Flying First Class on United 737 MAX 8 – Mexico City to San Francisco Review

If you’re searching for a United 737 MAX 8 first class review, you’re likely trying to decide whether United’s narrowbody premium cabin is worth the upgrade.

I recently flew United Airlines 737 MAX 8 first class from Mexico City to San Francisco at the tail end of a multi-week South America trip, and this flight gave me a solid look at what United 737 first class delivers on a short international route.

After wrapping up 7 days in Medellin and 48 hours in Ecuador, I headed to Mexico City for a few final days exploring before heading home. With a 5:05 a.m. departure back to San Francisco, comfort mattered.

Having previously flown long-haul products like United’s Polaris business class and comparable narrowbody products like WestJet’s Premium Economy, I had realistic expectations.

Here’s my full United 737 MAX 8 first class experience, including the ground experience, seat comfort, service, food, and whether flying first class on United 737 MAX 8 is worth it.

Flight Details

United Airlines 737 MAX 8 Overview

The United Airlines 737 MAX 8 overview starts with one of United’s more modern narrowbody aircraft. The airline uses this jet on domestic and short-haul international routes, including Mexico and the Caribbean.

According to United’s official fleet page, the aircraft seats 166 passengers, including 16 seats in first class in a 2-2 configuration. The Federal Aviation Administration also provides detailed updates on the Boeing 737 MAX return-to-service modifications and safety oversight, offering transparency into the aircraft’s certification standards.

The United Airlines 737 MAX 8 seat map shows:

• 16 United 737 MAX 8 first class seats
• Economy Plus section
• Standard economy cabin

For a roughly four-hour flight from Mexico City to San Francisco, United 737 MAX 8 domestic first class offers enough extra space to make an early departure more manageable.

Ground Experience – United Lounge at MEX & Boarding Woes

I had a 5:05AM departure out of Mexico City and wasn’t taking any chances. A downpour the night before had me worried about road closures, so like on my Air Canada 737 Max business class review, I arrived early—way early.

While there were some closures around the city, it didn’t affect our route, and we got to the airport without issue.

I normally fly carry-on only with my Osprey Porter 46L, but since I was traveling with a friend who checked a bag, I figured, why not? Mistake.

I ended up with an open side pocket and missing items when we landed in SFO. Frustrating. And even though this was United 737 MAX 8 first class, there was no priority bag drop line. Not a deal breaker, but strange.

With plenty of time to kill, I avoided the always-awful SALA VIP lounge (you can read more in my Quito Sala VIP lounge review if you want a taste of that pain) and headed to the United Lounge.

It was technically not supposed to open until 4AM, but I gave it a shot around 3AM and found it already open.

Inside, it was quiet… and hot. Turns out the air conditioning was busted, but to their credit, the staff rolled out portable AC units packed with ice. Not ideal, but not the worst. I had some coffee and a light snack while waiting.

You can check out my full Mexico City United Lounge write-up for more lounge-specific details.

As for boarding, it was a bit of a mess. We all lined up when told, then stood around for another 20 minutes—just what you want before sunrise.

At that point, I was done. I just wanted to collapse into my United 737 MAX 8 first class seat and sleep.

United 737 MAX 8 First Class Seat – Comfortable but Worn

The United Airlines 737 MAX 8 first class cabin is in a 2-2 layout. It’s fine. Standard power outlet and USB port tucked between the seats, a little under-seat storage, and a small blanket waiting when I boarded.

Unfortunately, the cabin was clearly showing its age. The United 737 MAX 8 first class seat had crumbs in the cubby, and the padding on the seat in front of me kept falling off—pretty gross.

Still, I found the seat fairly comfortable and got a decent recline, enough to catch a bit of sleep.

It’s worth noting the United Airlines 737 MAX 8 seat pitch felt generous, and overall, the legroom was solid. Just be aware—this isn’t a brand-new aircraft with polished finishes. It’s functional, not fancy.

United 737 First Class Service and Amenities

Despite the early hour, the crew was warm and welcoming. I was offered water or juice before takeoff, followed by an almost scalding-hot towel. The flight attendants were clearly veterans—friendly, efficient, and unbothered by the time of day. It reminded me of the great service I had on my United Polaris 787 business class review en route to Sydney.

They came around a few times during the flight to offer top-ups. No frills or over-the-top pampering, but solid, attentive service, which made the United 737 MAX 8 in flight experience that much more enjoyable.

Meal – Basic Breakfast, No Choices

Shortly after takeoff, I was asked if I wanted breakfast. No menu, no options, just “do you want breakfast and what do you want to drink?” I said yes, out of curiosity more than hunger.

The tray came with a plain omelet, a slice of limp-looking ham, a fruit cup, croissant, and a huge yogurt. It was… okay. I get that it’s just breakfast, but for United Airlines first class food, it felt phoned in.

What really stood out was the lack of any option for dietary restrictions. There was no way to pre-select meals during booking like you can with Air Canada, which is something United Airlines 737 MAX 8 first class could seriously improve. If you don’t eat meat, dairy, or gluten, you might go hungry.

Entertainment and Wifi – Where’s the Content?

This is where things got weird. The seatback screen was large, responsive, and loaded with sleep aids, podcasts, and ambient stuff—but I couldn’t find any TV shows or movies. At all. It could’ve been my sleep-deprived brain, but if they were there, they weren’t obvious.

When I connected to the inflight wifi, suddenly more entertainment options appeared. Makes me think United may be shifting more content to the wifi portal as a space-saving measure? It still streams either way, so I’m not sure what’s gained there.

That said, the selection of movies and shows once connected was decent—new releases and some classics. Wifi was listed as streaming capable and available for purchase, but I didn’t test it. It was an early flight, and my main priority was rest.

Baggage Issue at San Francisco

Upon arrival at SFO, I saw my checked bag on the carousel with one exterior pocket wide open. A few small items were missing.

Not the business class service-related, really, but it does reinforce why I typically avoid checking bags and travel carry-on only. While I cannot directly attribute responsibility, it was a reminder that carry-on travel reduces risk.

Conclusion – Is United Airlines 737 MAX 8 First Class Worth It?

For me, yes—but that comes with a big asterisk. I booked this flight using Aeroplan points, so it was an amazing value. That said, the flight was half empty, and my friend flew economy with a whole exit row to himself. If I had paid cash, I might feel differently.

The highlights? A comfortable seat (despite being worn), friendly service, and decent legroom. The lowlights? Dated interiors, a lackluster meal, and no real priority ground experience.

If you’re chasing the best first class domestic flights USA carriers offer, this probably isn’t at the top—but it’s also not at the bottom. If you’re connecting through SFO (don’t miss the SFO Maple Leaf Lounge!) or just want extra comfort for a long-ish morning flight, flying United 737 first class on this route isn’t a bad way to go.

FAQ – United Airlines 737 MAX 8 First Class

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