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United's Fancy New 777 Is Flying From Newark to Europe This Summer

Feb. 08, 2018
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3 min read
United 777-300ER 77W Polaris Business Class Preview
United's Fancy New 777 Is Flying From Newark to Europe This Summer
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The 777-300ER may be United's flagship, but good luck actually managing to fly it — the airline only has 14 of Boeing's largest jets in its fleet, and, with the exception of a couple 767-300ERs, this particular 777 is your only opportunity to experience UA's much-improved Polaris biz seat.

For that reason, it's especially exciting when the airline adds its new 777 to an existing route. So far, it's available on:

And now United has added the 777-300ER to another route out of Newark. Seasonal service to Frankfurt is scheduled to begin on March 24, running through July 31, at which point the flight will be operated by a 777-200ER with the old 2-2-2 business-class seats.

This 777-300ER is likely coming from the seasonal San Francisco-Auckland (AKL) route, which runs through March 22 and resumes on October 27, 2018. Given that two aircraft are required to operate that flight, it's possible that we'll see the new 777 pop up on another summer flight as well.

There's plenty of upgrade availability, including on the "inaugural" flight:

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Miraculously, there are even a couple dates with business-class awards, priced at 60,000 MileagePlus miles, though I'm only seeing space in March at this point.

This is easily my favorite United business product — seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, and there's decent privacy regardless of which you pick.

Note that while the 777-300ER represents an upgrade in business class, it's definitely a step down in coach. Economy and Economy Plus seats are arranged in a dense 3-4-3 configuration, allowing United to carry more customers at the expense of passenger comfort.

That said, TPG contributor J. Keith van Straaten loved his Economy Plus flight to Taipei on this same plane, and if you end up with an empty seat next to you as he did on his transpacific journey, the 17-inch-wide seats may actually be manageable.

If you're interested in booking a biz-class award or confirming an upgrade from economy at booking, I'd make a reservation sooner than later, since this plane is likely to be a hit once passengers catch wind of the comfort boost — and business availability.

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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)

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  • 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.