Changes to special meals (no more special meals on domestic flights after 10/1)
Aug 13, 2011, 9:16 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
The unfortunate consequence of UDU/EUA freebies. UACO has to make a decision. Either improve the domestic F soft product and sell it as that or allow it to continue the slide and rename it E++. I would be thrilled so see a better F soft product, including special meals and am willing to pay for it.
Where does UDU fit into that dogma?
btw I was always unhappy that UA did not have a "red meat" special meal as on some routes chicken or turkey was offered a meat surrogate. I get now we all get shafted the same way
...
?Latin America very clearly comprises Central and South America and segregates the continent from he English/French America domain.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Aug 13, 2011 at 1:17 pm Reason: merge
Aug 13, 2011, 9:19 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
UDU doesn't have anything to do with it. If CO/UA want to sell more F class seats, they can restrict the upgrade inventory. They could even come up with a separate booking class for CR-1 or SWU upgrades and give more availability in that.
CO/UA paid F class fares have been going up lately, which isn't going to boost the number of paid bookings. As far as I can tell, CO/UA is not interested in the domestic pre-paid F class passenger (other than p.s. flights). They would much rather upgrade an Elite for free or sell an upgrade at check-in for $50 or $200 or whatever.
US Airways recently improved their First Class meals (albeit they were horrifyingly bad before the improvements) and they've been unlimited for preferreds for over a decade.
CO/UA paid F class fares have been going up lately, which isn't going to boost the number of paid bookings. As far as I can tell, CO/UA is not interested in the domestic pre-paid F class passenger (other than p.s. flights). They would much rather upgrade an Elite for free or sell an upgrade at check-in for $50 or $200 or whatever.
US Airways recently improved their First Class meals (albeit they were horrifyingly bad before the improvements) and they've been unlimited for preferreds for over a decade.
The US changes only took the F soft product from Aeroflot during the former Soviet era to a basic minimum. US has a different route & customer base and is highly unlikely to ever sell much F product on its domestic routes.
Aug 13, 2011, 9:24 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Aug 13, 2011, 9:41 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Why am I not surprised? 
As am I -- for the meal itself, that is. Why not offer premium domestic F meals like the premium int'l. Y meals? A $10-15 surcharge when upgraded via UDU would be entirely fair. Many of us don't eat beef, and if it takes a fee to guarantee not getting beef (or meat or dairy at all, or high sodium or fat content, etc.), so be it.
But this latest enhancement? Very thoughtless and passenger-hostile.
But this latest enhancement? Very thoughtless and passenger-hostile.
Aug 13, 2011, 10:00 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Virginia
Programs: AS MVPG, UA 1P, UA RCC, Hertz Gold, Marriott Rewards Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 244
Wow. Part of the reason I have chosen UA over AA for all of my flights (all domestic F) has been the meal. The rest of the experience is similar, but UA has ovo lacto vegetarian options. Now...there's not much difference for me.
Aug 13, 2011, 10:35 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 2,284
The following special meal types will continue to be available:
Gluten Intolerant (GFML)
Hindu Vegetarian (HNML)
Kosher (KSML)
Muslim (MOML)
Asian Vegetarian (AVML)
Vegan (Strict) Vegetarian (VGML)
Child’s (CHML)
Japanese (JPML)
(Err, I just caught where you're from MBS, and this may not apply after all.)
Last edited by AeroWesty; Aug 13, 2011 at 10:45 am Reason: My bad
Aug 13, 2011, 10:37 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,943
According to the link in the OP, a gluten-free option will continue:
The following special meal types will continue to be available:
Gluten Intolerant (GFML)
Hindu Vegetarian (HNML)
Kosher (KSML)
Muslim (MOML)
Asian Vegetarian (AVML)
Vegan (Strict) Vegetarian (VGML)
Child’s (CHML)
Japanese (JPML)
The following special meal types will continue to be available:
Gluten Intolerant (GFML)
Hindu Vegetarian (HNML)
Kosher (KSML)
Muslim (MOML)
Asian Vegetarian (AVML)
Vegan (Strict) Vegetarian (VGML)
Child’s (CHML)
Japanese (JPML)
Aug 13, 2011, 10:40 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
It is late, but this sort of "harmonization" makes my blood boil.
For more details, read the entire article on the United AFA's site:
http://www.unitedafa.org/news/details.aspx?id=6430
For more details, read the entire article on the United AFA's site:
http://www.unitedafa.org/news/details.aspx?id=6430
Aug 13, 2011, 10:44 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Aug 13, 2011, 2:44 pm
#28
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
According to the link in the OP, a gluten-free option will continue:
The following special meal types will continue to be available:
Gluten Intolerant (GFML)
Hindu Vegetarian (HNML)
Kosher (KSML)
Muslim (MOML)
Asian Vegetarian (AVML)
Vegan (Strict) Vegetarian (VGML)
Child’s (CHML)
Japanese (JPML)
(Err, I just caught where you're from MBS, and this may not apply after all.)
The following special meal types will continue to be available:
Gluten Intolerant (GFML)
Hindu Vegetarian (HNML)
Kosher (KSML)
Muslim (MOML)
Asian Vegetarian (AVML)
Vegan (Strict) Vegetarian (VGML)
Child’s (CHML)
Japanese (JPML)
(Err, I just caught where you're from MBS, and this may not apply after all.)
In addition, special meals will no longer be available in any class on most domestic flights in addition to Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Special meals will be available in the premium cabins in select domestic markets to include flights from New York (JFK) & Newark (EWR) to/from San Francisco and Los Angeles as well as on flights to Hawaii.
Why does where I'm from have any effect on this applying or not?
I see DL still offers special meals on most flights...They're looking more and more attractive every day.
This is getting ridiculous. Tell me, dear CO defenders, WHAT IS CO BRINGING TO THIS MERGER, OTHER THAN CUTBACKS?!?!?!? Defend this one here. Tell me how less service for flyers is better.
Aug 13, 2011, 3:26 pm
#29
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,119
Honestly, did it cost UA that much more to load special meals when requested? Does CO not realize some pax do have dietary restrictions?
I thought CO folks claimed their food was so great... apparently it's "you'll eat what we want, and you'll like it."
I thought CO folks claimed their food was so great... apparently it's "you'll eat what we want, and you'll like it."
Aug 13, 2011, 4:57 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
No, CO claimed that their First and Business class meals are so delicious you'll want seconds.
How about a trip down memory lane? Its only about 2 years old:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjaFRiWCUMg
"everything you should expect from an airline" -- except the pillow is gone from even F now.
How about a trip down memory lane? Its only about 2 years old:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjaFRiWCUMg
"everything you should expect from an airline" -- except the pillow is gone from even F now.