Flight Review: United CRJ550 Economy Plus Review. What seat is best?

Well I got a last minute request to go to Montreal. While I do technically cover Canada, it’s rare for me to travel there. But today, paperwork in hand, I headed to the airport to fly up to YUL.

Today I’ll be reviewing and riding on United. This trip will consist of two CRJ550s. The United CRJ550 is a bit of an oddball. It’s technically a CRJ900 that has been modified to only have 50 seats. This is due to United’s agreement with it’s pilots. I’ll specifically be riding in United Economy Plus on both of these flights. I’ll be able to tell you what CRJ550 seats are the best with this review.

I’ve not flown in the United CRJ550, but Val has and reviewed it on her trip out west last year. Today I’ll be flying via EWR and both legs will be on the CRJ550. This United Newark routing was pretty good and at a fair price, for being booked 12 hours before flying. Anyway, let’s get into this United CRJ550 review.

Bottom Line: The United CRJ550 is an interesting plane. It only seats 50 people but also has First Class and Economy Plus seats, unlike most 50 seat planes. I really enjoy it and would easily rank it as the best CRJ series aircraft in any cabin.

GSP Airport Review

I arrived at GSP about a hour before my United flight up to Newark. I need to check in at the counter as flying to Canada involves a little bit of Covid paperwork. Last night I had used the CANArrive App to register my trip and receive the QR code needed on arrival.

I had about a half hour to kill before boarding my CRJ550 flight so I went outside to relax in the GSP airside garden. I really love this place, it’s early spring and the perfect place to relax and unwind before a flight.

With a few minutes to boarding time I walked down to the end of the A concourse here at GSP. Our United CRJ550 was waiting to take us up to EWR.

United CRJ550 Boarding and Carry-on Storage

Right on time boarding started. Because I’m in Economy Plus, I was in group 2 and got to board nice and early.

The United CRJ550 has 10 first class seats, 20 Economy Plus, and 20 Economy seats. Today I’ll be in Economy Plus. Not because I purchased it or even have United Status, but basically because they didn’t have any other seats left and I purchased this flight less than 12 hours ago.

Boarding the United CRJ550 is interesting, there are 3 huge luggage closets between the first class and economy plus cabin, but for whatever reason, people didn’t put their luggage into them. My pelican fits perfectly into the luggage bins. These bins are great because it means no gate checking of luggage.

The Economy Plus cabin is quite large on the CRJ550, 5 rows of 4 seats. I’m seated in row 7, the bulk head seat right behind the luggage closets that separate the First Class cabin from the Economy Plus section.

Another weird thing was that many people walked back to their seats, realized their bags didn’t fit, then had to swim upstream back to stow their luggage. Also, people just haphazardly dumped their luggage instead of just placing it in an orderly manor. Oh well.

United CRJ550 Economy Plus Bulkhead Row 7 Seat Review

I’m seated in the bulkhead aisle seat, just behind the luggage locker on the United CRJ500. This Economy Plus seat is pretty great. Basically unlimited leg room when seating on the right side of the plane. I’m usually a window seat kind of person, but like I said earlier, I don’t have many options booking so last minute.

The only down side to these United Economy Plus seats on the CRJ550 are that there’s no under seat storage. Not a big deal as there’s plenty of storage for larger bags in the luggage closets and then smaller bags can go into the overhead bins. There’s also no in-seat entertainment on these planes, but that’s not a huge deal on the relatively short routes these planes fly.

I like these little wipes that have become standard these days. I hope they reman into the future, it’s nice to wipe down the seats and touch points.

We were boarded and ready to go a few minutes early as the flight attendant gave us a welcome and so did the pilots. A few last straggler pieces of luggage we brought forward as the flight attendant did her safety check.

United CRJ550 Economy Plus Departure

We pushed back and headed out to the runway. The construction is still ongoing so we again taxied to the beginning of the runway on the runway and then made a quick U turn to take off to the South West.

Once our United CRJ550 was airborne we made a long way around left hand turn all the way around back to the North. We quickly climbed to 10k feet and the flight attendant let us know that the wifi would be active and we could use it for the free entertainment options.

The loan flight attendant on our flight first distributed drinks to the first class cabin via a tray service. Then she came through the economy cabin with a standard beverage cart. I just wanted a water as I settled into the remaining 1:15 left in our flight to EWR.

