I flew long-haul on United's aging Boeing 777 in basic economy. A few key updates made it feel much more modern.

I flew on United Airlines in basic economy on one of its oldest planes and was impressed by the seat and food.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider I flew on a decades-old United Airlines jet from New Jersey to London in July.

With modern cabins and Bluetooth, the dated Boeing 777-200 didn't look its age.

I was particularly impressed by the food, which had been lackluster on my previous United flights.

I've flown United Airlines across the Atlantic at least a dozen times for my job, and it's always been hit-or-miss.

Much of that comes down to the aircraft type: Some of United's older planes, like its Boeing long-haul 767s and 777s, still have dated cabins and older technology.

But amid booming premium demand , United is working to modernize its fleet and cabin experience from nose to tail, including its aging Boeing 777-200s, which have an average age of about 27 years.

I flew on one of the renovated 777 planes from Newark, New Jersey, to London in July to experience the upgrades.

My specific plane was first delivered in 1997, but the modern seats and large seatback screens with Bluetooth connectivity made that hard to tell.

I was also impressed by the meals.

United's food has often left much to be desired on my previous long-haul flights, but the chicken dish and breakfast pastry I had on this trip were surprisingly flavorful.

Here's what the full seven-hour basic economy flight was like.

Business Insider paid $900 for the round-trip ticket.

My basic economy ticket came with a carry-on, a personal item, and a seat in the back.