Summary

  • United Airlines will upgrade its select flights between Washington DC and Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.
  • The airline is anticipating increased demand during mid-to-late August.
  • Key features of MAX 8 & 757-200 include improved interiors, WiFi, USB ports, lie-flat seats, and premium inflight entertainment.

United Airlines is planning to upgrade its equipment and add flights for one week in August on its service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The airline will reportedly utilize its Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 757-200s – the two narrowbody aircraft types equipped with its best product and most premium features.

The upgrades are reportedly in place to accommodate increased demand due to the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which is scheduled for Chicago from August 19-22. Notably, the changes involve DCA, which is closer to Washington DC, and not United’s hub at nearby Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Ensuring the best product

Aviation watchdog JonNYC first reported the development on X on Friday. During the week of August 19th, flights between DCA and ORD will reportedly be increased to 13 times daily.

Although it is reported that United will “exclusively operate” the MAX 8s and 757-200s on the route, data as of this week from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, suggests that the carrier will deploy other narrowbodies that typically fly the route. While the data is subject to change, United will offer a total of 612 flights throughout the month of August, which is an increase from the 562 flights scheduled in July.

Interested in this route? Find flights between Washington DC & Chicago right here!

United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (N37295) landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

Cirium data shows that the Airbus A319 will be deployed on 138 flights – 64 departures to ORD and 72 to DCA. The slightly larger A320 will handle 154 flights on the route, 72 to DCA and 82 in return. The remaining aircraft operating flights between the two destinations are Boeing planes. The 737-700 is scheduled on 69 flights, operating 36 to ORD and 33 to DCA. Its larger counterpart, the 737-800, will be deployed on 66 flights – 33 in each direction.

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United currently has the 737 MAX 8 scheduled on 78 flights to ORD and 81 flights to DCA, totaling 159, which is the most out of any other aircraft operating the route. The 757-200 will handle 13 flights in each direction, accounting for a total of 26 flights.

What’s so special about the MAX 8?

According to ch-aviation, United has 87 examples of the 737 MAX 8. The airline introduced the aircraft type with a new interior as part of the United NEXT program, which features seatback screens with Bluetooth connectivity at every seat, power outlets, and redesigned first class seats. The MAX 8s accommodate 166 passengers in a two-class configuration.

United Airlines Bluetooth Demo

Photo: United Airlines

First class has 16 recliner seats, while the economy cabin has 54 United Economy Plus seats with extra legroom and 96 standard seats. WiFi and USB ports are also featured, along with entertainment available through personal device streaming. All of United’s 737 MAX 8s have been delivered to the airline with the NEXT interior. The carrier is awaiting 39 more examples on order.

Inflight features and products on United’s other narrowbodies vary, but the carrier is in the process of rolling out the NEXT interior on all domestic aircraft.

Lie-flat seats between DCA & ORD

The 757-200 is United’s most premium narrowbody aircraft. Equipped on international flights and accommodating 176 passengers, it features 16 United Polaris lie-flat business class seats. The remainder of the aircraft comprises 160 economy seats, 42 of which are United Economy Plus seats. In 2021, United retrofitted its 757-200s with new economy class seats and an updated inflight entertainment system. The airline has a total of 40 examples of the 757-200.

United Airlines Boeing 757-224 (N17104) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Photo: Jon Tetzlaff | Shutterstock

The addition of the 737 MAX 8 and 757-200 will undoubtedly spruce up the journey between the nation’s capital and Chicago. The DNC will be hosted at United Center, which is home to the Chicago Bulls. The arena, which has a capacity of 21,000 people, was opened in 1994. United, which evidently has naming rights to the arena, pays nearly $2 million per year to retain the rights, according to ESPN.

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