The first Continental Airlines aircraft with United's signature "Economy Plus" seating is scheduled to enter service tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 19).

United's Economy Plus seating is a premium coach section where seats have about four inches of extra legroom. A signature product of United Airlines, there was much speculation about whether United would discontinue Economy Plus or add it to the fleet of merger partner Continental. In February, United finally announced that it would keep Economy Plus and extend it to Continental aircraft.

As for the first Continental plane to fly with Economy Plus, United says in a release: "The aircraft, a Boeing 767-400, will also feature new flat-bed seats in BusinessFirst and new touchscreen seat-back monitors in Economy. In addition, the aircraft will be the first in the Continental fleet to feature the popular Channel 9 air traffic control communications. Customers in both cabins also will have advanced audio/video on demand and in-seat power outlets."

"The merger of United and Continental is a unique opportunity to build an airline with leading products and services that customers value and are willing to pay for," Jim Compton, executive vice president and chief revenue officer of United Continental Holdings, says in the release. "United's customers who sit in Economy Plus consistently tell us they are more satisfied with their travel experiences, and we are excited to expand this option to more customers of the new United."

United adds in its release: "United introduced Economy Plus in 1999. Today, the airline offers the extra-legroom seating on all mainline aircraft and more than 150 larger United Express regional jets. When the company fully deploys Economy Plus on Continental and Q400 regional aircraft, the new United's fleet will include more than 40,000 Economy Plus seats, providing customers more than 122,000 extra-legroom economy class seats each day, more than any airline in the world."