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 3, 2012, 11:52 am
#241
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,617
It's never been like that, so there's no baseline comparison. AA doesn't seem to be in the business of taking away elite benefits like UA is.
From IME on AA this year and from what I've read on the AA boards, not getting a 1st meal choice isn't an issue - then again, their food is a lot better, and they don't seem to be catering a ratio of 2 cereals to 10 Jeff McMuffins for example.
Add in the dropping of the meal choice as a 1K benefit, in addition to all the other ways they've crapped on 1Ks/elites this year (that they now appear to be walking back from, wonder why that is), tells a more complete story.
From IME on AA this year and from what I've read on the AA boards, not getting a 1st meal choice isn't an issue - then again, their food is a lot better, and they don't seem to be catering a ratio of 2 cereals to 10 Jeff McMuffins for example.
Add in the dropping of the meal choice as a 1K benefit, in addition to all the other ways they've crapped on 1Ks/elites this year (that they now appear to be walking back from, wonder why that is), tells a more complete story.
Dec 3, 2012, 12:21 pm
#242
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: MileagePlus
Posts: 412
Before the roll-back of the policy, I had been lecture multiple times by PMCO crew about how it takes to much time to prioritize by status.
I love the discussion about how UA needs to retrain the FA's. I can sum this up in a 30 second briefing:
1. Go front to back and ask every passenger for their 1st and 2nd meal choice.
2. Return to galley.
3. Prioritize meal choices by status on the manifest.
If this is really that much work, UA could have SHARES print-out a rank-order of the pax in F to be used for meal prioritization. That could be delivered to the purser along with the manifest. (In case the 1-4 stars next to the name is confusing.)
I love the discussion about how UA needs to retrain the FA's. I can sum this up in a 30 second briefing:
1. Go front to back and ask every passenger for their 1st and 2nd meal choice.
2. Return to galley.
3. Prioritize meal choices by status on the manifest.
If this is really that much work, UA could have SHARES print-out a rank-order of the pax in F to be used for meal prioritization. That could be delivered to the purser along with the manifest. (In case the 1-4 stars next to the name is confusing.)
Dec 3, 2012, 2:34 pm
#243
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
Programs: UA 1K, 1.3mm
Posts: 918
Just got off a PHL-IAH flight and the new order was used.
Dec 3, 2012, 2:41 pm
#244
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Posts: 35,068
Dec 3, 2012, 2:48 pm
#245
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Our Nation's Capital
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Dec 3, 2012, 2:52 pm
#246
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Dec 3, 2012, 2:55 pm
#247
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: United Premier Gold, AirBerlin Gold, Starwood Gold, Avis Preferred, CBP Global Entry
Posts: 497
I may not fly as much as some here on FT, but I can't recall a single instance in which I was denied my first choice of meal, sitting various places throughout C and domestic F cabins. (Knock on wood.)
That said, I don't see how anyone can be upset by this policy as long as it's properly implemented. Which is to say, add me to the chorus of people who are saying that the FA should sort in the galley and that full-fare F should probably get their first choice with the same priority as 1K/GS.
I'm told by an AA insider that they stock their galleys 110% in premium cabins to avoid telling premium pax that they don't get a choice. Although FEBO would annoy me as I tend to choose seats fairly close to the front of the cabin.
That said, I don't see how anyone can be upset by this policy as long as it's properly implemented. Which is to say, add me to the chorus of people who are saying that the FA should sort in the galley and that full-fare F should probably get their first choice with the same priority as 1K/GS.
I'm told by an AA insider that they stock their galleys 110% in premium cabins to avoid telling premium pax that they don't get a choice. Although FEBO would annoy me as I tend to choose seats fairly close to the front of the cabin.
Dec 3, 2012, 2:59 pm
#248
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
Programs: UA 1K, 1.3mm
Posts: 918
Dec 3, 2012, 3:16 pm
#249
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posts: 35,068
It made it much easier for FAs to use.
Agreed.
Dec 3, 2012, 3:49 pm
#250
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, UA MM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,329
Dec 3, 2012, 3:52 pm
#251
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: 42,231
Before the roll-back of the policy, I had been lecture multiple times by PMCO crew about how it takes to much time to prioritize by status.
I love the discussion about how UA needs to retrain the FA's. I can sum this up in a 30 second briefing:
1. Go front to back and ask every passenger for their 1st and 2nd meal choice.
2. Return to galley.
3. Prioritize meal choices by status on the manifest.
If this is really that much work, UA could have SHARES print-out a rank-order of the pax in F to be used for meal prioritization. That could be delivered to the purser along with the manifest. (In case the 1-4 stars next to the name is confusing.)
I love the discussion about how UA needs to retrain the FA's. I can sum this up in a 30 second briefing:
1. Go front to back and ask every passenger for their 1st and 2nd meal choice.
2. Return to galley.
3. Prioritize meal choices by status on the manifest.
If this is really that much work, UA could have SHARES print-out a rank-order of the pax in F to be used for meal prioritization. That could be delivered to the purser along with the manifest. (In case the 1-4 stars next to the name is confusing.)
1. Go to seat 1A and take the meal order
2. Working from 1B though the last seat, ask each passenger for their choice, letting customers know when a selection has run out
3. Serve meals
Voila..done.
Dec 3, 2012, 4:17 pm
#252
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: MileagePlus
Posts: 412
Nope I typed it in the format that it prints (names are fake).
Yes we did but that was an Apollo function and is no longer with us.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Dec 3, 2012 at 4:24 pm Reason: merge
Dec 3, 2012, 4:42 pm
#253
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: United MM (formerly 1K), Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 551
P.S. I don't think these two items alone will make much of a dent in customer retention issues (although I could see the GPU item having much more of an impact than this one).
Dec 3, 2012, 4:45 pm
#254
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
If I ever think that getting my choice of a trucked in box Meal (made pretty in the galley) is important to me..I will
CHeck that my life insurance is paid up...
Give my spouse a gun
Ask her to shoot me to put me out of misery
Go to airport vendor
Buy meal of choice
Eat.
CHeck that my life insurance is paid up...
Give my spouse a gun
Ask her to shoot me to put me out of misery
Go to airport vendor
Buy meal of choice
Eat.
Dec 3, 2012, 6:16 pm
#255
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
