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Flight Review: United 757 ps Business Class LAX-JFK

Dec. 23, 2011
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3 min read
Flight Review: United 757 ps Business Class LAX-JFK
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After my Thanksgiving trip to Santa Barbara with my Grandma, I spent a couple days down in Los Angeles before flying back to the east coast. When looking at my options to get back to New York, it seemed like my best choice would be to get a one-way award ticket since fares were sky-high and surprisingly there were actually a ton of business class awards still available and I had some extra points to use.

I ended up booking a business class seat on a nonstop LAX-JFK United flight aboard their transcontinental Boeing 757 using 25,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points (thanks to my Chase Sapphire Preferred 50,000 point sign-up bonus) which I transferred to United and used to book a one-way business class fare. The extra fees were just $5. Seemed like a pretty good score to me, since that flight was $1,600 and coach fares were $450.

You might remember, but I'd already done one LAX-JFK flight aboard United's 757 p.s. (premier service) in first class back in August--and I wasn't that impressed. Most of you commented that business class was the way to go, so I wanted to test out your recommendation. (And PS, you were right).

The 757 ps has just 3 classes of service: first class, business class and Economy Plus. That's right, no regular old economy on the plane. Hence the "ps (Premium Service)" attribution. Business class has 26 recliner seats with 54-inch pitch and 20.5 inches of width--pretty standard, though still narrow. The food was all very decent, and I was glad that the plane was equipped with in-flight Gogo WiFi so I could get some work done.

The real disappointment, though, was the in-flight entertainment, which were tiny 7-inch handheld LCD screens loaded with about 20 movies and 30 TV episodes and some music. Plus, you couldn't really use them while working or eating since you'd need to set them down on the tray table. I barely used mine, but that wasn't an issue because I had wifi.

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Other than that, the whole experience was nice--nothing too notable or exceptional. I did, however, find it more comfortable than Delta's transcontinental business class, and appreciated how much more low-level award seating availability there was--especially since I love my Chase Sapphire Preferred and all the Ultimate Rewards points I'm racking up from double points on all dining and travel.

What I like the most about United's ps service is the amazing amount of "low level" award availability- even during peak times. This is a great option if you have Ultimate rewards points or American Express Membership Rewards (transferred to Aeroplan) since fares can get ridiculous on that route- especially in business class.

Take a look at the gallery below for some photos of business class, what I ate, and the tiny IFE screen.

Have you flown on United's p.s. business class? If so, share your thoughts in the comments below.

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  • Annual Fee is $325.
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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.