May 11, 2022, 1:38 pm
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}
Jul 7, 2022 | 6:36 pm
#1216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,472
Yes, it is sad that the only thing we have to be excited about is garnishes.
If you did take pictures, feel free to post them here unedited (you make the food look too good) or reach out to me privately. I'm writing up a very critical story on the state of meals on United right now. It has really become beyond pathetic.
If you did take pictures, feel free to post them here unedited (you make the food look too good) or reach out to me privately. I'm writing up a very critical story on the state of meals on United right now. It has really become beyond pathetic.
Jul 7, 2022 | 7:03 pm
#1217
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 2MM 1K
Posts: 16,568
Post a picture of a UA Polaris meal tray next to your picture of the JetBlue Mint meal tray from your LAX-JFK flight review and you won't even have to write any words, except captions for each pic.
Jul 8, 2022 | 8:30 am
#1218
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SJU & SLC
Programs: UA 1K / 0.97MM
Posts: 261
I won't post it here, but recently did LAX-IST in J. My oh my what a difference. And guess where my $$$ went (this was a paid J ticket). Enjoyed the Polaris Lounge before the flight so got the best of UA on the ground and the best of TK in the air.
I cannot believe how bad the food has dropped on UA...even under Kirby.
While I won't boycott UA over this, I'm not about to buy a J ticket on UA and shopping now for a trip to S. Africa. Of course UA has the best schedule, but sorry...unless I can upgrade, I'll look elsewhere.
I cannot believe how bad the food has dropped on UA...even under Kirby.
While I won't boycott UA over this, I'm not about to buy a J ticket on UA and shopping now for a trip to S. Africa. Of course UA has the best schedule, but sorry...unless I can upgrade, I'll look elsewhere.
Jul 8, 2022 | 9:16 am
#1219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 27,387
I agree they have little interest in free agent flyers - they don't find them of value.
They have big bets they are competing on captive flyers - route network - hard product/Polaris - and status chasers/lifetime flyers. And they appear to be filling the planes based on that strategy.
For me personally - I go to Vegas at least once a month - sometimes more - I can certainly switch to a far superior soft product on Hawaiian and even a nonstop - but I'd have to pay for F for a less superior seat as opposed to buying economy and getting a near certain upgrade to a lie flat to LAX or SFO - I'll take that tradeoff and bring my own food.
They have big bets they are competing on captive flyers - route network - hard product/Polaris - and status chasers/lifetime flyers. And they appear to be filling the planes based on that strategy.
For me personally - I go to Vegas at least once a month - sometimes more - I can certainly switch to a far superior soft product on Hawaiian and even a nonstop - but I'd have to pay for F for a less superior seat as opposed to buying economy and getting a near certain upgrade to a lie flat to LAX or SFO - I'll take that tradeoff and bring my own food.
Jul 8, 2022 | 10:30 am
#1220
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K ex-GS(NL) 2.4MM, WN A, Bonvoy Ambassador, IHG Diamond, HH Gold, BW Diamond Select!, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,835
I won't post it here, but recently did LAX-IST in J. My oh my what a difference. And guess where my $$$ went (this was a paid J ticket). Enjoyed the Polaris Lounge before the flight so got the best of UA on the ground and the best of TK in the air.
I cannot believe how bad the food has dropped on UA...even under Kirby.
While I won't boycott UA over this, I'm not about to buy a J ticket on UA and shopping now for a trip to S. Africa. Of course UA has the best schedule, but sorry...unless I can upgrade, I'll look elsewhere.
I cannot believe how bad the food has dropped on UA...even under Kirby.
While I won't boycott UA over this, I'm not about to buy a J ticket on UA and shopping now for a trip to S. Africa. Of course UA has the best schedule, but sorry...unless I can upgrade, I'll look elsewhere.
I have moved all my international business class travel to other airlines. Even when I use UA miles I avoid UA operated flights unless it is the only option.
I could understand the sad state of meals and service during covid, now that travel has opened up and most other airlines have returned back to pre-covid levels UA has no excuse serving these disgusting and inadequate meals in business class and ignoring feedback and any attempt to improve.
--HAF
I could understand the sad state of meals and service during covid, now that travel has opened up and most other airlines have returned back to pre-covid levels UA has no excuse serving these disgusting and inadequate meals in business class and ignoring feedback and any attempt to improve.
