United Domestic First, Washington Reagan – Newark International, Bombardier CRJ550: Night and Day Compared to the Outbound Flight

This was the first leg of my return journey to Boston, on a CRJ550—the premium, lower-capacity version of the CRJ700.

Boarding

I left the lounge about ten minutes before the rescheduled boarding time and arrived at the gate shortly afterward.

Boarding began a bit late with pre-boarding for eligible groups, followed by Group 1, which included me.

Cabin and welcome

The welcome was very warm, and I settled into the Domestic First cabin, configured in a 1-2 layout with comfortable recliners. I chose a solo seat in row 2, 02A.

The flight attendant took drink orders on the ground to improve efficiency after takeoff.

Service and catering

Service began once we reached 10,000 feet, though the seatbelt sign remained on throughout the flight.

Dulles from above

My latte was served promptly, and a selection of premium snacks was offered—a cheese plate and a snack basket. It was satisfying and far more substantial compared to what American or Delta would offer.

Arrival and disembarkation

We arrived at the gate 35 minutes behind schedule and then waited on the tarmac due to an occupied gate—a frustrating delay on top of the existing one. Typical United!

Bottom line

An excellent in-flight service, but the delay was intolerable once again.

Itinerary

As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:

#TypePost
1DiaryBusiness Trip in Washington, DC
2LoungeUnited Club, Boston Logan
3FlightUnited Domestic First, Boston Logan – Newark International, Boeing 737 MAX 9
4LoungeUnited Club, Newark International Gate C74
5FlightUnited Domestic First, Newark International – Washington Reagan, Bombardier CRJ550
6HotelThe Ritz Carlton, Georgetown, Washington DC
7RestaurantFilomena, Georgetown, Washington DC
8RestaurantBrasserie Liberté, Georgetown, Washington DC
9LoungeAmerican Express Centurion Lounge, Washington Reagan
10FlightUnited Domestic First, Washington Reagan – Newark International, Bombardier CRJ550
11LoungeUnited Club, Newark International Gates A
12FlightUnited Domestic First, Newark International – Boston Logan, Boeing 737 MAX 8
Today’s itinerary
Olivier Delestre-Levai
Olivier Delestre-Levai
Olivier has been into airline blogging since 2010. First a major contributor to the FlyerTalk forum, he created the FlyerPlan website in July 2012, and writes articles with a major echo among airline specialists. He now co-runs the TravelGuys blog with Bertrand, focusing on travel experience and loyalty programs.
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