United Takes Delivery of First Boeing 737 MAX 9
United's long-haul aircraft are typically celebrated with far more fanfare, from delivery to retirement, but the carrier's Boeing 737s operate more daily flights than all of UA's wide-body planes combined. Today marks a major milestone when it comes to United's short- and medium-haul flights, with delivery of the very first 737 MAX 9 from Boeing.
I had a chance to check out the new aircraft ahead of its delivery. While not much has changed inside from the carrier's latest 737-900ERs, the MAX 9 has an entirely new livery, plus a unique engine housing design.
The carrier is expecting to add two more MAX 9s to its fleet this month, with a total of 10 planes flying by the end of the year. Although UA's taking delivery of its first plane today, it won't enter service until June 7, at which point it'll operate the following flights:
Origin | Destination | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Houston (IAH) | Orlando (MCO) | 7:35 am | 10:38 am |
Houston (IAH) | Austin (AUS) | 10:25 am | 11:15 am |
Houston (IAH) | Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) | 2:20 pm | 5:52 pm |
Houston (IAH) | Anchorage (ANC) | 2:40 pm | 6:58 pm |
Houston (IAH) | Orlando (MCO) | 2:50 pm | 6:19 pm |
Houston (IAH) | San Diego (SAN) | 9:50 pm | 10:52 pm |
Then on June 29 the airline planes to add the MAX 9 to a handful of additional routes:
Origin | Destination | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Houston (IAH) | Los Angeles (LAX) | 7:45 am | 9:23 am |
Houston (IAH) | Tampa (TPA) | 7:50 am | 10:59 am |
Houston (IAH) | Tampa (TPA) | 2:50 pm | 6:02 pm |
Houston (IAH) | Los Angeles (LAX) | 9:35 pm | 10:59 pm |
Houston (IAH) | Sacramento (SMF) | 9:50 pm | 11:27 pm |
Los Angeles (LAX) | Houston (IAH) | 1:00 am | 6:14 am |
Los Angeles (LAX) | Houston (IAH) | 8:15 am | 1:37 pm |
Los Angeles (LAX) | Honolulu (HNL) | 11:05 am | 2:00 pm |
Later in the year, you can expect to find the MAX 9 on even more routes throughout North America, as United takes delivery of additional aircraft.
For more on United's 737 MAX, see:
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.