The Guide to United First Class

United First is the premium class product for United Airlines on flights within the U.S., including service to Alaska and Hawaii, and to Canada and the Caribbean. In exchange for a higher price tag, you’ll enjoy perks from the check-in counter to baggage claim, including free checked bags, priority boarding and a more comfortable seat.

Because United First is offered on shorter flights, you typically won't find lie-flat seats in this cabin. Instead, you’ll get a large, recliner-type seat. Think an economy seat, but much wider with more legroom and greater recline. You’ll also receive two free checked bags, access to priority boarding and security lines, and complimentary alcoholic beverages.

As a United frequent flyer, I find United First to be most worth it on flights over 900 miles that include a hot meal and enough time to watch a movie using the large seatback screen.

It’s important to note that United First is different from United’s business class products: United Business and United Polaris. Both come with additional perks.

United Business is available on flights between the U.S. and Latin America, as well as flights between Newark and San Francisco or Los Angeles, which are United’s premium transcontinental routes. United Polaris refers to United’s long-haul international business class product, the highest level of service United offers, featuring lie-flat seats, premium bedding and dining, Polaris lounge access, and more.

A major difference between United First and United’s business class offerings is that United First does not include lounge access, unless you are flying to or from Canada or the Caribbean. Whenever I visit a United lounge, the most common reason I see people being turned away is because they mistakenly believe that United first class on domestic routes includes United Club access.

The United First experience starts on the way to the check-in counter.

United Airlines Premier Access

Customers flying in United First get access to United’s Premier Access suite of services, including a priority lane at check-in counters and a priority line for security at select airports.

If you have TSA PreCheck, the priority security line may not be as useful. However, during busy hours, the PreCheck line may have dozens of people while the Premier Access line sits empty. I’ve experienced that at Newark, one of United’s hubs, and gladly spent the extra 30 seconds to take out my laptop instead of waiting for much longer in the TSA PreCheck line.

United first class baggage

In United First, you can bring up to two regular checked bags for free. When you land, your bags will get priority handling and should be among the first to show up on the carousel. In contrast, customers in economy have to pay at least $35 extra for their first checked bag.

United priority boarding

United First passengers board in Group 1, along with select United and Star Alliance elite passengers. The only passengers that board before Group 1 are people allowed to preboard, including customers with disabilities, active members of the military and those who hold the highest tiers of United elite status.

Although you’re not boarding before this group, you’re still boarding before the majority of the other passengers.

United first class seats

Once onboard, United First features a bigger seat with more room to stretch out, a power plug, an extra tray table and storage space.

United First seating in newer cabins includes a larger seatback screen compared to those in economy. A few planes also feature wireless charging pads. However, if you’re on an older aircraft without seatback screens, you’ll need to rely on your personal device to consume free entertainment. Wi-Fi is not included with a United First ticket and typically costs $10, or $8 for MileagePlus members.

United first class food and drinks

A major differentiator between United First and economy is the food and beverage options. Those beers, wines and cocktails that cost money in coach are complimentary in first class. Many flights also include premium meal service. You might get a pre-departure beverage — usually water, orange juice or sparkling wine — but United has a hit-or-miss reputation when it comes to offering this service.

Flights fewer than 300 miles do not include snacks, though complimentary alcoholic drinks are available upon request. Meanwhile, flights between 300 and 900 miles offer snacks and drinks. On flights over 900 miles, you’ll get a full meal service with a hot entree, salad, bread and dessert, depending on the time of your flight. Longer flights over 1,190 miles will also serve a pre-arrival snack.

One of my favorite first class meals on United is the tomato and burrata manicotti, a must for pasta and cheese lovers. It’s so good that one frequent flyer’s love of the dish even sparked a viral Reddit thread.

If your flight is eligible, you can preorder your first class meal starting five days before departure. Some meals must be preordered, so it’s worth taking a look. Not sure what to choose? United’s newly introduced signature dishes for flights departing from its hub airports have been popular with frequent flyers.

There are a few ways to snag a United First seat, including paying a United First fare and landing an upgrade. Here are the most common ways to book United First:

• Pay cash: United First tickets can be purchased when you book your flight. Naturally, first class fares typically cost much more than economy.

• Book with miles: United MileagePlus miles can be used for award travel and upgrades. Using miles for premium award seats is often the best value per mile you’ll find. First class awards usually require more miles than economy.

• Get an upgrade: If you have an economy seat and want to move up, you may be able to use miles to upgrade to United First. If an upgrade is not immediately available, you will be placed on a waitlist. Depending on your fare class, you may have to pay a cash co-pay.

• Take the buy-up offer: Passengers in economy can pay a cash amount to buy up to United First. If you’re eligible, you can find this shortly after ticketing and at check in. The buy-up amount can fluctuate often, so it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on that price. These are guaranteed upgrades to United First.

It’s easy to reschedule your United first class flight, because United does not charge change fees for premium cabin domestic tickets (as well as most economy tickets).

If your new flight costs less, you will receive a travel credit for the fare difference. However, if it costs more, you’ll need to pay the difference to make the change.

Instead of paying the fare difference, you can also join the standby list for free if you want to take an earlier United flight on the same day; however, you cannot change the routing of your ticket, and it is more likely that your new seat will be in economy, rather than United First, depending on availability.

Keep in mind that paid first class tickets are nonrefundable, unless you specifically buy a more expensive refundable fare. However, that just means United won’t refund your original method of payment. You can still cancel your United First ticket and get a travel credit, which you can use to book another United flight.

A great way to book United First is by using frequent flyer miles or credit card rewards, especially when cash prices are high. Redeeming rewards for flights can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

If you want to earn United MileagePlus miles, consider signing up for a United credit card. These miles can be redeemed for award flights, as well as seat upgrades.

In addition, credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can also help you rack up United miles. That’s because you can transfer your points to United miles at a 1:1 ratio. You can also use your points to book United flights directly through the Chase's travel portal.

» Learn more: Plan your next redemption with our airline points tool

Because the cost difference between economy and first class varies by flight, there is no right or wrong answer as to whether United first class is worth it.

If you only care about getting from point A to point B in the cheapest and most efficient way possible, paying extra for United First probably doesn’t make sense. But business travelers, people who prefer luxury and those who are looking to earn elite status may find the added cost well worth it.

In many cases, flying first class more than doubles the cost of a ticket. Consider your budget and travel preferences when deciding how much you’re willing to pay, or if you’re willing to redeem more miles, for shorter lines, free drinks and a bigger seat.

From better food to bigger seats, United First entails extras that will make your flight a lot more comfortable. First class seats in United are typically far more expensive than their economy counterparts when paying cash fares. But if you're close to reaching United elite status or are mulling applying for a United credit card, then use the promise of a potential upgrade to United First as incentive to help make it happen.

Photo courtesy of United Airlines.