Mar 26, 2020, 9:45 pm
Last edit by: UAPremierGuy
As of 9/21:
Flights under 900 miles
Flights over 2,200 miles* / over 4.5 hours
**Some domestic and short-haul international flights will include a fruit and cheese plate instead of tray meal service and will also have snack basket service before landing.
cmd320 notation (unofficial): the 2,200mi + section for F and J is a bit misleading. Domestic flights within the continental US other than premium transcons (JFK-LAX/SFO, MIA-LAX on 77W) do not receive a full meal and instead only see a sandwich/fruit and cheese plate.
fly747first notation (official) MIA LAX on 772 receives full meal and amenities as Flagship Business except for lounge access
Flights under 900 miles
- Water, canned drinks and juice by request only
- No snacks, alcohol or food available in the Main Cabin
- Alcohol available in First by request only
In the Main Cabin – includes Premium Economy and Main Cabin Extra
- Complimentary pretzels or Biscoff cookies and bottled water during boarding*
- No snacks, alcohol or food for purchase
- Water, canned drinks and juice by request only
In First:
- Complimentary fresh snacks on flights departing between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.*
- Complimentary pretzels or Biscoff cookies and bottled water during boarding*
- Drinks, including alcohol, by request only
- No drinks served before departure
Flights over 2,200 miles* / over 4.5 hours
In the Main Cabin – includes Premium Economy and Main Cabin Extra
- Complimentary pretzels or Biscoff cookies and water, canned drinks or juice during the flight
- No snacks or food for purchase
- No alcohol or meals except on long-haul international flights
In First and Business:
- Complimentary fresh snacks on flights departing between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Complimentary pretzels or Biscoff cookies and water, canned drinks or juice during the flight
- Meals served on one tray, not in courses**
- No drinks served before departure
- Alcohol will be available
**Some domestic and short-haul international flights will include a fruit and cheese plate instead of tray meal service and will also have snack basket service before landing.
cmd320 notation (unofficial): the 2,200mi + section for F and J is a bit misleading. Domestic flights within the continental US other than premium transcons (JFK-LAX/SFO, MIA-LAX on 77W) do not receive a full meal and instead only see a sandwich/fruit and cheese plate.
fly747first notation (official) MIA LAX on 772 receives full meal and amenities as Flagship Business except for lounge access
Coronavirus Reduced Inflight Food and Beverage Restrictions as of 03/2020 and changes
Feb 6, 2021, 1:29 am
#2026
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,185
all else equal, maybe... (I leave for IAD flights 50 min earlier than I would leave for a DCA flight at the same departure time), but getting F seats last minute to go to LAS for super bowl weekend narrowed the options...
and actually I think the DFW and CLT connections were still 90+ min... I left home at 4:25pm for the 6pm IAD-LAS and walked off the page at 8:10pm Vegas time. Not bad.
End of the day, I wouldn't pay for UA F, but it was 25k LifeMiles + $30 well spent. My alternative was going to be 20k AA (websaver J) for DCA-MIA-LAS but I would have left 2 hours earlier and arrived 2+ hours later.
and actually I think the DFW and CLT connections were still 90+ min... I left home at 4:25pm for the 6pm IAD-LAS and walked off the page at 8:10pm Vegas time. Not bad.
End of the day, I wouldn't pay for UA F, but it was 25k LifeMiles + $30 well spent. My alternative was going to be 20k AA (websaver J) for DCA-MIA-LAS but I would have left 2 hours earlier and arrived 2+ hours later.
By the way, I didn't realize Superball was in LAS with 25k fans on the stands until you mentioned it. With the past year's experiences booking tickets to cities where the Superball is organized, you should be lucky to find a premium cabin award.
Feb 6, 2021, 1:39 am
#2027
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,662
A LifeMiles award makes sense in this case.
By the way, I didn't realize Superball was in LAS with 25k fans on the stands until you mentioned it. With the past year's experiences booking tickets to cities where the Superball is organized, you should be lucky to find a premium cabin award.
By the way, I didn't realize Superball was in LAS with 25k fans on the stands until you mentioned it. With the past year's experiences booking tickets to cities where the Superball is organized, you should be lucky to find a premium cabin award.
