I had the same problem. I was in 15B of a 777 C, and my seatmate was in 15A from HNL-KIX. The FA used the First and Second Choice way to take meal orders. I was a 1P and 15A was mileage plus, no ideas if he was an upgrade, paid business or operational upgrade. Does the FA have an separate list that shows upgrade, op upgrade, award or full fare? I don't remember who was asked first for meal choice but the FA came back to say there is only one bento for your row. One of you needs to take the other choices. My seatmate who spilled champaign in my shoe during pre departure took the other choice because he knew I was unhappy of what has happened. So he took a different meal. The best way to take orders again was by status by walking around. I bet the man next to me too has no ideas of the UA elite unpublished benifits of priority in meal choices. At that time I was telling myself I should get the Bento because I am a Premier Executive and the man next to me was a Mileage Plus. It made me wonder if they stopped taking priority with meal choices or if the FA did not know what to tell my seatmate.