US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Improved Envoy Meal Service?

I saw some meal photos on another site

http://www.airlinemeals.net/meals/USAir041060.html

and it looks like there have been some improvements to Envoy meal service. Taitinger NV also is offered (I don’t recall that before). Although the absence of linens on the tray and the mixed plastic flatware still looks incredibly cheap.

Has anyone else noticed these improvements?

I saw some meal photos on another site

http://www.airlinemeals.net/meals/USAir041060.html

and it looks like there have been some improvements to Envoy meal service. Taitinger NV also is offered (I don’t recall that before). Although the absence of linens on the tray and the mixed plastic flatware still looks incredibly cheap.

Has anyone else noticed these improvements?

We had linens PHL-LGW and LGW-CLT two weeks ago. Also, the heavier plastic flatware is an order of magnitude better than the old silverware. What's funny is the knives now are actually sharper than the old dull silverware knives they used to have, and I never found the silverware to be all that clean anyway.

At any rate, my two Envoy trips in March were both fantastic ... definitely on par with UA's service, from my experiences with both carriers. You wouldn't even know you were on US if it weren't for the outdated F/A uniforms that really need updating.

To any UK destinations, US is legally prohibited from using any metal silverware(LGW,MAN,SNN,DUB,GLA)

Those pictures mirror my Envoy experience between Philadelphia and London-Gatwick last July. The food then was disappointing, and it doesn't look any better in those pictures.

1. No salad. There are just a few greens with the appetizer (smoked salmon in the picture). Back when Envoy was launched, the salad was the best part, with a big bowl of fresh greens, and lots of toppings available on the trolley the FA wheeled around. They took away the cart service at some point but still had a great salad. Now, none. Even United Business serves salad and appetizer at the same time, but they are two completely different courses on different plates (just presented together), compared to Envoy's minimal greens on the appetizer plate. Moreover, the appetizer on BOTH of my flights over the summer was frozen.

2. Dessert is still disappointing. Pieces of cheese and a little pastry. Most airlines have some sort of cheesecake, cake, pie, or sundae.

My last Envoy trip was really enjoyable, especially if you can do the Envoy lounge in PHL is nice, - expansive view of most international gates, open bar, snacks. US Envoy is at par with most domestics to western Europe IMHO.

Don't worry, you'll enjoy yourself

I had a MR last weekend from CLT->LGW->CLT (will post a full trip report soon), flew Envoy over and Coach back. Didn't notices that much of a change in Envoy over what I had on previous trips last year, except before landing they gave everyone chocolate, and WE HAD REAL METAL FORKS!!! Plastic knifes, but its a start :)

From what I could see into the Envoy cabin from Coach on the return, it looked like they brought back the mid flight ice cream service.

We're in AMS now, and the Envoy service on the way over seems to have improved over a few months ago. The food was superb (by airline standards), all metal utensils--including knives--have returned, and the service was outstanding. I'll check out the return to see if happy days are here again, or this was just a fluke.

In this month's Attache, there is a response to a letter saying that the ice cream cart will be making a return and that they will be tweaking some of their Envoy services. I, for one, am glad that they are at least being somewhat responsive in a tough financial situation.

Those pictures mirror my Envoy experience between Philadelphia and London-Gatwick last July. The food then was disappointing, and it doesn't look any better in those pictures.

1. No salad. There are just a few greens with the appetizer (smoked salmon in the picture). Back when Envoy was launched, the salad was the best part, with a big bowl of fresh greens, and lots of toppings available on the trolley the FA wheeled around. They took away the cart service at some point but still had a great salad. Now, none. Even United Business serves salad and appetizer at the same time, but they are two completely different courses on different plates (just presented together), compared to Envoy's minimal greens on the appetizer plate. Moreover, the appetizer on BOTH of my flights over the summer was frozen.

2. Dessert is still disappointing. Pieces of cheese and a little pastry. Most airlines have some sort of cheesecake, cake, pie, or sundae.


:rolleyes: Until the infamous Salad Cart returns I can't agree that Envoy has returned to what it use to be. I have to say that was the best part of the evening meal service departing the US. I've flown Envoy a number of times as well as Int First on other airlines and I must admit that it ranks very high on the list.

Now don't get me wrong, I certainly applaud US for improving the Envoy experience. But for the price of the tickets in that cabin I just cannot fathom how elminating the salad cart would save enough money to justify the reduction in service. Yes, I know the Envoy fares subsidize the heavily discounted coach pax fares and yes I admit a good portion of Envoy are coach fares upgraded but nonetheless I seriously doubt I'd choose US as a full fare J pax if there were other options.

Next on my list would be the dessert course. How can a nice slice of cake or pie be cost prohibitive to provide and replaced by few slices of cheese and perhaps a small pastry. Both should be offered as pax have differnt desires for the final course, some want sweets others do not. The discriminating pax will always want a choice.

I've avoided flying US in Envoy for the past two years for the above listed reasons. I would find it hard to believe I'm the only one with this point of view.

There are many great things about US's Envoy Class that make it a true leader and desirable choice over other airlines but these are some of distractors. I hope US wises up and restores the service to what is was two or three years ago. That's how you command more J fare pax than more seats left for upgrades at the gate. Makes sense to me.

Here's what Deborah Thompson had to say about this in Attache's "Your Fault", I mean "Your Turn" column this month:

"A customer from State College, Pennsylvania, writes about a disappointing international travel experience:
I used my frequent flier miles to purchase an Envoy Class ticket to Europe and was looking forward to that experience. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. I understand your need to cut costs, but the quality food service and little “extras” were missed. I have been a loyal customer for years, and understand you are under considerable pressure. At some point, however, you may need to recalibrate the tensions between cost-cutting and winning back or holding onto customers.

Most of our cost-cutting measures have been transparent to our travelers, and in some cases, we have scaled back services that customers have said were unimportant. In other cases, we have restored service at the request of our customers. We are in the process of reintroducing some of the onboard service items that were eliminated in recent years. For example, in our Envoy Class, we have brought back mixed nuts in ramekins and mid-flight ice-cream service. We also are redesigning our inflight menus and reevaluating our amenities to include items that should make you more comfortable on a long transatlantic flight."

Well, on my flight PHL-FRA two weeks ago I was glad to note they had brought back the noise cancelling headphones. I had brought my own Sennheisers, so I was set for the return FRA-PHL three days later, where they had the cheapo plastic ones again. I will never travel without my own.