Review: United Airlines Premium Plus - International Traveller

Fasten your seatbelts and get ready to take off with United Premium Plus.

The worst part of organising an overseas holiday from Australia is preparing yourself for the flight. Being so far from everywhere, flights are long, and reducing the discomfort on them is crucial to ensuring your holiday starts off smoothly. That’s where United Airlines’ Premium Plus comes in.

The route

Sydney to Los Angeles

The aircraft

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Class

Premium Plus, seat 22D (and 22A on the return flight)

Seat map of Premium Plus — Premium Plus is right behind business class.

Duration

13 hours and 50 minutes en route to LA. 15 hours and 20 minutes returning to Sydney.

Check-in

Passengers flying in Premium Plus get Premier Access check-in, discounted United Club admission, priority boarding and priority bag handling.

When I travel, my bag is normally the last piece of luggage to come onto the baggage carousel. But when I made my way out of customs in Los Angeles, I was greeted by my two suitcases gliding towards me as if out of a romance film. It could not have been more perfect at 7 am after a long-haul flight.

People with luggage at airport baggage carousel — Priority bag handling is a game-changer.

The seat

More than economy plus, but not quite business class, United Airlines’ Premium Plus is the middle ground you didn’t know you needed.

With a whopping 18.1cm more legroom than economy, double the seat recline, 4.3cm more seat width and an added footrest, comfort is everything with Premium Plus. See the seats in real time.

You also get an individual power outlet and USB charger at your seat. I found them a bit hard to find as they were inside the armrest at the back, but very useful once found.

On the flight to LA, I had no one next to me which is always nice on a long flight. Coming back to Sydney, I did have a person sitting next to me, but I hardly even noticed it because we both had so much space.

empty seats inside United Airlines — United Airlines’ Premium Plus has more legroom than economy.

Food and wine

On transatlantic or transpacific flights, passengers in Premium Plus receive the same meals as Polaris business class. Dining with actual silverware and glassware was a highlight.

After boarding we received a nice lunch of spanakopita, with a side salad, bread roll and trusty Tim Tam. Our pre-arrival meal was a veggie frittata with sausage and potatoes, a fruit salad and a chocolate muffin.

a welcome meal at United Airlines’ Premium Plus — Premium Plus passengers receive the same meals as Polaris business class. (Image: Emily Murphy)

I’m not one to drink on a flight usually, I value my sleep and staying hydrated too much! That said, they offer a range of beverages, from White Claw hard seltzers and Glenfarclas single malt scotch whiskey to Kona Big Wave golden ale and Stella Artois pilsner.

a pre-arrival meal at United Airlines’ Premium Plus — Dine with silverware and glassware. (Image: Emily Murphy)

Entertainment and amenities

The entertainment was good, it had a good range of new release movies and lots of TV shows to watch with the supplied noise-reducing headphones.

noise-reducing headphones at United Airlines’ Premium Plus — United Airlines provide noise-reducing headphones onboard.

Perfect for cosying up with the Saks Fifth Avenue blanket and plush pillow, and amenity kit containing Sunday Riley hand and lip creams.

An amenities kit at United Airlines’ Premium Plus — Each passenger will get their own amenity kit. (Image: Emily Murphy)

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Luggage

You get two 32-kilogram checked bags plus carry-on with United Premium Plus.

Wi-fi

Wi-fi was available throughout the flight. The day pass wi-fi cost varies depending on the route, or they offer inflight wi-fi messaging for US$2.99 ($4.50).

For regular United fliers, there is a monthly subscription for wi-fi access which starts at US$49 ($73).

There is free unlimited wi-fi, texting and streaming for US T-Mobile customers on domestic and international United flights.

an entertainment monitor in front of your seat at United Airlines’ Premium Plus — They have lots of movies and TV shows to keep you entertained. (Image: Emily Murphy)

Emissions and offsets

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has around 20 per cent better fuel efficiency than the aeroplanes it has replaced.

United is the first US airline to show customers an estimate of each flight’s carbon footprint in their search. The flight to LA produced approximately 552kg CO₂e per seat, and the flight to Sydney produced approximately 644kg CO₂e per seat.

Not relying on traditional carbon offsets, United are instead investing more in sustainable aviation fuel than any other airline, fully focusing on becoming 100 per cent green by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Rating

The seats were comfortable and spacious, the Premier Access made travelling a breeze, the amenities and entertainment were great, and the food was decent.

4.5 / 5 stars

Experience luxury travel and book your next flight at the best fares when you fly with United Airlines.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Airline review: Is United Airlines Premium Plus worth it?