Originally Posted by
Unitedloyalflyer
The Polaris meal that you said is fine is fine... if it were served in PP or domestic F
That seems to be the big issue with the Polaris meals. Not that they are bad per say, but that they are more appropriate for domestic F or PP, not for a hybrid J/F cabin (which is what Polaris was designed to be, it's the evolution of the CO BusinessFirst cabin)
Business class is not First. I don't really think there's a definition of "what an airline meal should be" other than "whatever the market will bear", but to the extent there is one, Polaris meals qualify. They are better than what I had in Connoisseur class in the '90's.
I think part of the problem here may just be that UA eliminated Long Haul First. There apparently isn't a big market for true luxury (there's a small market for it, which is why you see it on a few other airlines). United Polaris is an excellent product- but it is aimed at business travelers getting sleep (hence the star logo and name!), not luxury seekers. Other Star Alliance carriers sell true First at appropriate fares; those dissatisfied with Polaris meals might find the experience in those cabins more to their liking.
Originally Posted by
bocastephen
You would be surprised how many people buy F without knowing what they will be getting (or expecting something different), or they just prioritize different aspects of the product. It doesn't let United off the hook for offering substandard inflight catering, however.
I love stick shift cars. I can still buy them, but I don't have the selection I once did because the market outvoted me. That doesn't make automakers evil for making fewer cars the way I want them.
Other customers not prioritizing this MEANS the catering doesn't violate their standards. In a mass market, idiosyncratic consumer preferences often don't get served.