Sneak peek: First photos from inside United's two-class CRJ550
Ah, nothing like that new-plane smell.
Welcome aboard the Bombardier CRJ550 — the newest plane in United Airlines’ fleet.
With it, United hopes to reinvent the regional jet market, at least for those in the front of the plane.
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And on Thursday morning, I got a sneak peek inside the plane days before it takes to the air.
The first class cabin is spacious. There’s plenty of legroom, the seats have a generous recline. It’s as close as one gets to mainline flying on a tiny plane.
There are no seatback TVs, but United doesn’t have those on many domestic jets. Right now, the plane also lacks individual power outlets, but United told me they should be added in during the first three months of 2020.
The plane itself isn’t exactly a new jet.
It’s a Bombardier CRJ700 airframe. But instead of the normal 70 seats, United is only installing 50 in the same space.
The CRJ550 has 10 seats in first class, arranged in a 1-2 configuration, plus 20 in Economy Plus and 20 in coach.
In other words: this is an extremely roomy regional jet.
The space that would normally be filled with those 20 extra seats is instead dedicated to four storage closets.
There’s also more overhead bin space than a typical regional jet.
United says that most — if not all — passengers should be able to stash away their carry-on bags on the jet instead of checking them at the gate. I’m skeptical, given how much stuff I’ve seen passengers bring on trips and how poorly they shove stuff into the storage spaces.
First-class flyers also have access to a self-service drink and snack station— not a typical offering on domestic flights, let alone a regional jet.
It was a sleek little nook at the front of the plane and I can see it being a favorite for passengers.
Despite being a larger plane, there is only one tiny lavatory at the very back.
United hopes the CRJ550 will help it capture a larger share of premium international travelers bound for small and mid-size cities in the U.S.
Executives have frequently cited the example of Northwest Arkansas, home to retail giant Walmart’s headquarters, where they said the airline carries a lower percentage of business travelers than competitors due to a lack of premium seating options on flights into XNA.
Early destinations from Chicago include Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Greensboro, North Carolina.
The Economy Plus seats — in a stylish purple — have nice recline. Like other slimline seats they are very stiff and will hopefully break in over time.
Row 7, the Economy Plus bulkhead, has tons of legroom. Almost too much.
Economy is tight, has similar stiffness in the seats, but has a generous enough recline. That same recline does make it very tight when the person in front of you leans back. Compared to other 50-seat regional jets, it’s comfy.
The best coach option is Row 11, an exit row.
The CRJ550 is the industry’s first 50-seat jet with both first- and economy class cabins.
It’s really a result of the need for more premium seats and the restrictions United faces with its pilots’ union contract.
That agreement limits the number of large regional jets — like Bombardier CRJ900s and Embraer 175s — that it can have in the network.
So United came up with this unique workaround.
Not everybody is happy.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said on Twitter Thursday that the plane is “a disservice to passengers & seriously cheap.” She noted that the CRJ700s have always been staffed with two flight attendants. (The Federal Aviation Administration requires one flight attendant for every 50 seats on a plane.)
Nelson said having one on the CRJ550 “hurts safety, security & service.”
All photos by the author
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- 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.
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| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.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.