The Wife flew UNITED from SFO to IAH and she was on the short end of the stick for meal orders and ended up with a pasta dish.

She asked for a snack box from the back and was told that they have to charge her as there are meals in First Class and she is electing not to eat the complimentary meal.

The Flight Attendant was under the impression that she could only provide a snack box on a complimentary basis if there were not enough meals or if my wife had a reason other than she does not like meal choice such as allergy or religious need.

As my wife simply did not like the choice, it is either eat the First Class meal or pay for a snack box.

My wife ended up paying for the snack box as she did want to eat something, but from reading here it appeared one could request a snack box on a complimentary basis without reason in First Class.

Though admittedly the last member to post about a snack box said his daughter requested the box due being a vegetarian, so maybe need is required.

Was my Wife just unlucky or is that UNITED's policy RE: snack boxes?