Low altitude flights IAH-AUS
I've been flying this route for more years than I'd like to remember, so I'm pretty familiar with with flight profile. Used to be, the flight rapidly went to ~21K, leveled off for a few minutes, then started a gradual descent/glide into AUS. Since February, it seems like most flights (not all) are only going to between 12K and 14K. Flights from AUS-IAH seem to be rise to ~20K. Other than giving a legitimate reason for not serving drinks in FC, why would UA do this? Not rising above the weather is uncomfortable, and spending 30m in a paint shaker isn't desirable.