I think you missed their point. Their point is that they were flying UA from ORD-DFW because of the meal service. Now that the meal is going away (ie, UA is following AA’s race to the bottom for what routes come with meal service), they don’t have any incentive to stay with UA on the route. Hence will pick the most convenient option, which in this case is AA, and which will cost UA $40,000 a year in business.

UA had a competitive advantage on several routes and with many miscon transfer situations based on meal service, which they are now giving up. And which is likely going to cost them as there is now no incentive to pick UA specifically, but rather just who offers the best price and/or schedule. Which sometimes will be UA, and sometimes will not. So the post was quite on point.