Feb 7, 2021, 6:20 am
#2028
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,113
Feb 7, 2021, 6:58 am
#2029
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,185
Feb 7, 2021, 2:32 pm
#2030
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,662
It's happened on every UA mainline flight I've taken in the last year. DCA-DEN a couple times and one other. I don't think I flew UA mainline for several years before that (just express IAD/CVG).
Feb 7, 2021, 11:32 pm
#2031
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,483
UA typically does prioritize meal orders by status (they only load so many of each choice). What I've experienced most of the time is that the FAs go from front to back and ask everyone their 1st & 2nd choice, and then prioritize.
Other times they bounce around the F cabin and take meal (& drink) orders from the status holders (I believe only GS/1K). Perhaps this is what you observed?
or chicken mozzarella sandwich; or tomato mozzarella sandwich. I got the chicken. It's nice that it's warm, theoretically, but it was borderline soggy, and the chicken is just sliced deli meat like the AA turkey. All else equal, I prefer the AA turkey/arugula sandwich despite having eaten 40 or more of them.
Feb 8, 2021, 1:45 am
#2032
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,662
I also prefer AAs sandwich to UAs. Also probably best not to look too closely at the ingredients/nutritional information provided on UAs sandwiches.
Feb 8, 2021, 10:48 am
#2033
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,113
Keeping OT: I do think both UA & AA do a decent job up front with drinks. Though I prefer the UA proactively offering on shorter flights vs AA's "you have to ask".
Feb 10, 2021, 3:05 pm
#2034
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,501
Recent flights up front:
AA 737-800 (Oasis) BDL-MIA: Very early flight, got a bag of pretzels/water and then mid flight proactively offered a snack box and beverages. Was a bit peculiar seeing a snack box on this flight but assuming double catered from MIA.
AA 777-200 (Super Diamond) MIA-ORD: Snack bags of pretzels/water handed out after boarding, after takeoff first cart was drinks and the next cart had the Turkey sandwiches/cheese plates, only cheese plates by the time it got to me. Refills offered throughout.
Envoy E175 ORD-BDL: No snacks, drinks with multiple refills offered proactively, this crew worked their butts off.
All in all very happy, and if you're going to be flying American Eagle right now try to make it a flight operated by Envoy.
AA 737-800 (Oasis) BDL-MIA: Very early flight, got a bag of pretzels/water and then mid flight proactively offered a snack box and beverages. Was a bit peculiar seeing a snack box on this flight but assuming double catered from MIA.
AA 777-200 (Super Diamond) MIA-ORD: Snack bags of pretzels/water handed out after boarding, after takeoff first cart was drinks and the next cart had the Turkey sandwiches/cheese plates, only cheese plates by the time it got to me. Refills offered throughout.
Envoy E175 ORD-BDL: No snacks, drinks with multiple refills offered proactively, this crew worked their butts off.
All in all very happy, and if you're going to be flying American Eagle right now try to make it a flight operated by Envoy.
Feb 10, 2021, 11:04 pm
#2035
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,610
Recent flights up front:
AA 737-800 (Oasis) BDL-MIA: Very early flight, got a bag of pretzels/water and then mid flight proactively offered a snack box and beverages. Was a bit peculiar seeing a snack box on this flight but assuming double catered from MIA.
AA 777-200 (Super Diamond) MIA-ORD: Snack bags of pretzels/water handed out after boarding, after takeoff first cart was drinks and the next cart had the Turkey sandwiches/cheese plates, only cheese plates by the time it got to me. Refills offered throughout.
Envoy E175 ORD-BDL: No snacks, drinks with multiple refills offered proactively, this crew worked their butts off.
All in all very happy, and if you're going to be flying American Eagle right now try to make it a flight operated by Envoy.
AA 737-800 (Oasis) BDL-MIA: Very early flight, got a bag of pretzels/water and then mid flight proactively offered a snack box and beverages. Was a bit peculiar seeing a snack box on this flight but assuming double catered from MIA.
