United has several different types of business class seating following its merger with Continental Airlines.

Firstly, aircraft which have always been United have the new lie-flat long haul business class seat that is found in the Boeing 747, 767-300 and some 777-200 aircraft. This seat reclines to a full 6ft 4in bed.

There is a 15.4" video screen with nine channels and passengers receive a three course meal with wine. A few points about the new seats. They are both forward and backward facing, something that those used to flying BA ClubWorld will be okay with, but which might be an issue with those who find travelling backwards a little odd.

Also, when the seats are fully reclined (fully flat), only certain seats have unimpeded access to the aisle without someone climbing over you. If you are in a window seat you will be climbing over the person next to you, and if you are in the aisle seat, you might be disturbed by someone doing just that.

On former Continental aircraft, including the 757, 767-400ER and 777-200ERs, you will find Continental's BusinessFirst seat, which is a herringbone flat bed. A few 777-200ER aircraft still have the old inclined business product, but these are being refitted with flat beds.

In its marketing, United refers to both these types under the generic United BusinessFirst brand, but as far as the seat is concerned, they are different products. Broadly speaking, there is no radical difference between them.

Lastly, on Premium Transcontinental flights from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco, United has updated the older-style business class seats to a fully flat-bed product. The revamped premium cabin also has all-new interiors, personal on-demand entertainment, wifi connectivity, in-seat power and USB ports.