Trip Reports - IAD-SFO in UA first

The line at the first class check in at IAD was not too long and I was surprised that the self check in machine had the thicker boarding pass paper rather than the flimsy kind for flight UA 915 from SFO-IAD.

The security line did take a while to get through but the advantage of this was I did not have to wait too long before they began boarding. After walking on the PMUA 757-200, I turned left and took my seat at 2B (the Shakespeare seat).

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5075/7193869922_1e74bb08cc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193869922/)
IMG_1110 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193869922/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7193859830_504d695d2a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193859830/)
IMG_1105 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193859830/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7193870452_c85c89035a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193870452/)
IMG_1109 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193870452/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

My coat was immediately taken from me and hung up and I was offered the pre-departure beverage beverage of my choice (served in a plastic cup as usual). Unlike the flights I have had on AA there were no pillows or blankets. I am not sure if UA does not provide them, or if you have to ask for one.

Just before push back the cabin was cleared and the purser asked for our first choice of main course, either a vegetable pasta or beef. I asked for the beef and she said she would see what she could do. It was unclear what the priority was for your order (I understand it is GS then front to back on all flights)

After take off one of the two flight attendants serving first class offered beverages and warm nuts. The service was from front to back.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7193877764_73da05cfce.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193877764/)
IMG_1086 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193877764/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7193877310_116336f8b2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193877310/)
IMG_1087 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193877310/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

You can see remnants of CO when traveling. For instance my glass had the Continental logo while my traveling companion had UA:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5319/7193875718_6eed122911.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193875718/)
IMG_1090 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193875718/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7074/7193876404_4a1618d28c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193876404/)
IMG_1089 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193876404/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

After refilling beverages, the meal service began. I got my first choice of main course which was a beef dish with mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, a side salad, shrimp on a bed of lettuce and bread roll all served at once. The beef was tender and the potatoes and vegetables were good. The salad was acceptable and the shrimp were rubbery. This is not bad for a midcon, but you do expect more from a transcontinental flight (Even if it isnt out of JFK).

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5329/7193873486_43344d7e01.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193873486/)
IMG_1094 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193873486/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

After clearing everyone's tray the FAs came by offering sundaes which were made to order.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7240/7193873150_e15f1216ab.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193873150/)
IMG_1095 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193873150/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7193872710_aa36dd1897.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193872710/)
IMG_1096 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193872710/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

Mid flight the flight attendants came through with glasses of ice water for everyone:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7193866968_1733177fcd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193866968/)
IMG_1097 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193866968/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

About 1.5 hours before landing the FAs came through with the snack basket which included chocolate, chips and some fruit among other things. I would have preferred the cookies that they used to do but it was still nice to have something before landing in SF.

Aft galley facing aft:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7073/7193862886_afe401cd0a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193862886/)
IMG_1102 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193862886/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/7193863944_5f214dbab3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193863944/)
IMG_1101 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193863944/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

Aft galley facing forward:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/7193865570_6294c48178.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193865570/)
IMG_1099 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193865570/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5120/7193866178_9ede60229a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193866178/)
IMG_1098 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193866178/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

Galley behind first class (sorry for the quality)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7193869336_0ec7639b60.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193869336/)
IMG_1111 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgscl/7193869336/) by zgscl (http://www.flickr.com/people/zgscl/), on Flickr

Overall this was a good flight. Our Seattle based flight crew was pleasant (except for one of the FAs who was in coach and was quite surly and rude, although after working for United for more than 30 years I might be too).
I also noticed that the service was not as polished as some flight crews (Do ya want a sundae, for example). On the other hand, they were not in a rush to get through the service and were available through the entire flight which meant there was no searching the entire plane for a beverage. While I prefer AA, I would not turn down a flight on United.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for the report.

Sadly, looks like AA really has UA beat when it comes to in-flight meals, though your meal doesn't look too bad.

The food looks awful though from what I've been reading it seems that UA food quality has really gone downhill. The entree itself doesn't look bad but the appetizers looked tiny, the salad was small and uninspiring, while the sundae looks like it could be eaten in one bite. Believe me, I think there are opportunities for AA to improve its food offerings as well but this stuff is truly atrocious. Plus, I've been hearing that they're essentially serving hot pockets for dinner on the shorter flights.

The food looks awful though from what I've been reading it seems that UA food quality has really gone downhill. The entree itself doesn't look bad but the appetizers looked tiny, the salad was small and uninspiring, while the sundae looks like it could be eaten in one bite. Believe me, I think there are opportunities for AA to improve its food offerings as well but this stuff is truly atrocious. Plus, I've been hearing that they're essentially serving hot pockets for dinner on the shorter flights.