AA 777-200 (Super Diamond) MIA-ORD: Snack bags of pretzels/water handed out after boarding, after takeoff first cart was drinks and the next cart had the Turkey sandwiches/cheese plates, only cheese plates by the time it got to me. Refills offered throughout.
Envoy E175 ORD-BDL: No snacks, drinks with multiple refills offered proactively, this crew worked their butts off.
All in all very happy, and if you're going to be flying American Eagle right now try to make it a flight operated by Envoy.
Feb 11, 2021, 9:30 am
#2037
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,610
Feb 11, 2021, 11:57 am
#2038
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
I just wish AA would make an effort to present these sandwiches better; they look like something that came from a middle school cafeteria in a brown bag though they do taste fine.
Feb 11, 2021, 12:56 pm
#2039
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,548
AS elite who sticks to AS domestically here. Flew LAX-DFW-SEA this past Saturday just to be on a 787-9, for a change.
Both flights offered the turkey sandwich, which tasted very good. I got it on both legs. I feel the AS sandwich offering is a little more filling (thanks to thicker bread and a little more veggies) and tastes a tad better thanks to the side sauce they provide. Cookie was alright. I really enjoyed the booze offerings though. I'd get two mini bottles of Woodford every time I ordered one
My friend got the cheese plate on one of the legs and was not impressed. I guess the AS F&C plate spoiled him.
One thing that struct me was how the FAs, on both legs, did a beverage service once after take-off and then disappeared. Never asked for refills. Basically anything served after initial service was per request. Again, this was very diff for me since AS FAs have been great about refills and passing aroudn cabin with snack basket. Maybe I got unlucky with crew. I have the same run next month. We'll see how it goes.
Both flights offered the turkey sandwich, which tasted very good. I got it on both legs. I feel the AS sandwich offering is a little more filling (thanks to thicker bread and a little more veggies) and tastes a tad better thanks to the side sauce they provide. Cookie was alright. I really enjoyed the booze offerings though. I'd get two mini bottles of Woodford every time I ordered one
My friend got the cheese plate on one of the legs and was not impressed. I guess the AS F&C plate spoiled him.
One thing that struct me was how the FAs, on both legs, did a beverage service once after take-off and then disappeared. Never asked for refills. Basically anything served after initial service was per request. Again, this was very diff for me since AS FAs have been great about refills and passing aroudn cabin with snack basket. Maybe I got unlucky with crew. I have the same run next month. We'll see how it goes.
Feb 11, 2021, 1:57 pm
#2040
Join Date: Apr 2019
Programs: Delta GM, Southwest A-List
Posts: 41
AS elite who sticks to AS domestically here. Flew LAX-DFW-SEA this past Saturday just to be on a 787-9, for a change.
Both flights offered the turkey sandwich, which tasted very good. I got it on both legs. I feel the AS sandwich offering is a little more filling (thanks to thicker bread and a little more veggies) and tastes a tad better thanks to the side sauce they provide. Cookie was alright. I really enjoyed the booze offerings though. I'd get two mini bottles of Woodford every time I ordered one
My friend got the cheese plate on one of the legs and was not impressed. I guess the AS F&C plate spoiled him.
One thing that struct me was how the FAs, on both legs, did a beverage service once after take-off and then disappeared. Never asked for refills. Basically anything served after initial service was per request. Again, this was very diff for me since AS FAs have been great about refills and passing aroudn cabin with snack basket. Maybe I got unlucky with crew. I have the same run next month. We'll see how it goes.
Both flights offered the turkey sandwich, which tasted very good. I got it on both legs. I feel the AS sandwich offering is a little more filling (thanks to thicker bread and a little more veggies) and tastes a tad better thanks to the side sauce they provide. Cookie was alright. I really enjoyed the booze offerings though. I'd get two mini bottles of Woodford every time I ordered one
My friend got the cheese plate on one of the legs and was not impressed. I guess the AS F&C plate spoiled him.
One thing that struct me was how the FAs, on both legs, did a beverage service once after take-off and then disappeared. Never asked for refills. Basically anything served after initial service was per request. Again, this was very diff for me since AS FAs have been great about refills and passing aroudn cabin with snack basket. Maybe I got unlucky with crew. I have the same run next month. We'll see how it goes.