--HAF
I just got back last week from ORD-IST-FCO-NAP-IST-ORD (789 out 777 back). I wholeheartedly concur with your above comments. Mine was a paid J ticket as well, no PL lounge since logistically tough at O'Hare. Turkish will get my paid J $$$ so long as it's on their 787s and the routing isn't too circuitous. UA will get the rest. My UA FRA trip tomorrow will be a tough one to swallow after experiencing TK's multi-course, chef on board, dinner by candlelight, Tattinger experience of last week. :|
But I'm currently booking any paid or upgraded business class travel on other airlines. My single consideration really is the sleep. I wish everyone had an Apex business class seat, but absent that, it's so nice to sleep on the TK 777 (sorry MarkyMarc I'm the opposite of you here) and the LH J seats. No knee bumping issues to keep waking me up. But even then, Polaris with a bulkhead was my preference pre-pandemic. Slightly worse bed, but not terrible, and the privacy plus a decent mail plus the lifetime miles made it worthwhile. Now it's a no-brainer. TK or LH all the way for me. NH if I go the other direction. And on LH, occasionally I have a fare that will allow the possibility of an upgrade to F. There's just no reason to fly UA, and I've abandoned my 3MM goal as a result. Better sleep, better meals. Game over.
UA either needs to find the best bed in the sky, or the best soft-product. Both is good, but neither isn't viable in the long term.
Jul 8, 2022 | 11:31 am
#1221
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,448
My flights HNL-ORD I don't bother with the upgrade game - use Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Jul 8, 2022 | 12:11 pm
#1222
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,166
Since Oct 2020 (when Hawaii dropped mandatory quarantine) of the roughly 50 segments over water - I've gotten upgraded all of them except twice - and the 2 segments I bought up were for $350 which brought the total price far less than buying F and far far far less than buying F outright on Hawaiian. My next flight HNL-LAX on Jul 18 at 8:55pm still has 8 open seats - so looking good but monitoring each day. For the LAX-LAS or SFO-LAS upgrades are probably 2/3 - but don't really care about those.
Hotel rates may have something to do with demand - prices in Wailea were absolutely insane ($1200+ for Marriott or Andaz, both of which had lots of availability for the holiday weekend and felt relatively empty when we walked through).
Jul 8, 2022 | 2:11 pm
#1223
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 701
This week I was in economy for the FAT-ORD flight departing at 11:59pm. I was surprised to find a blanket on every seat in coach. Whats the official policy?
Jul 8, 2022 | 4:19 pm
#1224
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 377
I'm what's considered a UA apologist around these parts. I liked the 2-4-2 IPTE because the bed was fabulous to sleep on. I even prefer the 2-2-2- to Polaris for the same reason. This has been discussed to death elsewhere.
But I'm currently booking any paid or upgraded business class travel on other airlines. My single consideration really is the sleep. I wish everyone had an Apex business class seat, but absent that, it's so nice to sleep on the TK 777 (sorry MarkyMarc I'm the opposite of you here) and the LH J seats. No knee bumping issues to keep waking me up. But even then, Polaris with a bulkhead was my preference pre-pandemic. Slightly worse bed, but not terrible, and the privacy plus a decent mail plus the lifetime miles made it worthwhile. Now it's a no-brainer. TK or LH all the way for me. NH if I go the other direction. And on LH, occasionally I have a fare that will allow the possibility of an upgrade to F. There's just no reason to fly UA, and I've abandoned my 3MM goal as a result. Better sleep, better meals. Game over.
UA either needs to find the best bed in the sky, or the best soft-product. Both is good, but neither isn't viable in the long term.
But I'm currently booking any paid or upgraded business class travel on other airlines. My single consideration really is the sleep. I wish everyone had an Apex business class seat, but absent that, it's so nice to sleep on the TK 777 (sorry MarkyMarc I'm the opposite of you here) and the LH J seats. No knee bumping issues to keep waking me up. But even then, Polaris with a bulkhead was my preference pre-pandemic. Slightly worse bed, but not terrible, and the privacy plus a decent mail plus the lifetime miles made it worthwhile. Now it's a no-brainer. TK or LH all the way for me. NH if I go the other direction. And on LH, occasionally I have a fare that will allow the possibility of an upgrade to F. There's just no reason to fly UA, and I've abandoned my 3MM goal as a result. Better sleep, better meals. Game over.
UA either needs to find the best bed in the sky, or the best soft-product. Both is good, but neither isn't viable in the long term.
Jul 8, 2022 | 5:00 pm
#1225
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 47,126
I must be cursed. 1K on a Q fare flying the 777-3, no upgrade and ended up #10 on the list, then the other day my client, a silver, gets upgraded on the same plane for the second time in a row.
Jul 9, 2022 | 4:55 pm
#1227
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,448
Jul 10, 2022 | 3:38 pm
#1228
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA GS 3.5M LT, Marriot Ambassador/Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat, BA Gold
Posts: 3,028
The Kirby Kuts Kontinue
Pathetic
Jul 10, 2022 | 4:14 pm
#1229
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,166
Wow so slippers only on flights over 12 hours? Pathetic indeed. Though I think they will have to continue to supply on all Japan flights regardless.
Jul 10, 2022 | 7:51 pm
#1230
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 7,140
Good thing I have a bag full of Polaris slippers in my closet! 