Is A United Economy Plus Subscription Worth It? (2024)

Credit Card Rewards Expert

Updated: Jun 6, 2024, 9:00am

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United Economy Plus is a more spacious option in the economy cabin of United and United Express flights. For most travelers, the primary value-add is extra legroom, though Economy Plus also features seats near the front of the aircraft.

The extra legroom is substantial. Though the exact seat pitch—the distance between you and the row in front of you—varies by aircraft. On average, it offers about four extra inches in Economy Plus compared to economy. That extra space can provide a lot of comfort for taller travelers, anyone who wants to use the tray table or if the passenger in front of you decides to recline.

Economy Plus can be purchased when initially booking airfare or added by managing trip details online or via the app. If space is still available, it may also be purchased during the check-in process. The cost depends on the length of your flight, the demand for Economy Plus on that route and when you purchase the upgrade.

It’s important to note that Economy Plus doesn’t provide upgraded service or additional amenities. The seat itself is identical to those in the main economy cabin—with the exception of having a few extra inches to the seat in front of you. On some flights, United also offers a “Premium Plus” fare with even more space and amenities for a true premium economy experience, but that’s another fare type we dig into in another article.

United now allows MileagePlus members to purchase an annual subscription for Economy Plus seating. In exchange for a one-time annual fee, flyers can select Economy Plus seating on all eligible flights during their subscriber year at no extra cost.

When selecting a membership option, customers must choose between whether they want an individual membership, a membership that includes travel with one companion or a membership that includes up to eight companions traveling on the same ticketed reservation. There are also three options for covered regions: the continental United States (excludes Alaska and Hawaii), all of North and Central America or a global subscription.

Cost of United Economy Plus Subscriptions

Subscriptions start at $599 per year for a single traveler who sticks to the continental U.S. You’ll pay more if you travel internationally or wish to upgrade a companion traveling with you.

Compare these costs to what you would pay to upgrade to Economy Plus when purchasing a la carte. On short flights, this may only be about $20 each way, meaning you’d need to fly—and pay for an upgrade—frequently in order to break even with the subscription cost. However, on longer, international routes, a la carte can be substantial. A subscription may pay for itself after just one or two round-trip flights.

If you are going to buy a subscription, upgrading to more expansive regions can be a good deal, as long as you expect to fly to those areas. Note that the cost to upgrade from a membership covering the contiguous U.S. to all of North and Central America (including Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean) only adds $100 to the annual fee, regardless of the number of travelers covered. Upgrading further to a Global subscription is $100 more than a North and Central America pass, or $200 more than a base membership.

Before choosing a subscription with a companion, it’s important to understand who’s eligible. You can upgrade anyone traveling with you on the same ticketed reservation, but companions booked separately are not eligible for a complimentary Economy Plus seat. Furthermore, the companions won’t have access to free Economy Plus when traveling without you: For that, they’d need either their own individual subscription or could select seats with a one-time fee.

Once your Economy Plus subscription period begins, members can select an Economy Plus seat assignment at no extra charge when flying on qualifying economy fares, assuming seat availability. Basic Economy fares are not eligible for extra legroom seats through this program.

On new reservations, accessing Economy Plus seats can be done during the booking process. Book an economy fare and you can select an open Economy Plus seat on the seat map, while confirming your reservation. If you have previously booked tickets where travel takes place during your subscription period, you can select an Economy Plus seat through the “Manage Your Trip” option online or via the United app. Alternatively, a seat can be selected at check-in.

Subscriptions that include companion benefits access Economy Plus seats much the same way. The subscription doesn’t require you to designate or attach a specific companion to your account. If you have a companion subscription, it can be used for a different traveler on each trip, as long as their reservation qualifies.

One of the biggest disadvantages to an Economy Plus subscription is that Basic Economy fares are not eligible for complimentary Economy Plus seating, regardless of your subscription type. Customers who wish to access this benefit will be required to book an economy fare rather than the lowest-price Basic Economy tickets—though economy fares also include additional flexibility, carry-on bag allowances and elite-qualifying credits for extra value.

Another notable limitation of Economy Plus subscriptions is that you must attach your United MileagePlus member number to the reservation, in order to access your seat. If you normally receive elite benefits through a partner program, such as Air Canada Aeroplan, you’ll need to forego your partner benefits in order to use your United subscription benefits or vice versa. Because of this, an annual subscription may have limited value for you.

United Economy Plus subscriptions are best for members who typically pay for Economy Plus seats separately and fly multiple times per year on United Airlines. In some cases, even a single flight on United may make this a good value. For example, on a round-trip flight from San Francisco to London, it may cost about $500 in Economy Plus upgrade fees per person, or about $2,000 for a family of four. In contrast, a Global subscription valid for up to eight companions costs $1,299 and would cover this trip—and every other one for 12 months.

Members who are happy enough flying in standard economy seats to save on expenses, likely won’t find this subscription worth the money. And travelers who bounce between multiple airlines might not want to feel tied down to United due to the subscription.

These subscriptions also won’t make sense for United flyers with Premier Gold, Premier Platinum or Premier 1K status, which offers overlapping benefits. All of these elite levels offer complimentary Economy Plus seats for you and at least one companion at the time of booking. Premier Silver members may only upgrade to Economy Plus seats for free when they check-in for their flight, at which point all seats may already be spoken for. A subscription would allow these members to upgrade sooner for additional availability, if the extra space is a priority.

The best credit card to use for United Economy Plus will depend on whether you’re booking Economy Plus as a fare type, as a seat selection upgrade or as a subscription.

When booking Economy Plus fares during the initial booking process, the transaction is typically classified as an airfare purchase. You’ll want to use a credit card that offers bonus points on tickets, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees). It offers an impressive rewards rate on airfare: Earn 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Alternatively, you may wish to use a card that provides travel insurance when paying for airfare with that card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

If you’ve already booked your ticket and wish to simply upgrade your seat, you may be better off using a credit card that reimburses airline incidental costs. For example, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card provides up to $100 per year in statement credits toward airline incidental fees charged to the card. The credit card has a $95 annual fee. The aforementioned Amex Platinum card also offers an airline fee credit of up to $200 with one qualifying selected airline, and United is one of the eligible airlines to select—albeit for a much higher annual fee.

For annual subscription charges, United credit cards may be your best bet. They earn bonus points on all United charges, whether that’s an Economy Plus subscription, seat selection fees or airfare itself. The $525-per-year United Club℠ Infinite Card comes with a United Club lounge membership, the perfect complement to your extra space onboard. It earns 4 miles per dollar on United® purchases, 2 miles per dollar on all other travel, on dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. For a more palatable annual fee, choose the United Quest℠ Card. It offers an up to $125 annual United credit to help offset the cost of purchases made directly with the airline.

The United Economy Plus subscription program offers travelers a way to gain more personal space at a flat fee for an entire year. It may also be an advantageous way to save on these costs, especially if you regularly purchase this seat type on longer flights or when traveling with groups.

However, it’s not necessarily going to be a great deal for infrequent travelers, those content with standard legroom or elite flyers. As always, consider your own travel plans and preferences to help you determine if an Economy Plus subscription offers you significant value.

To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.