Dec 2, 2013, 10:00 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
As of the last update from an inside source, the meal choice prioritization policy is to prioritize in this order:
1. Global Services
2. Premier 1K
3. All other revenue passengers
4. Nonrevs
This prioritization is done in the galley, after taking orders. If you saw a flight crew take orders front to back, but did not see any GS/1K passengers denied their first choice, you have not witnessed a violation of the policy. Indeed, taking orders front to back is correct under the policy.
Post #30
Hi, UA-NYC,
Yes, your assertion is accurate. Premier 1K will still be prioritized as you stated, but again, this is to be done in the galley.
-UA Insider
1. Global Services
2. Premier 1K
3. All other revenue passengers
4. Nonrevs
This prioritization is done in the galley, after taking orders. If you saw a flight crew take orders front to back, but did not see any GS/1K passengers denied their first choice, you have not witnessed a violation of the policy. Indeed, taking orders front to back is correct under the policy.
Post #30
Hi everyone,
As several of you have mentioned, there has been no procedure change to prioritizing premium cabin meal orders.
As a reminder, our standard procedure is to take meal orders from front to back of the cabin and ask for a second choice in case your first choice is not available. After meal orders are taken, our inflight crew will prioritize meal orders in the galley. This way, we can streamline the order-taking processes while eliminating skipping around the cabin for order-taking.
-UA Insider
As several of you have mentioned, there has been no procedure change to prioritizing premium cabin meal orders.
As a reminder, our standard procedure is to take meal orders from front to back of the cabin and ask for a second choice in case your first choice is not available. After meal orders are taken, our inflight crew will prioritize meal orders in the galley. This way, we can streamline the order-taking processes while eliminating skipping around the cabin for order-taking.
-UA Insider
Yes, your assertion is accurate. Premier 1K will still be prioritized as you stated, but again, this is to be done in the galley.
-UA Insider
Current UA Process for Prioritizing Meal Orders in Premium Cabins [ARCHIVE]
Dec 28, 2015, 7:20 am
#2011
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At that point, it's typically front-to-back. But they may also ask some pax if they wouldn't mind switching to their second choice if there are any issues (e.g. someone is a vegetarian who won't be getting his or her choice).
Dec 28, 2015, 7:42 am
#2012
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If more then one of the choices is OK by me, I will usually let the FA know..."I would like the Chicken, but the pasta is OK if you need to accommodate some one" else.
Gives them some flexibility if needed, plus they are usually grateful for the help...which can result in some great service.
Gives them some flexibility if needed, plus they are usually grateful for the help...which can result in some great service.
Dec 28, 2015, 8:09 am
#2013
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,228
"OK, Listen up first class, we have two...actually...three choices for lunch today. Option 1 is the XXX, Option 2 is YYY, option 3 is nothing. I'll be coming through for your first and second choice and what you're drinking. We have 8 XXX and 4 YYY so only GS is guaranteed to get the first choice."
Although I though the delivery was a little...unrefined and lacking in polish...it was perhaps the most efficient order-taking I've seen. A FA friend was astounded and said that was definitely not an approved method but confirmed the GS > 1K > All Other Rev > Nonrev Priority, though orders are supposed to be taken front-to-back and then prioritized in the galley (at least for sCO)
Dec 28, 2015, 12:51 pm
#2014
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MDW/ORD and the late lamented Meigs Field...
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Posts: 1,229
If more then one of the choices is OK by me, I will usually let the FA know..."I would like the Chicken, but the pasta is OK if you need to accommodate some one" else.
Gives them some flexibility if needed, plus they are usually grateful for the help...which can result in some great service.
Gives them some flexibility if needed, plus they are usually grateful for the help...which can result in some great service.
Dec 28, 2015, 2:56 pm
#2015
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This has been my husband's approach for years, and you are right about the response. Especially useful when I (eating vegetarian) can't have one of the choices. If they can't accommodate me with a premium meal, the FAs almost invariably offer (or accept my suggestion of) a BOB alternative from coach, contrary to others' experiences reported on FT.
Dec 28, 2015, 3:16 pm
#2016
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
One of my last A320 segments (IIRC ORD-DEN or DEN-PHX) the FA working FC stood in the galley aisle and belted out
"OK, Listen up first class, we have two...actually...three choices for lunch today. Option 1 is the XXX, Option 2 is YYY, option 3 is nothing. I'll be coming through for your first and second choice and what you're drinking. We have 8 XXX and 4 YYY so only GS is guaranteed to get the first choice."
