The best business class seats on United's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
By Chris C., March 16 2016
Flying daily from Melbourne to Los Angeles and also from Sydney to both LA and San Francisco come late March, United's Boeing 787 Dreamliners offer high flyers a considerably improved 'BusinessFirst' (business class) experience over the Boeing 777s of years passed.
With seats arranged in a 2-2-2 layout, direct and uninterrupted access to the aisles is at a premium: but can still be yours if you choose wisely.
United Boeing 787-9 'BusinessFirst' business class
Split across two zones, most passengers are seated in the forward section with five rows, conveniently numbered 1-5, while a further three rows form a mini-cabin immediately behind as rows 6-8.
All BusinessFirst seats come in pairs, with these our top picks.
1D, 1E, 6D, 6E: These seats are at the front and centre of each cabin, providing direct aisle access with nobody hopping over you – as your seatmate can use the opposing aisle – plus the benefit of a small shelf area at each bulkhead wall:
It's a great place to plonk your bag while fishing out your pyjamas (BYO), laptop and charging cables, and after the first meal service is completed is usually transformed into a snack table for easy access to grab-and-go chips, sandwiches and fruit.
These seats are close to the galleys and restrooms which usually signals possible noise disruption, but having taken overnight flights in both rows 1 & 6, we weren't kept awake by noise, light or fellow passengers.
Any other centre pair: Ideal for solo travellers keen for a good sleep or a productive flight, there's again nobody jumping over you and nobody to climb over yourself so you can cruise to your destination on your own schedule.
Row 3, for light sleepers: Smack bang in the middle of the main business class cabin, you're three rows from the restrooms ahead of row 1 and behind row 5, making for less aisle traffic from passing passengers and less chance of noise from passengers chatting while waiting for the facilities.
Rows 1-5, for a calm boarding: Scroll back up to the seat map and you'll spot four red triangles – they indicate the aircraft doors, and more often than not, the one used to board passengers is on the left between rows 5 and 6.
That means travellers in Economy Plus and regular economy step on there and turn right, walking through the business class mini-cabin (rows 6-8) to reach their seat and making the aisle congested while you're trying to get settled. Opt for something in rows 1-5 and the'll be much more room for you to move about.
Avoid row 8: Nobody likes listening to a crying, screaming baby in the air, but choose row 8 and there's a good chance that's just what you'll get. With not one, but three bassinets attaching to the bulkhead wall immediately behind these seats, make this row your last resort.
Right behind that wall and non-soundproof curtain? A baby bassinet...
Avoid 4A, 4L: The Dreamliner's large 'electrochromic' windows provide great views during the day – particularly from Australia to the USA – and can block most light from outside without a shutter, but pick 4A or 4L and you'll wind up with one less window than everybody else on board, and less to look at.
Also read: United Boeing 787 'BusinessFirst' review: Melbourne-LAX
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter – we're @AusBT
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 383
The 1990's called, they'd like their cabin interior back...
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
<<...1990's called, they'd like their cabin interior back...>>
Aside fm possibly the colour theme or fabric choice(But these are corp branding driven anyway), there's nothing in this J cabin design+specs that's common /similar to the ones launched by UA or CO in the 1990s.
It's similar to saying QF's latest J cabin is bringing back its J fm the 1990s....
04 May 2015
Total posts 261
Dude, turn your avgeek off for a minute and recognise a joke when you see one.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
What? U can't see beyond the <<avgeek>> label U've granted to me and recognize my counter-joke about QF's J fm the 90s?
It's fair game dude....
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
Ok, the dreadful service still remains from the 90s too.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
Same flight attendants from the 90's also
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
Ditto for most QF flights to/fm Asia.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
When was the last time U flew UA intercon /Trans-Pcf J? I'm guessing quite a while ago and probably before the merger and the creeping-in of CO customer service/staff culture. For yrs after the merger, the CEO @ UA used to be the CEO @ CO.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
This would seriously have to be the worst business class hard product I have seen.Those head cushions look like an afterthought. The privacy screen likes like it would only have an effect on a pair of 2 year olds.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Those sloppy head cushions look like their velcrosed on. That privacy screen wouldn't even shield B.O. Does the arm rest rise up?
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
<<...screen wouldn't even shield B.O.>>
What is B.O.?
<<Does the arm rest rise up?>>
Save U an easy surf on the web to www.ual.com to find answer to your question......yes it does.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
<<...would seriously have to be the worst business class hard product I have seen.>>
Probably but UA is not alone with this J among top tier carriers worldwide. Do try to expand your view a bit wider by taking a look @ the latest intercon J on LH, CA, KL, etc. Aside fm fabric choice+colour scheme(i.e. more about styling than practical functionality+comfort level), U'll see essentially the same J design on these carriers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
How United thought launching a 2x2x2 business config in 2016 was a good idea I don't know.
Maybe they just like being ten years behind.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Totally inappropriate for long distance transcontinental flying.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
Intercontinental.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Ooops, sorry, (Intercontinental) I guess I was jetlagged just looking at those business seats.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
Then how about 1-2-1 layout for the nex gen J scheduled to begin service on UA intercon network before End2016? Will that be appropriate <<for long distance *intercontinental* flying>>?
