Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Official UNITED policy for meal preferences is to prioritize in the following order: (as of late 2023)
The proper way is to take orders front-to-back, and apply priority in the galley afterwards. Some FAs may still hop around the cabin seeking GS and 1Ks and take their orders first.
With the sharp increase in passengers pre-ordering meals, front-to-back ordering is now predominant.
Previous thread: Current UA Process for Prioritizing Meal Orders in Premium Cabins [ARCHIVE]
- Pre-orders
- Global Services members
- 1K members
- All other revenue passengers from front to back (no difference between $$$ or mileage or upgraders)
- Non-Revs
The proper way is to take orders front-to-back, and apply priority in the galley afterwards. Some FAs may still hop around the cabin seeking GS and 1Ks and take their orders first.
With the sharp increase in passengers pre-ordering meals, front-to-back ordering is now predominant.
Previous thread: Current UA Process for Prioritizing Meal Orders in Premium Cabins [ARCHIVE]
Current UA Process for Prioritizing Meal Orders in Premium Cabins
#16
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K, Alaska 75K Gold, AVIS Presidents Club
Posts: 52
Flt 6202 YYC-DEN, on a RJ700. I was the only 1K in First and got the last meal on the plane. The FA was about 65 and could care less about anything. I asked about what were the options for meals and she said only a sandwich. I said thanks for the help with the non rev passengers sitting behind me and was told to be flexible.
#17
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,989
Anyway, seems like they would have had more than 5 salads unless that flight had only 12 F seats.
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,291
#19
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
The last 3 flights i've taken in domestic mainline first, they have been going front to back without any regard for anyones' status which is a little disappointing as a 1K who paid for first vs a nonrev or silver on a cpu. Either go by status or front to back, just be consistent about it, its frustrating.
#20
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,989
First of all, I've never seen them fail to prioritize the first meal, but it seems like they do not prioritize anything after that. I don't know what the guidelines on this are, or even if there are any.
Second it seems like they load 2-3 Asian second meals on any given flight (for what? 50 seats?). The only--and I do mean only--time I ever get one is when I remember to ask the FA during the first meal orders if they will hold one for me (and so far, I've been successful with that).
#21
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,355
See how that works?
The FA was not following the wiki. No way, no how. Everyone after row 3 got a sandwich or nothing. Unless everyone in front of me was GS- and frankly, like I said, I don't care about a GS on an upgrade over an F fare.
It's not like they couldn't collect the data and load based meals based on historical data. Or like someone said, pre-order the meal. It's like we are back in the 1950s and their are propellers on the engines.
#23
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,201
Uhm, yes.
I don't care? I bought an F seat, I should get my choice of F'ing meal. I'm totally comfortable with that in the reverse situation.
See how that works?
The FA was not following the wiki. No way, no how. Everyone after row 3 got a sandwich or nothing. Unless everyone in front of me was GS- and frankly, like I said, I don't care about a GS on an upgrade over an F fare.
It's not like they couldn't collect the data and load based meals based on historical data. Or like someone said, pre-order the meal. It's like we are back in the 1950s and their are propellers on the engines.
I don't care? I bought an F seat, I should get my choice of F'ing meal. I'm totally comfortable with that in the reverse situation.
See how that works?
The FA was not following the wiki. No way, no how. Everyone after row 3 got a sandwich or nothing. Unless everyone in front of me was GS- and frankly, like I said, I don't care about a GS on an upgrade over an F fare.
It's not like they couldn't collect the data and load based meals based on historical data. Or like someone said, pre-order the meal. It's like we are back in the 1950s and their are propellers on the engines.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SFO/CDG
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 211
Uhm, yes.
I don't care? I bought an F seat, I should get my choice of F'ing meal. I'm totally comfortable with that in the reverse situation.
See how that works?
The FA was not following the wiki. No way, no how. Everyone after row 3 got a sandwich or nothing. Unless everyone in front of me was GS- and frankly, like I said, I don't care about a GS on an upgrade over an F fare.
It's not like they couldn't collect the data and load based meals based on historical data. Or like someone said, pre-order the meal. It's like we are back in the 1950s and their are propellers on the engines.
I don't care? I bought an F seat, I should get my choice of F'ing meal. I'm totally comfortable with that in the reverse situation.
See how that works?
The FA was not following the wiki. No way, no how. Everyone after row 3 got a sandwich or nothing. Unless everyone in front of me was GS- and frankly, like I said, I don't care about a GS on an upgrade over an F fare.
It's not like they couldn't collect the data and load based meals based on historical data. Or like someone said, pre-order the meal. It's like we are back in the 1950s and their are propellers on the engines.
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,007
Flt 6202 YYC-DEN, on a RJ700. I was the only 1K in First and got the last meal on the plane. The FA was about 65 and could care less about anything. I asked about what were the options for meals and she said only a sandwich. I said thanks for the help with the non rev passengers sitting behind me and was told to be flexible.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K, Alaska 75K Gold, AVIS Presidents Club
Posts: 52
Unacceptable! Did you write her up with 1K Voice? I would have made a bigger stink on board if the other passengers were non-revs and asked them directly to give up their meal choice, but this FA needs some policy re-training and it won't happen unless you bring it to UA's attention.
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,007
I wrote a long letter to the 1K Voice and they said they were sorry to hear that this happened. They were so sorry they gave me 5K of points as compensation. It's a joke really to United as it seems they could care less. And I know that the Skywest FA hate the idea of serving a meal vs a 6 month old snack box.
#28
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,632
YVR-IAH morning flight couple weeks ago, I was in 3rd or 4th row. I paid attention as FA announced 3 choices ahead of me, but was down to only 2 by the time she got to me. I enquired as to being asked first since on GS on flight. She said they go front to back, "I can show you the operations manual if you want". Wow. Apparently the printer at YVR cuts off a character for the manifest, so they couldn't tell I was GS. Nice words? No. Snark--> after exiting the lav the FA shoved the ops manual in my face with the pertinent line highlighted. I was pleased to fill out my survey after that flight, but of course got no feedback. Inconsistent behaviour across the system, plus doesn't help if FA gives a bunch of attitude.
#29
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AA DULtArer
Posts: 5,547
5k points is not bad for a meal mishap like this - and being Express, the FA will probably never hear anything about it. It's always best to deal with these issues onboard unless you're the non-confrontational type - the non-revs should never have accepted a meal preference while you were inconvenienced, it's clearly spelled out in their non-rev instructions and you shouldn't feel ashamed speaking up about it onboard.
#30
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,965
YVR-IAH morning flight couple weeks ago, I was in 3rd or 4th row. I paid attention as FA announced 3 choices ahead of me, but was down to only 2 by the time she got to me. I enquired as to being asked first since on GS on flight. She said they go front to back, "I can show you the operations manual if you want". Wow. Apparently the printer at YVR cuts off a character for the manifest, so they couldn't tell I was GS. Nice words? No. Snark--> after exiting the lav the FA shoved the ops manual in my face with the pertinent line highlighted. I was pleased to fill out my survey after that flight, but of course got no feedback. Inconsistent behaviour across the system, plus doesn't help if FA gives a bunch of attitude.