My return journey got me flying from Ontario to San Francisco to Tokyo and then back home to Singapore. You must be calling me crazy! I am sure you would have known I booked the wrong airport to fly out from in Los Angeles which leads me to Ontario. At least this whirlwind journey allows me to visit a new airport and also try out US Domestic First Class for the first time. To recap, I was flying on the ANA error fare where I got tickets from Singapore to Los Angeles for 400 SGD. You can check out my previous post here. I have flown domestic flights a couple of times now and they are usually rather bare. This will be my first time on First Class or so-called premium cabin. There is no business class in the domestic market. US Domestic First Class varies and it depends on the route as well as your aircraft. Sometimes First Class might be worth it especially if you require checked baggage.

Checking In

I got to the airport shortly after 4am. The drive was smooth at this hour and the Uber from my hotel cost me around 12 USD. It is just about a 10-minute drive away. I got a really friendly driver. I alighted right outside Terminal 2 where United flights depart on. There was barely a crowd at this time and I get to check in immediately. I also had Premier Access on account of my First Class ticket. Thankfully everything is smooth and there is no repeat of what synchronisation issue that I faced on my outbound leg. The friendly agent checked my bag to Singapore but could not issue my boarding pass for the ANA flights. I will have to collect them at SFO.

Security was rather packed but the lines were moving quickly. There is a CLEAR priority line. This is something nice for flying out of a regional airport. Lines at LAX are crazy! I got through security in no time. The terminal was dated and bare. There is no outbound immigration from the US. The CBP just accounts for passengers using manifests from airlines.

Boarding Process

Boarding was at 5.25am. It started slightly late since the crew barely boarded before the scheduled time. I was one of the first to board the aircraft to get some pictures of the cabin. Boarding was quick and it was challenging for me to take them. It is rather exciting since this is the first time I will be in US Domestic First Class. Please don’t laugh at me. During boarding the crew came by with some wet wipes and I was also warmly welcomed by the crew. The crew then came by with welcome drinks. There was a choice of water, OJ or mimosa. I certainly went for the mimosa. I think I deserve a treat after all the worrying. I was seated in 1A beside a really friendly American lady who is a United employee. She is in full-on holiday mode and we enjoy some mimosa together. It was really interesting. All 16 first-class seats are taken up including a pilot that was deadheading.

Boarding took some time and was done while the plane was taking on fuel. We started pushback at around 6am and were airborne by 6.15am. The views were incredible as we took off just as the sun came out.

United Airlines Domestic First Class 737

On the 737, the first class is in a 2-2 configuration. Economy seats are in a 3-3 configuration. I was in seat 1A, the window seat on the left. First Class are constantly full with upgrades and standby. Here are some pictures of the seats. I didn’t get good pictures given how crowded it is.

The leg space is very generous and it is even better in the bulkhead seats. I was flying on one of the old dated seats. It felt like Scoot Plus or premium economy on international flights. The seats are well-padded and comfortable for this short ride.

The tray table comes out from the armrest. The seats come with a good recline and they are more comfortable when reclined rather than upright. It can be rather stiff.

There is no inflight entertainment. You can check out their portal and use the wifi as well. A basic messaging plan is free but the rest are chargeable. No free Wi-Fi is offered for premium passengers. There is a plug in between the seats in the middle but it does not work at all. It is also at an angle where if you try to insert it with the cable, you can’t plug it in fully.

I spent most of the time checking out the amazing views. I was greeted with gorgeous hues and the sunrise kept me accompanied. As we were flying up the coast, the view of the California Mountain ranges was gorgeous. This is a very short flight. As I was finishing up my drink and popcorn, we were already getting ready for landing.

I also checked out the toilets during my flight. They were basic and nothing fancy.

Drinks Service

Service on United Airlines Domestic First Class depends on your route and timing. For this particular flight duration, there is no hot meal service. You only get drinks service. This includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You can check out the menu here which is in the inflight magazine. They serve Gambino Sparkling Wine. There are other options for sale.

The crew sprang into service right after levelling off. They are very proactive and offer refills throughout the flight till they are getting ready for the cabin to land. It is a little early but I got the Golden Road Mango Cart Beer. It was very good.

The crew also came by with some snacks and I got some popcorn. I would certainly appreciate it if they could have some packaged hot snacks available like a burrito or wrap. That should be feasible. On the bright side, I will have a feast waiting for me in the SFO Polaris Lounge.

Conclusion

I got into SFO comfortably. Do choose the bulkhead seats as it offers more legroom, you also don’t have someone reclining into you. First Class is an overkill for a flight of this duration. Do look at the pricing and sometimes it might be worth it since it includes baggage. Domestic travel in the US works differently. Most of the time passengers get upgrades on account of their elite members. You also have staff fighting for these seats. The views were amazing throughout the flight as we got nice huge views of the Cali mountain ranges. By the time I finish the snacks and drink, we are getting ready to land. Despite the late departure, we landed slightly earlier in Terminal 3. From here it is a stroll to Terminal G where I will visit the Polaris Lounge while waiting for my ANA flight.