UA's 77W seat map showing 1-2-1 layout in J unofficially leaked on the web:
www.briansumers.com/home/is-this-the-new-united-airlines-business-class-seat-for-the-boeing-777-300er
Of course, we can all dismiss that seatmap as bogus and in any case, AU mkt won't see that J until @ least a few yrs later. But then again in the AU-U.S. mkt, which carrier is UA's biggest adversary and what is the best J layout offered(Or planned) by this adversary today? QF and 2-2-2.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
<<How United thought launching a 2x2x2 business config in 2016 was a good idea I don't know.>>
Probably because U also don't know this 2-2-2 layout, along with this particular J design, is NOT launched in 2016. It's not even launched by UA per se. Both were actually developed+launched by CO in Rev$ service around 2009-2010 1st on its 772ER fleet(Also planned for CO's 787 fleet).....well before any 787 was flying for any carrier. After merger, this J design+config has been adopted by UA for its entire 787 fleet.
This J design+layout has been around for 6yrs+ and UA is <<launching>> a nex gen J+layout planned to debut in its 77W <<in 2016>> already reported by www.executivetraveller.com on 9Dec15. Rumor leaked fm internal source that it will be 1-2-1.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2012
Total posts 134
Hi Chris, thx for the update. I have a couple of questions:
1. Do they offer an "over matrass" like Qantas and Air NZ to go over the standard seat cushions?
2. Is the seat actually fully lay-flat?
cheers.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
Hi there, please see the linked flight review at the bottom of the article which answers your questions. :)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
Did they pull these seats out of their DC-10s??? Seriously...come on.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
More like DC- 8's.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
Hv U even seen the J seat designs of UA & CO on their D10s(I hv not just seen but actually travelled on 1 before they were retired decades ago)? If U hv, U wouldn't hv implied UA's current J is anywhere similar. Seriously...come on.
On the other hand, I can understand those folks who hate that colour scheme/styling(Actually a legacy of CO branding) though which has not changed much all along but that's more a personal / individual preference than actual product std.
03 Mar 2016
Total posts 14
Flew LAX-MEL on the UA 98 service in January and the flight was surprisingly good. The 787-9 I flew on was just 3 months old. Still smelled new. The cabin interiors certainly lack style but the seats (Row 3) were quite comfortable and I was able to sleep for about 7 of the 15.5 hours of flight time. The main meal service (dinner) was sufficient and better than edible (for United, this is a positive). The toilets were kept clean throughout the flight. The crew were friendly and efficient (these are Continental crewed flights). United has upped its game with the Dreamliner on these flights. The airline has a long way to go but this is all a positive step forward.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
<<The crew were friendly and efficient...United has upped its game with...>>
Finally, someone here detected the change going on @ UA in recent yrs after its initial merger mess. Though it's always fun/entertaining to continue picking on an ugly duck(especially when it's foreign) based on widely accepted but out-dated perceptions......
I used to hate UA customer service(pre-merger) but I hv always enjoyed CO(For 2decades before merger). I agree UA today is a completely diff animal than the one fm just 3-4yrs ago.
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 269
It's funny what is mentioned about row 8 and children crying. I have kids now and am accustomed to noise so I barely hear it even when they cry. It's all relative.
26 Jul 2015
Total posts 80
Remeber, Emirates have 2x3x2 on their new 777's so UA is not the only ones going backwards.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
<<...UA is not the only ones going backwards.>>
When a carrier transition its J layout fm 8abreast to 6abreast, I find it extremely difficult to label such move logically as <<going backwards>>....
Besides, is UA truly <<going backwards>> in the intercon mkt or we've not really been paying attention to UA's future J product plan but pass judgment anyway? A clue: Try the news already reported by www.executivetraveller.com on 9Dec15.
On the other hand, EK transition fm 7abreast to 7abreast is @ most just stagnating...still not <<going backwards>>. Of course, in this industry, stagnating is almost as bad as truly going backwards.
12 Sep 2014
Total posts 26
Not sure how "direct access to the aisles is at a premium" when 2/3 seats are on the aisle??
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
Direct (uninterrupted) access to the aisles (which is what most people expect these days in long-haul business class) is at a premium as 2/3 of passengers don't receive that.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
Sorry, I just don't get your math and agree with Guvner.
There are max 6 seats & 2 aisles per row. Each aisle allows /receives direct access from 2seats, 1 on each side of the aisle. It means totally 4seats hv direct aisle access per row and only 2 window seats are without.
As a result, 4/6 seats(Or 2/3) do hv direct aisle access.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
FLX, only guests in the centre pair have direct uninterrupted aisle access. Passengers in the window seats must step over/past their seatmate, and passengers in the aisles of the side pairs are themselves being stepped over/past and therefore their aisle seat is not without interruption.
10 Dec 2015
Total posts 177
I see your differentiation now basically between A) direct aisle access vs b) private aisle access
Thx for the clarification.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Aug 2014
Total posts 501
The best seat in any UA plane is the toilet.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Nov 2012
Total posts 19
I've flown this version of the BusinessFirst seat on the 747, 777 and 787, and I don't understand why so many people here are complaining about it?
These seats are comfortable in comparison to similar products such as the current J seat on the QF 747/A380 as well as the current J seat on the VA 777.
Every trans Pacific UA flight I've been on has always had good to great service. The food isn't something to rave about but it was very edible. And I have always managed a decent night sleep in these seats.
The exception is the 777. It's very narrow compared to the 747/787 versions. The 787 version is the nicest I've experienced so far (also because of the other 787 features), very closely followed by the top deck of the 747 which was fantastic.
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 269
I agree. I've been on the 787 and it was absolutely fine.
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