United Airlines. Photo / Getty Images
Stephanie Holmes flies United Airlines UA1097 San Jose, Costa Rica to Houston.
The plane: Boeing 737
Class: United First.
My seat: 4A, a window seat in the last row of the First Class cabin, which has a 2-2 configuration and 16 seats in total. The leather seat was spacious and comfortable with a console in between the two seats giving a feeling of personal space between me and my neighbour.
Price: Auckland to San Jose return Economy Class is from $2719.40.
On time: We pushed back 10 minutes late but made up the time in the air.
Flight time: 3h48m.
How full: Not a spare seat on board.
Fellow passengers: Americans, Central Americans and an Australian couple, who were starting the very long slog home — even longer than mine. As well as travelling from San Jose to Houston, and then on to Auckland (after a nine-hour layover), they were then faced with a final flight from Auckland to Sydney. They seemed exhausted before they even started.
Entertainment: In United First, movies and live TV are available to watch on seat-back screens. All passengers can use United's app and complimentary Wi-Fi to watch movies and TV shows on personal devices. I was exhausted after getting up at 2am for a 3am pick-up to be at the airport for check in at 3.30am, so my entertainment was three hours' sleep.
Service: Two cabin crew were friendly and helpful, although they probably didn't have too much to do as most people slept throughout the flight.
Food and drink: First Class passengers got a choice between a ham omelette or pineapple pancakes. I had already eaten breakfast in the Copa Club lounge, available to United First passengers, so declined.
Toilets: Basic and clean.
Airport experience: I'd heard it can take a while to get through customs and security at SJO, which is why I arrived so early, but it was a breeze. I was through so quickly I was too early for the Copa Club lounge and the food court — all opened at 4.30am.
Would I fly again? Yes, it's a comfortable service in United First, and the comfort is very welcome for such an early start.
When there's nothing as far as the eye can see, you may appreciate the company.