Review of United flight from Osaka to San Francisco in Premium Eco

Background:
This series will cover a quickie to San Francisco aboard United Airlines (UA).
Part 1 – KIX-SFO [UA 34, Boeing B787-800, EconomyPlus] – You are here
Part 2 – SFO-KIX [UA 35, Boeing B787-800, EconomyPlus] – http://flight-report.com/en/report-12282.html
To get to San Francisco, the options given to me were NGO-NRT-SFO or KIX-SFO. I decided to try out the direct KIX-SFO route, which will be my first time flying out of KIX and my first time aboard a DreamLiner. The downside is that this is a UA-only operated route.
Pre-flight:
I took the Shinkansen from Nagoya to Shin-?saka at noon, had some authentic okonomiyaki for lunch, and then returned to Shin-?saka in order to catch the Haruka to Kansai Airport. The Haruka takes about 50 minutes to get to KIX and costs ¥2,850 for a reserved seat, which I think is really expensive.

The train arrives at KIX and the signage is clearly marked to get to the international terminal.

Entering the arrivals level of Terminal 1.

Escalator up to the departures level.

The UA check-in counters are run by NH agents. You use a kiosk to check-in. The typical garbage that US carriers use nowadays: screen after screen of extras for various fees (like a cash upgrade to J for $700, which was tempting). My haste to skip all of that stuff meant I missed the screen where I checked my bag. The NH agent that was standing there gives me some sass for my mistake. I really did not appreciate the way the NH agent addressed me.

Reaching the bag drop counter, the NH agent there was much friendlier. She checked my bag and handed me my boarding pass indicating my boarding group and boarding time.

I didn’t have much time and couldn’t figure out where the bus to the observation deck was (the observation deck at KIX is not at the terminal). I just walked outside and did some long-distancing spotting from the curb.
MU A320.

LJ B737.

CX Cargo B747.

This was interesting; the CX Cargo B747 must have approached too slowly because the CargoLux B747 right behind it aborted its approach at the last minute. I could actually hear the roar of the engines as they hit full thrust and veered off.

TZ B788 in final approach, you can also see a NH B767 circlimg in the distance.

JL B738.

NH B763 with downtown Kobe in the distance.

A pair of CX B77Ws highlighting their large presence in Japan.

With that, I headed back inside Terminal 1 at KIX.

Airline guide at KIX.

Main lobby at KIX.

FIDS.

Decorations hanging from the ceilings in the departures hall.

There were maybe 200+ people in the line for security and immigration, but the line moved extremely fast and I was airside in less than 20 minutes.

Duty-free shopping.

Tram to get to the gates from the shopping area. I actually really hate this about KIX.

Some spotting from the tram.
7C B738.

CX B77W.

Walking to the gate.

The first glimpse of my B788.

AC Rouge B763 at the adjacent gate heading to YVR.

Despite my disdain for the short, stubby B788. It actually looks good in the UA livery.

——————————-
United Airlines, UA34
Equipment: Boeing B787-800 [N26909, delivered January 2014]
Departure: 16:40 (ATD: 16:44)
Arrival: 10:35 (ATA: 9:57)
Flight time: 9:13
Boarding was actually called early for this flight, but I was in Group 4.

Scanned in by the NH gate agents and headed down the jetbridge. Arriving at the threshold of the plane, 2L.

Fuselage shot.

Entering, the FAs were busy getting welcome drinks ready for the J passengers so not a very warm welcome on board. No offer to direct me to the correct aisle based on my seat so I just headed through the galley. Passed through the rear J cabin, and here is my seat/row for this flight. This is the second row of EconomyPlus. Blanket and pillow are preplaced in the seats.

I had strategically picked the middle seat knowing that I would more than likely secure an entire row to myself since no one would want to occupy the aisle/window next to me. Psychological warfare always works :) Seat pitch is good in EconomyPlus, but then again, it better be good.

The recline was located in the inner arm rest. The window seats, however, have the arm rest right up against the wall so there is limited width for that seat.

Looking out my window, I can see the AC Rouge B763 get backed up and depart for YVR.

NH B763 departing.

The front door closes and we start up the B787 specific safety video.

As we get backed-up, I get some better look at some ground movements. 7C B738 taxing to the runway.

TZ B788 taxing to the runway.

CX A333 taxing to the terminal.

NX A319 taking off.

Cabin shot during the taxi.

Aligning onto the runway.

As we head off down the runway, we pass a CA B738.

Heading past the terminal.

We lift up and rise into a cloudy Osaka Bay.

The IFE is available as soon as you board the plane, the screen is your standard size. There is no remote so everything is done by touch screen. The plane is still new so the IFE was crisp and responsive. I found there to be sufficient diversity in the programming.