Although I though the delivery was a little...unrefined and lacking in polish...it was perhaps the most efficient order-taking I've seen. A FA friend was astounded and said that was definitely not an approved method but confirmed the GS > 1K > All Other Rev > Nonrev Priority, though orders are supposed to be taken front-to-back and then prioritized in the galley (at least for sCO)
"OK, Listen up first class, we have two...actually...three choices for lunch today. Option 1 is the XXX, Option 2 is YYY, option 3 is nothing. I'll be coming through for your first and second choice and what you're drinking. We have 8 XXX and 4 YYY so only GS is guaranteed to get the first choice."
Although I though the delivery was a little...unrefined and lacking in polish...it was perhaps the most efficient order-taking I've seen. A FA friend was astounded and said that was definitely not an approved method but confirmed the GS > 1K > All Other Rev > Nonrev Priority, though orders are supposed to be taken front-to-back and then prioritized in the galley (at least for sCO)
What a stark contrast with some other airlines where the FA would be individually and politely apologetic at your seat for the embarrassment of not having your first choice.
Dec 28, 2015, 3:36 pm
#2017
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4me
Posts: 12,073
This year as 1K I've experienced explicit meal priority twice. The first was IAH-PTY where the FA took my lunch order before the rest of the cabin. The second was on LH flying FRA-TLL in Y. Before the cabin service started the purser acknowledged my status and then gave me my choice of lunch. A half of a turkey salami sandwich.
Dec 28, 2015, 3:42 pm
#2018
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,228
Reminds me of the joke about meals on Aeroflot -- "You have 2 choices for dinner tonight, yogurt, or nothing."
What a stark contrast with some other airlines where the FA would be individually and politely apologetic at your seat for the embarrassment of not having your first choice.
What a stark contrast with some other airlines where the FA would be individually and politely apologetic at your seat for the embarrassment of not having your first choice.
Jan 4, 2016, 1:54 pm
#2019
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: 67,250
Haven't seen a 2016 thread yet, but this morning on my POS-IAH flight, they did front-to-back. The flight did not appear to be elite-heavy, based on the upgrade list size and the sizes of group 1 and 2. The F cabin didn't have many upgrades in it, either. So I find it somewhat hard to believe they were prioritizing and 1K and GS ahead of me had simply taken all of 2 of the 3 options...
Jan 6, 2016, 12:55 pm
#2020
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: 67,250
On IAH-IAD (lie-flat 752), the GA bounced around the cabin, taking GS orders 1st, then 1K orders, then front-to-back for everyone else. At least she prioritized.
The meal choices on that one were horrid, FWIW. That was the 2nd time we had "Chicken Curry Katsu," which the GA the last time it was offered apologized for repeatedly and suggested people write in to UA to complain about--and yes, it's horrid. The other choice was a chicken sausage, chicken, and shrimp paella, which also was terrible. Several pax asked about a vegetarian option and were told, "Well, if you insist, I can take away one of the FA's meals and give you a salad."
The meal choices on that one were horrid, FWIW. That was the 2nd time we had "Chicken Curry Katsu," which the GA the last time it was offered apologized for repeatedly and suggested people write in to UA to complain about--and yes, it's horrid. The other choice was a chicken sausage, chicken, and shrimp paella, which also was terrible. Several pax asked about a vegetarian option and were told, "Well, if you insist, I can take away one of the FA's meals and give you a salad."
Jan 11, 2016, 10:18 am
#2021
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RDU-SFO last week, operated by a 737-800. Meal orders were taken by status, but they also gave first choice to a 1K's companion (I'd seen her BP at the gate, she had no status). By the time they finished this and got to me in row 3, they had only one choice left (down from an original three). As a Silver, I hate this process, though I know damn well if I was a 1K I'd love it.
Jan 11, 2016, 10:22 am
#2022
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FLL IAH and IAH SEA on 9JAN, both flights had orders taken front to back, no prioritization.
Jan 11, 2016, 10:34 am
#2023
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,228
RDU-SFO last week, operated by a 737-800. Meal orders were taken by status, but they also gave first choice to a 1K's companion (I'd seen her BP at the gate, she had no status). By the time they finished this and got to me in row 3, they had only one choice left (down from an original three). As a Silver, I hate this process, though I know damn well if I was a 1K I'd love it.
Jan 11, 2016, 11:00 am
#2024
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Both flights yesterday (SEA-IAH, IAH-MEX) meal orders taken front to back with no prioritization.
-RM
-RM
Jan 11, 2016, 12:42 pm
#2025
Join Date: Aug 2013
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