The end of first class meals from DEN <-> LAX and DEN <-> SNA is also the end of me paying for first class on these two routes. At around 2.5 hours, the meal service was the only thing that tipped the scale between booking coach and first class. 2 - 2.5 hour flights, I will book coach and use my free economy plus benefits. I guess I will be saving about $400 - $600 dollars each flight with United's new cut back.

When United had the Covid service in FC, I stopped paying for it and only started buying FC again when service returned to normal. I may drive more than fly going forward. The choice for me has been renting a car for 1 month in Denver(Cost less than renting for 2 weeks at LAX) and driving out west vs flying United. The more and more the experience of getting to and going through DIA gets worse, the scales are tilting towards driving more and more for me.