For some reason I had thought they ended that flight when they started the IAD route.
Color me incorrect, yeah you're right. So even worse...UAL holds the top 2 longest flights without a meal in Y. I flew on a flight on TK that was only ~250miles longer and we got 2 full (good) meals, and a snack. Sad UAL.
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Is the IAD-HNL flight the longest flight in the world without a meal in Y?
We just got off a 2 hour flight on sq (sin-rgn) where we had a filling hot meal and about 10 special meal options. Ua is sad indeed. I am already dreading my sat-iah-hnl-gum flight.
It really is sad you have to BOB or bring your own. You can fly the 11hours to HNL from IAD/EWR or, 6hours or so for ewr-lhr and get 2 meals.. amazing... simply amazing..
What does AA do on their DFW-HNL. And DL on their MSP-HNL?
What does AA do on their DFW-HNL. And DL on their MSP-HNL?
No free meals in Y. (I don't think DL flies to MSP, but they do from ATL)
Personally, I think the policy is fine IF there are reasonable and sufficient BOB options. I get it seems strange for TATL flights that are about half the length to have two meals, but it is much simpler to keep all domestic flights 'unbundled' when it comes to snacks/meals.
However, it seems that not all of these long HI flights have decent size/supply of BOB options and that should be improved.
I would be curious to know what percentage of 'average flyers' expect the flight will have a free meal.
I've gotten so used to almost no food on flights that I was stunned last month when flying BA from LHR to DUB that breakfast was served. There's definitely a difference between our domestic airlines and non-LCC airlines around the world on this issue.
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part of the problem is the leisure markets are so price sensitive. UA could probably add a meal for a reasonable amount and few would notice, but some might see that extra $10 for the meals as being a "no way".
I know that the distance and time for a NYC-LON flight is a lot shorter than NYC-HNL but the markets and demographics are completely different.
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I don't know what it is about Hawaii that brings out the worst in our carriers. I recall years and years ago after flying on Continental's DC-10 how excited I was at the prospect of an upcoming trip to Hawaii. Was I ever stunned.
The DC-10 they flew to Hawaii had no stand up pub that I really enjoyed the month before on a much shorter flight. We were packed in like sardines. I foolishly expected something more "international" on a flight over water lol.
I don't know what it is about Hawaii that brings out the worst in our carriers. I recall years and years ago after flying on Continental's DC-10 how excited I was at the prospect of an upcoming trip to Hawaii. Was I ever stunned.
The DC-10 they flew to Hawaii had no stand up pub that I really enjoyed the month before on a much shorter flight. We were packed in like sardines. I foolishly expected something more "international" on a flight over water lol.
Back in the day, most airlines had a dedicated subfleet of wide bodies serving Hawaii with high density seating. UA still has it but AA and DL have gone to having one fleet of widebodies and simply rotating them through HNL so at least you may get better seats. Service is still basic, what can you say? People won't pay for their lunch and then complain when they aren't served their lunch! Airlines even offered them a chance to pay for lunch and people just flat out refused to pay for it!
If it was all about pricing, why would pretty much all international airlines (non-lcc) offer free meals in economy on domestic flights? Domestic flights in the US are not cheaper than domestic flights in other countries...
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To make it worst - the HNL-IAD flight only servers a snack in F. Flew this is Nov and by far this was the worst food service I have every had in the premium cabin on a 10 hour flight. UA should be ashamed for what they serve (which shows as Dinner on the website) but is in fact the UA domestic (midcon) snack plate - called the Mediterranean cold plate - pretty much a scoop of dog food with some feta cheese.
It really is atrocious that the airlines don't have Y meals on flights from the midwest and east coast to Hawaii, from the West Coast I can see a case being made but from ATL/DFW/EWR/IAD/ORD normal people expect this. I understand the Hawaii flights aren't generally money makers for the airlines since they are long expensive routes to operate but people shouldn't have to rely on BOB options and carrying on fast food from the airport.
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I like the concept I've seen recently, where you can pre-order restaurant-quality meals ahead of time. That way, if you want to eat a decent meal, you have the option to pay for it. If you're price-sensitive, you can bring what you like. Having the airline serve free but low-quality meals satisfies neither party.
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Thread title is a bit misleading. United does in fact offer meals on IAD-HNL - they just aren't "free" (e.g. included in the base fare) or as good as some other carriers.
Hardly news. Airfood on U.S. carriers has sucked forever, whether included in the base fare or not.
There's one of the United boxes that I actually have grown to accept as good enough. I forget what it's called...I just know it when I see it. On something like IAD-HNL, I'd probably eat well at IAD and then hit the box midway through the flight.
