Originally Posted by
GotCalcio4
As a datapoint, when HP used to serve F meals with linens, the linen was placed directly on the table with the tray then placed on top (this is circa 2002). That's probably why this has become the new procedure. It's what the HP guys are used to do.
Pre-HP US used to have linens cover the tray table as well.
Over at United, PMUA used to use cloth linens to cover the table, and paper tray liners. Most of legacy UA's old guard were outraged when they switched to covering the tray and leaving the disgusting table exposed.
To each his own... I'd personally rather have all surfaces covered as they're doing now, and especially cover the gross tray table with linen, but I definitely admit the paper tray liner is tacky. Ideally they'd cover the table and the tray as most airlines did through the 90's, but that's just overkill these days.