Flying US domestic is a vibe (United First Class)

Today I'm continuing my little trip across Canada and the US with two flights on United Airlines: Mobile AL - Houston - Phoenix. I'm right at the back of the Embraer 145XR (the special kind with winglets) for the first segment, and then up front in "First Class" on the United 737-900 from Houston to Phoenix. Watch to find out what I thought of United's service on this very typical domestic routing, and see what the trip was like.
My biggest takeaway is that for me, flying domestic in the US is such a vibe. By that I mean there's such a distinct feeling to it, and I find it to be a really pleasant experience. Service is usually casual but warm, the food is nothing to write home about but it gets the job done, they have good beers on the drinks list, and airports in the US have been getting a lot better.
I always hear people say "well getting through security in the US is a nightmare" and well, let's just say those people don't have TSA PreCheck. If you do (like I do), and you don't get unlucky with an especially busy day, US security tends to be among the most efficient in the world.
So that's my take. What do you think?
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Flight information:
September 20, 2024 | UA4232 MOB-IAH
Embraer ERJ-145XR N13202 [age: 18 years]
Flight time: 1h08m
Economy class | seat 24A
September 20, 2024 | UA1798 IAH-PHX
Boeing 737-900ER N73406 [age: 23 years]
Flight time: 2h20m
First class | seat 4F
How I booked it:
This simple one way ticket cost $574.97.
Shot on Sony FX3, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and DJI Action 2
Edited by Kai Costiuc
#unitedairlines #firstclass #tripreport

[@Bo3amrah]

A retro experience when flying domestic within the US . Loved the expression ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@airedition]

Thanks!

[@landscaperconnection]

I'm a united loyalist for about 20 years now (was Continental) mainly because one of their major hubs (EWR) is 30 minutes from my house and because of that I can go basically anywhere in the world from Newark. Over just the past 3 years even, United's pricing, service, food, flight routes have all gotten exceedingly better. I asked for a cranberry juice one flight and they didn't have it...not only did the F/A apologize up and down for 3 minutes but she offered me 1,200 miles for my inconvenience! It really wasn't a big deal at all but the service has certainly gotten better. They have a ton of new planes but also have survivors that are pushing 30+ years old...the 777 I just took to Italy was 28 years old but that's what happens when Boeing has mounting delays left and right and the new Airbus NEO's are having engine problems. The big 3 in the U.S. are all good, just depends where you're located! Nice video!! Safe Travels!

[@airedition]

Thank you! And I agree, United has definitely seen some growth post covid that I think others haven't, especially American.

[@runningrauster8971]

Bells Two Hearted Ale has earned many top awards! An excellent choice!

[@physh]

Oh nice, the "straight into the engine if the window breaks" seat!

[@airedition]

Haha but has that ever happened? I think not!

[@gethinjones9075]

Nice ERJ, nice IPA - great stuff as always Gabe ✌🏼

[@airedition]

Thank you!

[@danielenglund9983]

Nice vid, Gabe. Have a wonderful 2025!

[@airedition]

Thank you, and same to you!

[@ianmarkham149]

6:48 as a UK follower, I love the way you say Mississippi. And yes, I did have to use spellcheck!!

[@airedition]

Hehe nice, thanks!

[@johnellington7970]

Great video. Definitely gotta get to Mobile especially if they have public tours of the Airbus facility. RIP Hemispheres print magazine. 😢 ( I never read them when I flew United)😅.

[@airedition]

They do offer public tours, which I believe are arranged through Flight Works Alabama. You definitely should! Especially once they have the new assembly line up and running.

[@johnellington7970]

@ Oh, thanks. Good to know and definitely will try to get there one day.

[@phantomopera5525]

Yes, Gabe, you're the only one who likes anything about US airlines ;-)

[@airedition]

😅

[@hs1296]

Lovely vid....nice airplanes! The Embraer's definitely a treat! Thanks for sharing.

[@airedition]

Thank you!

