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Editorial Disclosure
If you ask a frequent United flyer to name their least-favorite plane, there’s a good chance they’ll say the CRJ-200.
The good news: That jet is finally getting a major makeover.
United is introducing the CRJ-450, which uses the same airframe as the CRJ-200 but adds a long list of passenger-friendly upgrades. And honestly, the improvements are significant enough that this jet could go from the worst regional aircraft in the fleet to one of the best.
Here’s why.
Related: 6 overlooked details about United’s new Coastliner Airbus A321neo
7-seat first-class cabin
The biggest upgrade on the CRJ-450 is the addition of first class.
United is installing seven recliners in a 1-2 layout. The first row features a single seat, while rows 2 and 3 each have two seats.
The seats look similar to the recliners you’ll find on other regional jets, such as the Embraer 175. Tray tables pop out from the armrests, and the center armrest is wider for a bit more separation between flyers.
United also refreshed the cabin trim and finishes, giving the jet a much more modern feel. The blue-and-gray palette also makes the cabin feel more polished.
No overhead bins
One of the most noticeable changes is that United removed the overhead bins in first class.
That makes the cabin feel more open, airy, and bright — three words rarely associated with a regional jet.
Instead, United added a closet next to seat 1A for full-size rollaboards. There’s space for one bag per first-class passenger. As long as you’re not seated in the bulkhead, your personal item can still go under the seat in front of you.
It’s a similar concept to what United did with the CRJ-700, where it kept the same airframe but made the experience feel more premium with a bigger first-class cabin, bag-storage closets, and a walk-up snack bar.
Room for your bags
Even if you’re not sitting up front, you’ll have a better shot at bringing your rollaboard in the cabin.
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United installed larger overhead bins above economy. They’re not huge, so anything even slightly oversized will probably still need to be gate-checked, but United says the plane can accommodate about 35 full-size bags in total.
Introducing Economy Plus
Of the 34 economy seats, 12 are in an extra-legroom Economy Plus configuration.
That’s a big deal because the CRJ-200 offered no Economy Plus seating at all. Combined with the less-dense layout, the new cabin should feel noticeably less cramped than the jet it replaces.
Starlink Wi-Fi
For the first time, these planes will also get internet.
The CRJ-200 never offered Wi-Fi, but United is equipping the CRJ-450 with Starlink. That means this jet is going from totally disconnected to offering the best Wi-Fi in the sky.
What’s still missing
Of course, this is still a CRJ.
If you’re tall, you’ll still need to duck to board.
There’s also just one small lavatory in the back of the plane.
Plus, there’s (still) no power outlets or USB charging ports on this plane. United theoretically could have added charging during the retrofit process, but doing so would have required a much longer certification timeline.
Since these planes typically fly routes under two hours, the airline decided it wasn’t worth the added complexity.
Where you’ll find the CRJ450
United Express partner SkyWest will primarily fly the CRJ-450 from United’s hubs in Chicago and Denver.
United plans to begin converting existing CRJ-200s to CRJ-450s later this year, and by 2028, the airline expects to have more than 50 in the fleet.
Notably, the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 isn’t going anywhere just yet and will remain in the fleet for the foreseeable future.
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It’s great to see United investing in upgrading their older fleet—especially giving the CRJ-450 a modern refresh. The addition of a proper first-class cabin and more legroom really addresses some of the pain points frequent flyers have long complained about. If they can keep up this level of innovation across their network, it’ll be a game changer for economy passengers too.