There are headphone and USB jacks under the screen.

The power supply is located under the seat. There are two per three seats.

The UA earbuds that were distributed before takeoff. I was taking a picture out the window when they were distributed so the FA just threw them into my lap. I thought that was kind of rude.

Rising into the sunset.

Seatback contents.

Drinks list and BOB menu.

Safety card for the B787.

The pillow. It has that nasty sterile cover that is standard on US carriers, which I hate.

This is never reassuring to see.

The blanket was polyester and very thin. I needed two blankets to stay warm since the cabin was frigid.

I had a great view of the wing from my seat.

The cabin as we prepare for aperitif service.

Drink cart arrives at my row. The burly FA asks me “what you want?”

I asked for an Asahi and water. This was served with some sundried tomato bruschetta.

Sunset outside.

Dinner service started almost an hour into the flight.

The “curtains” were closed. Not sure what kind of privacy mesh gives the premium cabin.

Second meal service involved drinks and your choice of entrée. No menus were provided, I was given a very cold “chicken or beef?” No other description of the meals were proposed.

Second round of drinks served with dinner.

My “beef” tray as received.

Plastic cutlery, toothpick, and oshibori.

Tasteless main consisting of tough strips of beef in a tomato sauce served with steamed vegetables and potato wedges.

The starter containing a salad (1 tomato and 3 pieces of lettuce with no dressing) and Japanese style beans.

The size of this meal was pathetic. The tray is woefully small and the offering was tasteless. Very disappointing meal offering.

After the meal trays were cleaned up, ice cream was served along with a bottle of water and another drink service. I took coffee and water.

The frumpy FAs making their rounds through the cabin. Not a single crew member was smiling. They all looked tired and didn’t want to be there.

Meal service concluded here and the cabin was soon plunged into blackness.

I turned my row into “Economy First” to make a flatbed seat. Who needed the $700 upgrade to Business First?

I lounged until around here.

Trip to lavatory was in order. It was moderately clean.

Going into the middle galley, there were no drinks or snacks in sight. But we do get to see these remnants of the past. Long live CO.

I went to the rear galley and there were 2 FAs talking. As soon as they see me, they stop, and just look at me. I ask for water. She just points in the corner where there are some cups of water pre-poured before continuing her conversation with her colleague. I’m sorry I interrupted them. On my way back, a cell phone shot of the cabin mid-flight.

I watched a couple of movies until we got closer to the coast. The crew came through one time in the middle of the flight offering water, other than that they were completely absent.

The sun was beginning to rise.

Cabin service started up around 90 minutes prior to arrival.

Breakfast service started with the question “do you want a breakfast sandwich?” followed by “what drink?” Breakfast tray and my coffee as delivered.

The breakfast sandwich was miniscule and was not very appetizing. It was about the size of a credit card, use the toothpick for sizing reference. It was two bites. I guess I should be thankful there was also a yogurt.

I asked for a glass of orange juice after the trays were collected. The FA told me that they were almost out, but he’d check. He said this was the last of the orange juice in Y. Definitely had a processed taste.

I didn’t find the windows “big” like everyone claims. They may be tall, but they are just as skinny. The dimmer works well. Here is a dimmed window on the right and an open window on the left.

Customs forms were distributed at this point, about 40 minutes to arrival. I left my pen in my suitcase so I went to the galley and saw a business class FA doing some dutyfree paperwork. I asked politely to borrow her pen, she joked with me and gave me a hard time, but let me have it. That was the only positive interaction I had with a crewmember, she was in a good mood.
Approaching the coast quickly now.

Entering the peninsula just south of the Golden Gate Bridge.

View of the cabin as it was prepared for arrival into SFO.

We made our U-turn around Palo Alto to approach SFO from the south.

Crossing the San Mateo–Hayward Bridge.

Air-to-air with a plane that will be revealed later.

San Francisco and Oakland are still both plunged into the early morning haze.

Clearing the seawall and landing at SFO over 30 minutes early.

Here is the plane I spotted in the air-to-air, a DL B752 in SkyTeam special livery.

QR A332.

KL B744 and UA hangar.

Taxing around, we also spot a VX A320.

We pull up short of the gate and are told we have to wait 10 minutes. We eventually get engaged by a tug and get pulled into our gate.

Deplaning, the crew half-heartedly thank passengers. I bolt to the automated passport control. While we were waiting to pull into the gate, several heavies arrived from ICN, NRT, PEK, and PVG so I knew it was going to get real crowded at immigration. The line wasn’t too bad and I was into the baggage claim within 5 minutes. Bags had started circling already so I was out the door and on the shuttle to the hotel within 15 minutes of deplaning.
Thanks for reading this report and please stop by for the return segment of this series!