United CRJ550 Bathroom Review

After finished my water I headed to the bathroom. I don’t often review airplane bathrooms, but the ones on the United CRJ550 are huge. Like it’s actually a big space, not Korean Air A380 business class huge, but for a regional jet it’s large.

United CRJ550 EWR Arrival

Unfortunately I couldn’t find a power outlet in my seat. Bit of a bummer to not be able to charge my devices, especially my phone. With no seat in front of me in row 7 in United Economy Plus on the CRJ550, my battery pack is over head in my backpack.

As soon as I got back to my seat it started getting a little bumpy and the seat belt sign went back on.

We began to descend and we were told to expect an early arrival. The flight attendant then passed through the aisle to collect any remaining trash.

This United flight is scheduled to be just about 2 hours and after taking some pictures and doing a little time on the free chatting feature, my phone is starting to run a little low. I really wish this plane had in seat power. We soon landed at EWR.

United CRJ550 Economy Plus Row 10 Review

The we boarded and this time I’m in row 10. Row 10 on the CRJ550 is economy plus but because it’s the row in front of the exit row, the seat cannot recline. Leg room is good however and on this flight, I have no seat mate.

This is a great seat apart from the lack of recline. The Economy Plus cabin on the CRJ550 is large because they only put 50 seats into a plane that usually carries 72.

Plenty of leg room again in a “regular United Economy Plus seat, but not unlimited like up in the bulkhead.

This wasn’t a completely sold out flight, in fact there were quite a few empty seats. I was glad to not have a seat mate too on this flight up to Montreal.

The pilot came on and with an excellent Scottish accent told us about the flight and weather in Montreal. Should be a nice day for our 58 minute flight.

I’m really enjoying these United CRJ550s. Lots of premium seats, easy luggage storage, and United has provided pretty good service for me today.

We pushed back right on time for our flight up to Quebec. The flight attendant made the safety presentation and we headed for the runway. Again, no in-seat entertainment on the United CRJ550.

United CRJ550 Newark Departure

I don’t often transit via EWR so it’s always fun to see some different airlines and scenery.

On our departure we got a great view of New York out my side of the aircraft. This side of the plane is the better view of Manhattan.

Wonderful clear day and we can see all the way down the Long Island sound and the north shore of the island.

As we passed over Connecticut we got a little bit of roughness in flight. Bit of a bummer as it’s a beautiful day down below.

United CRJ550 Economy Plus Beverage Service

It wasn’t rough enough to prevent the flight attendant from starting her service. I opted for a coke this flight. It’s mid afternoon and I want something a little sweet.

As we passed just north of Saratoga, it started to get a little rough again. The pilot, with his excellent Scottish accent, came on and told us that it would be like this for the remainder of the flight. We’re nearing half way and with less than 30 minutes left in flight, it’s no big deal.

United CRJ550 Montreal Arrival

We’d started to descend slightly, not sure if it’s an attempted to avoid the rough air or because we’re less than 200 miles from Montreal as we passed over the southern tip of lake Champlain.

Near the US-Canada boarder the flight attendant came through and collected the trash from the meal service. The pilot told us we’d be landing in about 20 minutes. Right on time we arrived into Montreal on a beautiful day.

United CRJ550 Economy Plus Best Seats Review

As a bottom line, I’d be more than happy to ride on the United CRJ550. In Economy Plus there’s a ton of space, easy bag storage, and the service is more than adequate for the short routes the CRJ550 is deployed on. But what Economy Plus seats on the CRJ550 are best?

Well, for legroom the bulk head(Row7) is amazing. I could not touch the bulkhead with my feet if I tried. There are also 2 windows at this row because of the huge space. The downside is that this row doesn’t have under seat storage so you’ll need to put everything in the overhead bin. Not a big deal as there’s plenty of space on the CRJ550 due to the luggage closets.

Row 10 is a standard Economy Plus row, but doesn’t recline so that’s not amazing. It has tons of leg room and underseat storage. Row 11 is an exit row along with being Economy Plus, I’d probably avoid that row as the window is pretty offset, but the leg room is great.

Rows 8 and 9 are probably the best bet if you want a Economy Plus seat with under seat storage, great leg room, and a good window view. But at the end of the day, I’d be glad to sit anywhere in this cabin.

Trip To Montreal

Follow This Trip:

1: Flight Review: United CRJ550 Economy Plus Review. What seat is best?

2: Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Montreal-Longueuil

3: Hotel Review: Embassy Suites Montreal

4: Flight Review: Delta Air Lines 717 First Class