Feedback on Current UA Menus (2014)
Apr 16, 2014, 8:37 am
#241
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
international meals
Just another viewpoint, and I guess from reading here that UA's domestic meals are not great, but at least TATL, UA's meals in Business continue to be very good.
For example, last week, ORD->AMS I had the Fillet of Salmon with Lump Crabmeat - excellent, really!
There were four choices of main course:
Short Rib of Beef
Tamale-filled Breast of Chicken (which looked good - my seatmate had it)
Tri-color Ravioli
and the Salmon mentioned above.
For example, last week, ORD->AMS I had the Fillet of Salmon with Lump Crabmeat - excellent, really!
There were four choices of main course:
Short Rib of Beef
Tamale-filled Breast of Chicken (which looked good - my seatmate had it)
Tri-color Ravioli
and the Salmon mentioned above.
Apr 16, 2014, 9:13 am
#242
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
I've had some decent filets in AF J a well.
Even had a steak in KE J that was decent. FA asked how I'd like it done.
It can be prepared properly if they try.
Is this still the case? At least domestically, CO/UA are flying at FAA minimums, IIRC.
Apr 16, 2014, 9:16 am
#243
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,309
Apr 16, 2014, 9:28 am
#244
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Agree. Haven't seen a steak in 50 years of flying (counting when I was a kid) worth eating. Steaks just aren't meant to fly. The short rib currently served is a perfect choice for the galleys - just need to come up with variations of sauce.
An aside - had both the ANA and UA chicken nuggets at Narita Sunday. UA's were formed ground chicken whereas ANA's were breast chunks with a much tastier coating.
An aside - had both the ANA and UA chicken nuggets at Narita Sunday. UA's were formed ground chicken whereas ANA's were breast chunks with a much tastier coating.
Apr 16, 2014, 10:12 am
#245
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
Another way of looking at it, the allocated share of UA's "operating expense" for a 757 with 200 passengers flying across the country is something like $40,000? So 2.0% of that would be $800, divided by 24 passengers in F comes to $33 each.
Apr 16, 2014, 10:18 am
#246
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,309
This is hard to interpret, but it seems pretty supportive of a figure around $20 for food cost in domestic F. Because most of these passengers are domestic Y and their food cost is zero. So if UA is spending $5.83 per passenger, but 80% of the people on the plane are getting $0, then the other 20% are costing over $20 each. Of course, it's more complicated than that, because there are international flights in here, too, and different trip lengths, etc.
Another way of looking at it, the allocated share of UA's "operating expense" for a 757 with 200 passengers flying across the country is something like $40,000? So 2.0% of that would be $800, divided by 24 passengers in F comes to $33 each.
Another way of looking at it, the allocated share of UA's "operating expense" for a 757 with 200 passengers flying across the country is something like $40,000? So 2.0% of that would be $800, divided by 24 passengers in F comes to $33 each.
Apr 16, 2014, 10:22 am
#247
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Location: SFO
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http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...f-airline-food
Pretzels and drinks for Y passengers can't be more than $1-2 each (there's not much markup required on a can of Coke), so that wouldn't make a huge difference, although it would certainly be something.
Apr 16, 2014, 10:31 am
#248
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Apr 16, 2014, 10:42 am
#249
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
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Posts: 6,309
I thought the $5.89 is for food only, not drinks. Can't tell for sure from the reference.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...f-airline-food
Pretzels and drinks for Y passengers can't be more than $1-2 each (there's not much markup required on a can of Coke), so that wouldn't make a huge difference, although it would certainly be something.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...f-airline-food
Pretzels and drinks for Y passengers can't be more than $1-2 each (there's not much markup required on a can of Coke), so that wouldn't make a huge difference, although it would certainly be something.
My clients are the catering and inflight departments of every major airline in the world. The best in the world (IMO) is EK - their facility in Dubai is the most amazing I've ever seen. I just came back from JAL's. I know what it costs to cater a meal onboard for every airline - it's not $20. That's all I will say - I've provided links, data points, and everything possible without divulging what is truly proprietary information.
All I will say is that $5 is about right - for most airlines - in a domestic F application. FWIW a bag of peanuts (yes some airlines still hand them out) cost less $0.07 per bag for a major airline - and can be sourced from multiple suppliers at any point in time. And for food items for sale on board - airlines in general mark it up at least 100%.
This is a competitive business - more competitive thatn you assume.
Apr 16, 2014, 2:44 pm
#250
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SFO/JFK/MGA
Programs: UA 1P MM, AA-PP, AS, DL, HH G, SPG Gold, TA nada
Posts: 2,043
Just another viewpoint, and I guess from reading here that UA's domestic meals are not great, but at least TATL, UA's meals in Business continue to be very good.
For example, last week, ORD->AMS I had the Fillet of Salmon with Lump Crabmeat - excellent, really!
There were four choices of main course:
Short Rib of Beef
Tamale-filled Breast of Chicken (which looked good - my seatmate had it)
Tri-color Ravioli
and the Salmon mentioned above.
For example, last week, ORD->AMS I had the Fillet of Salmon with Lump Crabmeat - excellent, really!
There were four choices of main course:
Short Rib of Beef
Tamale-filled Breast of Chicken (which looked good - my seatmate had it)
Tri-color Ravioli
and the Salmon mentioned above.
Aug 13, 2014, 9:45 am
#251
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 70
Just heard from the Managing Director of Global Catering that UA is redesigning the menus, and that now is the time to provide feedback on the current menus.
In that vein, please post your feedback on the menus. But please be pragmatic; recognize that there are significant costs at play here, so lobster is never going to be a realistic option. But, for example, one piece of feedback that was received and is being implemented, is the removal of the turkey "hockey puck" sausage on breakfast meals. Also recently implemented is the catering of greek-style yogurt, which has less sugar and more protein than traditional american-style yogurt.
In that vein, please post your feedback on the menus. But please be pragmatic; recognize that there are significant costs at play here, so lobster is never going to be a realistic option. But, for example, one piece of feedback that was received and is being implemented, is the removal of the turkey "hockey puck" sausage on breakfast meals. Also recently implemented is the catering of greek-style yogurt, which has less sugar and more protein than traditional american-style yogurt.