[@k9killer221]

The only time I drink Bloody Marys is on planes. It's the best in-flight cocktail for some reason.

[@airedition]

An inflight bloody mary is quite a pleasure!

[@Mattwell67]

Love flying domestic in the US as is quite the variety as compared to the UK. I'm in the PNW and ID a lot so get similar aircraft type jumps to you on this trip. 737 one day to an E175 the next. Also I used some United miles to buy a physical copy of the last United in-flight mag.. nice little keepsake.

[@ash56965]

How many miles was the mag for?

[@RJM1011]

Never used United before because they have always costed more than others. I started flying into and around the USA from the UK with US Airways and never had any problems with them I use American Airlines and Delta now. I found American Airlines good and helpful when flights get changed or cancelled until last November when they cancelled flight AA141 out of LHR to JFK with NO reason ever given leaving myself and others stuck in LHR. I ended transferred to a British Airways flight so I could still land at JFK and make the next flights I had booked without losing them. Thank you for the video.

[@airedition]

Yeah good thing AA/BA have hourly flights on that route, so a cancellation usually isn’t disastrous!

[@idanceforpennies281]

I like the RJ 145. Looks like business jet.

[@airedition]

Flies like one too! The same cannot be said for the interior though...

[@randyrohe]

Two thoughts: 1. Re: US Carriers flying older planes, it's funny; once AA and DL retired their MD-80s, I consider everything left to be "new." You can have an A320, or an A320 with bigger engines. You can have a 737NG, or a 737NG with bigger engines. The only exception is the A220, which is truly new. But that's just me! 2. Strong disagree on Delta doing a better job on their 737's... their -800s are really rough inside, both poor condition and obsolete furnishings (no adjustable headrests, even in first... the horrors!). United is at least doing their NEXT cabin retrofits, which will be great...once finished. Either way, I really enjoyed the positive perspective on flying within the US. Thanks for posting!

[@airedition]

The Delta -800s have definitely seen better days, but United still has a lot of these very OG -900s and other NGs flying around with the Directv cabins. The 757s are also quite dated.

[@harkmi3]

Why did you move your star alliance over to Turkish and not say Air Canada with Aeroplan which seems to be a popular loyalty programme with great partner access?

[@airedition]

Aeroplan requires spending on Air Canada to qualify; so while I could have matched to them for a year, and I love using Aeroplan miles for redemptions, there was very little chance I could requalify with them because it's all based on spending on Air Canada. Turkish doesn't have any TK flight requirements and also has very low requirements for requalification for Gold, so it's a good bet for me to just keep Gold without worrying about it too much. I'll continue to use Aeroplan for redemptions constantly via credit cards points transfers!

[@harkmi3]

@ thanks for the clarification!

[@anthonybrown4159]

A bit self-indulgent I would say

[@InTeCredo]

Why the Europeans insist on using the same economy class seats for the business class on the intra-European flights is beyond me. My German friends were shocked to see the big first class seats on the domestic flights in the US and wanted the same for European flights.

[@sva60_cyyz59]

Because European Domestic flying literally serves as short, hour-long feeder flights for Long-Haul. No need to give different Domestic Business seats when the average sector length is only an hour long, and when in less than a couple hours the passenger will be inside a Long-Haul Allegris/Club World/World Business Class seat. Whereas in the US, Domestic flights can be up to 6 hours long, meaning the basically need higher levels of comfort.

[@airedition]

I think this comment just about sums it up!

[@ZombieKiller1965]

Your business either has airlines as clients or wants them as clients so I can't really take you seriously as a flight reviewer.

[@airedition]

Up to you.

[@airedition]

But also, which business do you mean? Flightradar? Because I do not own that.

[@goodson77784]

Your leather seat in first was too..."wrinkly" in your words? LMAO. You belong in coach.

[@airedition]

Wrinkly, but comfortable. Ill stay in first :)

[@Raprada]

U look familiar

[@airedition]

To whom?