Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This us an archive thread, the active thread is General discussion of UA's inflight service (Domestic / International, all cabins)
previous thread: COVID Era UA inflight service changes
Thread is for general discussion of the state of UA in-flight service / catering, comparison to other carriers, past UA offerings and concerns with management decisions.
For a specific post about a recent in-flight food, use the appropriate Let's Eat .... thread.
The current Onboard Service descriptions by UA.com
Long-haul international premium cabin dining
North America, Caribbean and Latin America premium cabin dining
United Economy dining
Since the UA website is extremely vague, I'm looking for a few volunteers to submit data, and I will summarize to complete the wiki. kind regards, phkc070408
Domestic Under 300 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Domestic Over 300 Miles Under 800 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Domestic Over 800 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon or Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon or Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening/. or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
P-Tcon
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Polaris USA - Europe
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Related thread: How bad does onboard catering need to get before UA invests in improving it?
previous thread: COVID Era UA inflight service changes
Thread is for general discussion of the state of UA in-flight service / catering, comparison to other carriers, past UA offerings and concerns with management decisions.
For a specific post about a recent in-flight food, use the appropriate Let's Eat .... thread.
The current Onboard Service descriptions by UA.com
Long-haul international premium cabin dining
North America, Caribbean and Latin America premium cabin dining
United Economy dining
Since the UA website is extremely vague, I'm looking for a few volunteers to submit data, and I will summarize to complete the wiki. kind regards, phkc070408
Domestic Under 300 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Domestic Over 300 Miles Under 800 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Domestic Over 800 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon or Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon or Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening/. or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
P-Tcon
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Polaris USA - Europe
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Related thread: How bad does onboard catering need to get before UA invests in improving it?
General discussion of UA's inflight service (Domestic / Int値, all cabins) {Archive}
#781




Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.4MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,169
On the wine list front, I have benefitted so much in the last few flights of a single stray bottle of a good wine - Paul Hobbs, Stuhlmuller, Flowers - that I'd take a random high quality selection rather than a standardized lower quality option!
Looking forward to hearing here or on Let's Eat when someone flying TLV or DEL gets to post pictures of this new service.
#782
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Marriott Platinum, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 401
Mine as well bring a can of Kroger ravioli and call it a day
#783
Original Member




Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA Plat/1.5MM, AA PltPro, B6 M4 25for25, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 7,271
In looking through the pictures, I think the all-in-one casserole dish is killing the appearance of food. If they went back to the previous method of plating the components on the round plate, it will at least look half way decent.
However, nothing can save the greed cube.
Well, if they were former-JFK-now-EWR crew, or at least the senior EWR crew, then they can be really good.
However, nothing can save the greed cube.

Well, if they were former-JFK-now-EWR crew, or at least the senior EWR crew, then they can be really good.
#784
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 62,516
#785




Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 7,682
#786
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / RSW Up in the Air avoiding the Snowflakes
Programs: UA GS 1.8MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriott LT, Accor P
Posts: 8,058
Well unfortunately I値l not be able to choose because UA royally messed up my ticket tonight - I showed up at Bahrain airport to check in for my flight to LHR on GF and they said I have no ticket - I called GS and they said it痴 all good - gulf air said UA is wrong (and gulf air was right) - so I知 now heading to Frankfurt on a narrow body with no boarding pass home - will have to fight my way to the gate - but I will try the meal and post it even if it kills me - if I even make it to the plane - much less into business class!
#787




Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 6,079
Well unfortunately I値l not be able to choose because UA royally messed up my ticket tonight - I showed up at Bahrain airport to check in for my flight to LHR on GF and they said I have no ticket - I called GS and they said it痴 all good - gulf air said UA is wrong (and gulf air was right) - so I知 now heading to Frankfurt on a narrow body with no boarding pass home - will have to fight my way to the gate - but I will try the meal and post it even if it kills me - if I even make it to the plane - much less into business class!
#788




Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 4,536
#789




Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ*E, QF-G, EK-P
Posts: 779
{T}his LH premium catering is absolute rubbish.
I have flown Air NZ, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and Singapore in last 2 months - all have Business catering vastly to superior to United Polaris. I think they are treating you collectively like a sure thing and have no motivation to improve because as their HVCs you tolerate it. Its swill .
I have flown Air NZ, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and Singapore in last 2 months - all have Business catering vastly to superior to United Polaris. I think they are treating you collectively like a sure thing and have no motivation to improve because as their HVCs you tolerate it. Its swill .
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 18, 2022 at 11:13 pm Reason: Discuss the issue but not the poster(s) -- FT Rule 12.2
#790
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 11,365
Does it really take another FA to use a different plate or having an appetizer plate, or a bowl of ice cream instead of candy bar? There are alot of things that can be done without more labor onboard
I suppose having the sundae cart would require another FA or more time to do the service
I suppose having the sundae cart would require another FA or more time to do the service
The casserole dish ("dog bowl") approach takes very little labor. Dishes are just put in oven, take the cover off, and serve. Plated service means individual containers of components are heated, then each component is individually placed onto a plate. Better quality all around.
A bowl of ice cream doesn't really take much more labor, but the former sundae service, with individual toppings on request, does. And again, it is a significantly better, with choice of toppings, warmed (or at least room temp), instead of a frozen block of pre-made serving.
The cut in staffing on Intl flights is the big news story out of all of this. It impacts every part of the soft service, and will not be easily reversed.
#791
Join Date: Apr 2021
Programs: United
Posts: 15
I am usually a lurker and hardly ever post. I'm flying Polaris on the new route to Amman in June and came on here to see the status of the catering for Polaris. I just have one question. Do United execs ever read this forum? You would think they would be utterly embarrassed. I flew Polaris to Europe twice this fall (IAD-BRU and IAD-BRU, ATH-IAD) and the catering was so pathetic both times that I made a comment to one of the FA's on how bad it was. His response was "well I've been on other carriers and heard that our catering is really quite good." I rolled my eyes and mumbled something like..."well I guess those folks have never flown Qatar or Singapore." His comment back..."well you really can't compare us to government run airlines." Nope, you sure can't.
#792


Join Date: May 2006
Location: STL
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,494
Yes.
The casserole dish ("dog bowl") approach takes very little labor. Dishes are just put in oven, take the cover off, and serve. Plated service means individual containers of components are heated, then each component is individually placed onto a plate. Better quality all around.
A bowl of ice cream doesn't really take much more labor, but the former sundae service, with individual toppings on request, does. And again, it is a significantly better, with choice of toppings, warmed (or at least room temp), instead of a frozen block of pre-made serving.
The cut in staffing on Intl flights is the big news story out of all of this. It impacts every part of the soft service, and will not be easily reversed.
The casserole dish ("dog bowl") approach takes very little labor. Dishes are just put in oven, take the cover off, and serve. Plated service means individual containers of components are heated, then each component is individually placed onto a plate. Better quality all around.
A bowl of ice cream doesn't really take much more labor, but the former sundae service, with individual toppings on request, does. And again, it is a significantly better, with choice of toppings, warmed (or at least room temp), instead of a frozen block of pre-made serving.
The cut in staffing on Intl flights is the big news story out of all of this. It impacts every part of the soft service, and will not be easily reversed.
#793




Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; DL Silver; Amtrak Select Plus;Hilton Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,492
If the food was decent, and not the equivalent of something that would be served in Y, I wouldn't have beef (no pun intended) with the casserole dish. But the portions are smaller (in order to fit in the dish), the food doesn't cook evenly resulting in cold or burnt items (vegetable/sides really should be separate from meat when heated up), and it's by no means a premium offering. The excuse of it being a result of cutting staffing is ridiculous. The FA's still have to pull food out of the ovens and put it on a tray; if they did it the old way by plopping a cup of vegetables and/or side, and then doing the same with the meat/protein/pasta its not going to add 30 mins of extra effort. They've cut so many other elements that the whole service flow drinks/meal/collect could be done in half of the time than it was being done during the BusinessFirst and early Polaris days. They could easily improve what's offered and still have a shorter service flow than pre-CoVid.
#794
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
I am usually a lurker and hardly ever post. I'm flying Polaris on the new route to Amman in June and came on here to see the status of the catering for Polaris. I just have one question. Do United execs ever read this forum? You would think they would be utterly embarrassed. I flew Polaris to Europe twice this fall (IAD-BRU and IAD-BRU, ATH-IAD)
Just saying

#795
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,858
Sofar, we have two reports of menus showing: DEL and TLV, both to/from EWR. Looking fwd to reports from addl routes, incl TATL.