Unfortunately, I can confirm the gross hot pocket "dinner".
DEN-SFO (967 miles) UA "Dinner" (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18547153-post129.html)

Plus, I've been hearing that they're essentially serving hot pockets for dinner on the shorter flights.

That's not UA. Frozen burrito/hot pocket had always been one of the choices for dinner on Continental short haul/midcon flight.

Unfortunately, I can confirm the gross hot pocket "dinner".
DEN-SFO (967 miles) UA "Dinner" (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18547153-post129.html)

Oh my lord I could get a better dinner at the 7-eleven

Oh my lord I could get a better dinner at the 7-eleven

Well, this is a marked improvement over the BOS/SFO dinner I had just about a year ago on PMUA, both in quantity and quality. No kidding.

Well, this is a marked improvement over the BOS/SFO dinner I had just about a year ago on PMUA, both in quantity and quality. No kidding.
Indeed, remember the chicken kabobs?

That's not UA. Frozen burrito/hot pocket had always been one of the choices for dinner on Continental short haul/midcon flight.

Really ? Last year before the "change", on CO operated SFO-ORD "dinner" flight, once I had a tasty Jambalaya, and another time I had veggie Lasagna (still excellent), both meals served with cheesecake for dessert.

Both times I didn't hear the second choice was burrito/hot pocket. The two choices was always a meat dish or pasta dish. CO do bad for flights that are not fall in the meal hours window however, all you will get is the cheese and deli plate.

On UA operated SFO-ORD "dinner" flight before the change, I had chicken teriyaki once and stuffed chicken the other time.

Really ? Last year before the "change", on CO operated SFO-ORD "dinner" flight, once I had a tasty Jambalaya, and another time I had veggie Lasagna (still excellent), both meals served with cheesecake for dessert.

Both times I didn't hear the second choice was burrito/hot pocket. The two choices was always a meat dish or pasta dish. CO do bad for flights that are not fall in the meal hours window however, all you will get is the cheese and deli plate.

On UA operated SFO-ORD "dinner" flight before the change, I had chicken teriyaki once and stuffed chicken the other time.
I had the burrito on a 3.5hr CO flight last year.

Thanks for the report.

Sadly, looks like AA really has UA beat when it comes to in-flight meals, though your meal doesn't look too bad.

I couldn't agree with you more. After the horror stories of UA that I read my expectations were exceded, although I think I would have prefered an AA midcon lunch to the UA transcon dinner...

The entree looks ok, but the shrimp look tiny and terrible. AA's shrimp cocktail on mid-cons is definitely a whole lot better.

Thanks for sharing.

AA's shrimp cocktail on mid-cons is definitely a whole lot better.

+1

http://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/AA-SFO-HNL/i-DxpBGD2/0/M/IMG5454-M.jpg

+1

http://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/AA-SFO-HNL/i-DxpBGD2/0/M/IMG5454-M.jpg

Is that shrimp? Not a lobster, am I correct?

Is that shrimp? Not a lobster, am I correct?
Indeed, that is shrimp. And it looks good!

Is that shrimp? Not a lobster, am I correct?

Indeed, that is shrimp. And it looks good!

Shrimp indeed. But that's AA for you, way ahead of the domestic competition. Then again, when you don't give it away, you can spend more on catering. And pax actually buy F tickets. @:-)

The more I see of AA's domestic meal service, the more i'm tempted to make the jump...

Shrimp indeed. But that's AA for you, way ahead of the domestic competition. Then again, when you don't give it away, you can spend more on catering. And pax actually buy F tickets. @:-)

AA actually makes it worth the cash rather than a complimentary upgrade or miles.

The more I see of AA's domestic meal service, the more i'm tempted to make the jump...

I made the jump several years ago and have been very happy. I will continue on UA only until my ff miles run out...

Apart from the meal service, seats, prices and flight crews UA is a much better choice.

The more I see of AA's domestic meal service, the more i'm tempted to make the jump...

Although you may want to consider waiting until the end of their restructuring, one never knows what changes may happen. That is, however, a different conversation for a different thread.

UA improved non-PS transcons a great deal. Unfortunately, midcons went way down hill

The more I see of AA's domestic meal service, the more i'm tempted to make the jump...

AA's JFK-SFO/LAX transcon F service is also way better than UA, from FC lounge to in flight.
From this past Monday... AA JFK-SFO First Class Dinner (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18623114-post437.html)
Easy connection to/from YUL.