United A321Neo Domestic First: Initial Thoughts
- Konrad Tillman
- May 13
- 4 min read
Intro
For the first portion of my hop over to Syria, I decided to check out the A321Neo that United Airlines flies in Domestic First from Los Angeles to Chicago. There were a couple of reasons for choosing this route, but the primary one was that when I booked the day prior, there was PN/PZ space, meaning I received a free upgrade to Domestic First.
So, how was the experience in United Domestic First? Honestly, pretty good all around. Considering the seats are modern, feature Bluetooth connectivity, and a full meal was served, I have very little to complain about.
Lounge Hopping
Ordinarily, those ticketed in Domestic First on United Airlines do not get lounge access. The only routes that do get lounge access are those marketed as "business class", with routes such as LAX/SFO-EWR.
However, due to my next-day Polaris ticket (you can access the Polaris Lounge the day prior), I headed off to the Polaris Lounge to enjoy the buffet on offer. This is truly one of the most beautiful lounges that I have come across in the United States, although not quite as good as the new Polaris Lounge in Chicago.
However, with my departure time scheduled at 11:59 pm and the Polaris Lounge closing at 10:30 pm, I spent another hour lounging around in the United Club. Once again, traditionally, you would not have access on a "Domestic First" ticket alone, but if you have the Club Membership or a one-time pass, LAX is an easy place to get into.
Soon enough, it was time to get onboard as boarding commenced at 11:15 pm local time.
The Seat/Cabin
United has excelled with the rollout of its "next gen" Domestic first-class product. Seats on the A321Neo are slightly different from what you will find on the 737 series, but feature 5 rows of Domestic First in a 2-2 configuration.
Each seat is equipped with a hard shell, allowing you to rest your head on either side while you sleep. Conversely, the headrest is adjustable if that is more up your alley.
While certainly nowhere near as private as their Polaris cabins, there is a small privacy divider giving a small amount of privacy. My only wish is that this went a touch higher to provide even more privacy.
Beneath the center console is where you will find most of the amenities to the seat. Whether you are looking for a power outlet, a remote to control the IFE screen, or even a small cubby to hold a water bottle (my favorite part of the seat), United has done well with this design.
My only complaint is the legroom, but it is right in line with what American and Delta offer, just not up to par with Alaska Airlines.
While amenities aren't exactly given out on most domestic flights, I was pleased to find that passengers received a blanket on this short redeye to Chicago.
IFE/WIFI
United Airlines has sought to renovate the entirety of their narrowbody fleet (minus the regional fleet), and has improved its IFE offerings tremendously. Whether you are flying Domestic First or economy, you will be treated to a wide selection of movies, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
However, in terms of wifi, you can still expect to pay 8$ for the whole flight if you are a MileagePlus member, or 10$ if you are not. United is in the process of rolling out Starlink fleetwide, but only a few aircraft at the moment feature this new technology.
Meal Service
Unlike the likes of Alaska, American, and Delta, United offers a full meal service to passengers in Domestic First on flights over 900 miles, regardless of departure time.
Just after takeoff, the flight attendant came around to confirm my pre-order of the rigatoni and asked what I would like to drink. Naturally, the answer was a glass of red wine 😉.
Approximately 40 minutes after takeoff, the meal service was presented on one tray. Usually, I tend to order the short rib out of Los Angeles, but figured I'd try something new. The pasta was delicious (for airplane standards), and I gobbled it all down.
Service
Though my past 40 or so flights with United, I have come to terms with the fact that I believe the airline has the best service across the US3 carriers. Some might disagree, but I have routinely found that up in Domestic First, there has been good service.
This flight was no different. Staff were proactive about topping off my wine, the meal was presented quickly, I was thanked for being 1K, and I managed to get some rest. What more could you really want on a Domestic First flight?
Final Thoughts
I am a huge fan of the United Airlines A321Neo Domestic First Class product. In fact, I might argue that this is the best domestic product in the United States at the moment, which doesn't consist of a lie-flat seat. With comfortable seats, modern technology, soon to have Starlink wifi, a full meal service, and friendly cabin crew, is there really anything more you could ask for?
Hats off here.
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