Just finished this r/t in C on what was once my favorite a/c of the UA fleet...a 777. Seats were old C seats and generally fine though one thing or another was broken each way (footrest one way, reading light the other). I do this r/t 4 or 5 times a year and always try to get the Flight 946/947 combination so I have a 777 each way. They always seem to have good crews (including this time, btw), better C/F than the 757 alternative, and the meals have been fine.

UA 946 is an 8 am departure to IAD. When FA came around for orders she offered: deli plate or fruit plate? I asked why the lunch entrees (if you could call them that) since this was breakfast time. She just said, "I know, I know..but they have cut down our crew staffing to only 2 FAs in the back C section and they want to serve only cold choices (rather than the nice omelette I'm used to ordering)". I chose the deli plate. What arrived was a sorry piece of rare roast beef along with equally sad grapes and cheese triangles. Frankly...pathetic.

UA 947 is a 5:50 pm departure from IAD to LAX. A dinner flight you say? Me too. Choices for today- turkey sandwich or shrimp salad. Different FA but same wry smile and "I know, I know". Coincidentally, I was reading a WSJ article reviewing a coffee table book about the Golden Age of Flying (or something similar) and was reading about "carving roast beef" at each seat...you know the rest. I showed her the article and she laughed. I ordered the shrimp salad and asked if she could grab me a BOB turkey wrap from the back. Actually...that wasn't bad!

Just sad to see how corners are being cut sharper and sharper. Next time I'm bringing my own food I guess or ordering a special meal. I'm on PS in a week...wonder what has happened on that service. I haven't been on one in several months.