%.
Chicago Connections
You’ll get the best First and Business Class seats when flying Denver-Frankfurt and San Francisco-Paris by connecting in Chicago on UA910 on the former route and UA972 on the latter.
Where to Find Continental’s International Business Class Seat on Domestic Routes
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Where to Find United’s International First and Business Class Seat on Domestic Routes
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