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After spending nearly two weeks in Japan visiting Tokyo and spending time with family, it was finally time to head home. For my return flight, I flew United Airlines Flight UA33 from Narita International Airport (NRT) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

I booked an Economy Plus seat for this long-haul flight and wanted to share my experience from check-in through arrival. If you're planning a trip to Japan and considering United Airlines for your return flight to the United States, here's what you can expect.

Flight Details at a Glance

Airline: United Airlines
Flight: UA33
Route: NRT → LAX
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Seat: 32D Economy Plus
Flight Time: 4:45PM

Checking In at Narita Airport

I flew out of Narita Airport at the beginning of April, and the airport was definitely busy that morning. Fortunately, the check-in process was straightforward.

United passengers can use the self-service kiosks to check in, print boarding passes, and print baggage tags. After attaching the tags to your luggage, you simply proceed to the bag drop counter.

Checking in at United’s kiosk at Narita airport — Checking in at United’s kiosk

One thing I appreciated was the luggage scale located near the check-in area. Since many travelers do a bit of shopping in Japan, it's helpful to double-check your luggage weight before getting in line.

Depending on your ticket and MileagePlus status, United generally allows up to two checked bags weighing up to 50 pounds each on international routes.

Checking luggage weight on scale at Narita airport — I love that there’s a scale nearby to check my luggage weight

Security and Customs Were Surprisingly Fast

Although the airport looked crowded, security and customs moved much faster than I expected.

From entering the security line to clearing customs, the entire process took only about 10 minutes.

Once you're through security, you'll find plenty of restaurants, cafés, and souvenir shops throughout the terminal. If you're looking to buy last-minute gifts, snacks, or Japanese souvenirs before heading home, be sure to leave yourself some extra time to explore.

Shopping at Narita airport — Lots of shopping once you pass through security

Akihabara souvenir store at Narita airport — This is probably my favorite souvenir store at the airport

There is also a United Club lounge available at Narita Airport.

I had a one-time United Club pass available but decided to save it for my layover in Los Angeles instead. Since I only had about an hour before boarding and was traveling with my sister, I preferred spending my time walking around the terminal together.

Boarding United Flight UA33

My flight departed from Gate 36.

Boarding was organized and easy to follow. United uses numbered boarding lanes, allowing passengers to line up based on their assigned boarding group.

I was in Boarding Group 2 thanks to my United credit card. Economy Plus passengers are typically assigned Group 3 boarding unless they qualify for an earlier group through status or another benefit.

Standing in line at the airport gate — Ready to board my flight

If you're in Group 1 or Group 2, you can line up before boarding begins. Just keep in mind that United still boards pre-boarding passengers, elite members, and premium cabin passengers first, so it may take a few minutes before your group is called.

Overall, the boarding process was smooth and efficient.

Economy Plus Seat Review

For this flight, I selected Seat 32D in Economy Plus.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was configured in a 3-3-3 layout.

My favorite seat on long-haul flights is an aisle seat in the center section. I like having easy access to the restroom without needing to climb over other passengers, and I find there's less chance of being disturbed compared to sitting in a window seat section.

United Economy Plus seat at 32D — Economy Plus seat at 32D

When I boarded, there was still plenty of overhead bin space available for my carry-on luggage.

At my seat, I found a blanket and neck pillow waiting for me.

As someone who is 5'9", I found the Economy Plus legroom very comfortable. The extra space made it easier to stretch out and get comfortable during the long flight across the Pacific.

If you're debating whether to upgrade from standard economy, the additional legroom is one of the biggest benefits of Economy Plus.

United overhead bin space — Plenty of overhead bin space

Pillow and blanket provided at each seat

Power, Charging, and Amenities

The seatback entertainment screen included a USB charging port, and there was also a standard power outlet located underneath the seat.

United also provided complimentary earbuds for the entertainment system.

United’s entertainment system with USB port

One issue I experienced during the flight was that my power outlet stopped working after we got into the air. It functioned while we were still on the ground but stopped providing power later in the flight.

After mentioning the issue to the crew, United provided MileagePlus points as compensation, which I appreciated.

Entertainment and In-Flight Experience

The restrooms were located about five rows behind my seat, making them easy to access throughout the flight.

Interestingly, one restroom felt noticeably roomier than the other, which is always a nice bonus on a long-haul flight.

Movie selections on United's entertainment system — Enjoyed watching Marty Supreme

United's entertainment system offered a large selection of movies and television shows. During the flight, I watched Marty Supreme, which I found surprisingly entertaining.

As for the food, I honestly didn't eat much.

I slept through most of the meal service and brought my own snacks onboard. The meal choices appeared similar to what I've seen on previous United international flights, typically offering beef, chicken, or pasta options.

Since airplane food isn't usually my favorite part of flying, I was perfectly happy sticking with my own snacks and getting some sleep instead.

Flight attendant serving meals on United Airlines — United’s meal service

Relaxing at the United Club in Los Angeles

After landing at Los Angeles International Airport, I had a long layover before my next flight home.

This is where I finally decided to use my United Club pass.

The lounge was busy, but there was still plenty of available seating. After spending more than 10 hours traveling, it was nice to have a quiet place to sit, recharge my devices, enjoy some food, and relax before continuing my journey.

If you have a long connection at LAX, lounge access can make the experience much more comfortable.

Busy LAX United Club lounge — A busy lounge but seats were still available

Final Thoughts

Overall, I had a positive experience flying United Airlines Economy Plus from Narita to Los Angeles aboard the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The highlights for me were the fast customs process at Narita Airport, organized boarding, comfortable Economy Plus seating, generous legroom, and the entertainment selection. While I did experience an issue with the power outlet, United handled the situation professionally and provided compensation afterward.

Standing in front of flight gate holding a passport — Very happy with my United experience

Would I fly United Economy Plus on this route again? Absolutely.

For travelers flying home from Japan, Economy Plus offers a more comfortable experience without the much higher cost of Premium Plus or Business Class.