Review of United Express flight Newark → Washington in Economy

Welcome to this short new series of flight-report's. This series would contain two short US domestic flights.

 Trip Overview:

As I was going to head to New Jersey for a short weekend trip. As going from LaGuardia or JFK to New Jersey can be a pain during rush hour so the only option for me was flying United to EWR or using the regional train. It was interesting that a round-trip IAD-EWR-DCA ticket was cheaper than the regional train so I decided to fly on United for this weekend trip. It would be my second time flying United after flying with them from LHR to IAD on their 757-200 aircraft last August.   

Pax for this flight

Domestic First: %100
Economy Class: %100

The aircraft was fully booked and there were no empty seats onboard. 

ONLINE CHECK-IN

I had completed my online check-in 24 hours before scheduled departure time.

There were some offers.

I had already preselected my seats while booking so I didn't changed my seat. I was seated in the 1st row of Economy Class.

Boarding Pass

The amenities on this flight. Today, Directv wasn't offered like the previous flight.

On the flight day, several SMS's were sent by United to indicate a delay due to the late aircraft arrival.

NEWARK LIBERTY AIRPORT - EWR

I had arrived to Terminal C, 1 hours 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

Some parts of the terminal was under reconstruction. Before heading to the security checkpoint, I have headed to speak with a representative to get on the 5:00pm flight which was delayed to 6:30pm but as United doesn't offer free last minute changes if an earlier flight is available so I was offered to pay $75 for an earlier flight but I've rejected politely. 

The security checkpoint took 15 minutes to clear. After clearing this checkpoint, I had proceeded to the gate area.

Before heading to the gate area, I took this shot from the checkpoint area.

FIDS

The gate area was empty when I arrived but all the power sources were occupied so I had headed to the upper level.

Our aircraft hadn't arrived yet.

This UA 752 was heading to Los Angeles this evening

In EWR Terminal C, tablets are available at every seating area as passengers could check their flight information or order something from the nearest cafe/restaurant.

The nearest restaurant was the Wanderlust, which primarily serves burgers. The prices were expensive compared to those other US airports. 

Also, the tablet had multiple languages but sometimes the translations won't be accurate.

Checking flight information on the tablet 

The incoming flight from RDU is would arrive late due to ATC conditions over there.

This UA 764 was going to head to Zurich this evening.

Before our aircraft, there was a small accident at the gate

As I was hungry and Starbucks was the closest dining option with the burger restaurant. I brought a coffee and a snack from Starbucks which was near our gate.

GATE AREA & BOARDING

At 7:06pm, our aircraft had arrived to the gate

Then I headed back to the lower level which boarding would be done and find an available power source to charge my phone.

Boarding started after passengers arriving from RDU deplaned and the new crew was onboard. Priorities were respected while boarding but the gate area was a mess because there were no lanes for each of the boarding groups. When I boarded the aircraft, the gate agent put a tag on my carry-on bag and told me that I need to check my hand baggage if the overhead lockers are full. Luckily, I was able to find a spot at the overhead bin.

UA 3537 - NEWARK LIBERTY AIRPORT to WASHINGTON REAGAN AIRPORT

I was welcomed by the cabin supervisor while boarding.

Seat

The seat was an average seat for a very short flight.

The legroom was good enough. 

A shot from the window 

Before takeoff, internet wasn't available but the Private Screening option was available. 

While passengers were boarding, this ERJ175 had arrived to gate C99.

Such as this 757 was taxiing to the runway.

We had pushed back soon

Overhead panel

Last view of Terminal C

El Al 789 parked at Terminal B

Such as this LH 359 which would head to Munich

ET 787 & FI 757

BA 789 getting ready for his flight to London

Also this Virgin Atlantic aircraft would head to Heathrow

Delta aircrafts

Cargo terminal

And it was our turn to takeoff

Taking off

Greenville, NJ

Bergen/Lafayette, NJ

Belleville, NJ

West Orange, NJ

Short Hills, NJ

The internet function was activated shortly after take-off.

Route map

The only option to access Wi-Fi was to pay $8.99 or a gogo subscription.

Mobile IFE menu

Quakertown, PA

No complimentary food was offered today, the only thing offered was a cup of water.

IFE

The seat pocket contained the safety card, a flyer and the Hemispheres magazine 

Some part of the route map

Our aircraft in the fleet

Phoenixville, PA

Lincoln University, PA

Carney, MD

Baltimore, MD

Route map before arrival

A error in the weather information, Washington wasn't -18 C that day.

Hyattsville, MD

Washington, DC from the east

Forest Heights, MD

Friendly, MD

Piscataway, MD

Fort Foote, MD

Oxon Hill, MD

Impound lot in southern DC

And landed to DCA

The city of Washington DC was visible while landing

Terminal C

More American aircraft in Terminal B

Delta aircraft

Alaska Airlines A321

And we are arriving at gate 10.

WASHINGTON REAGAN AIRPORT - DCA

A final view of our aircraft from the gate

The airport was quiet that late Sunday night

And the metro station was also quiet

And, the metro car was empty when I boarded the train

So, thanks for reading and hope to see you in another report.

Coming up
 
This section would include spoilers of my next reports if travel plans are made. This section would appear in my recent report "except the flashback series reports" so you could have an idea what flights are coming next. Just a quick note that, flights I that I marked that I haven't flown yet could be not reported or/and not flown depending on several factors such as itinerary change, cancellation of trip, dead battery and more.

I am not sure about what would be my next flight. The closest flight I've already booked would be with this aircraft. This section would be updated if I book another flight.

Next month, I would publish several flight reports, including an airline not often reported, an airport that hasn't been reported since now and a series of report on the Queen of Skies. These reports would be posted in the second part of November.

In addition,  some flashback reports would be posted in the first part of November.
Including these ones,