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.
Related: Sign up for our daily email newsletter here
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
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees