2014 Let's Eat - Domestic/Canada/Latin America First, BusinessFirst, & Business Class
Jan 30, 2014, 10:20 am
#136
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Location: PHX & AGP
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Give me a break - catering on the Hawaii flights is pretty pathetic. I recently flew ORD-HNL and was served the most pathetic "chicken catciatorre" with a tiny salad and sundae (the best part of the meal) and salad prior to landing. On the return, HNL-EWR, I slept through the first snack (as I'm sure many do) and then had the pathetic McMuffin - seriously it was half the size of a McDonald's McMuffin (I was shocked) - esp since the flight lands at around noon. Additionally, the service on the return was awful - no juice offered at all with the breakfast and coffee came after they cleared the trays.
If you want a reasonable meal, either fly another airline or wait till you got off the plane.
If you want a reasonable meal, either fly another airline or wait till you got off the plane.
Jan 30, 2014, 11:00 am
#137
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: Delta Silver. Former AA gold. UA MP and DL Plat AMEX cardholder
Posts: 1,254
I agree, 1 and 3. But United doesn't seem to understand that, while companies do have contracts, at the end of the day, the feedback in these big companies may be that UA's product in F sucks so much, they decide to forbid paying for it.
I cannot imagine that would cost much more to provide an edible meal. When Larry was running CO, there was actually a situation where the catering department decided to save money and cheapen the wine in J, that change was reversed by upper management saying that they provide a budget for J to provide a quality experience.
The difference now is that they do not care about providing that experience, only the cost.
I cannot imagine that would cost much more to provide an edible meal. When Larry was running CO, there was actually a situation where the catering department decided to save money and cheapen the wine in J, that change was reversed by upper management saying that they provide a budget for J to provide a quality experience.
The difference now is that they do not care about providing that experience, only the cost.
CO had their secret cheapness in place. It's in Smisek's blood.
Jan 30, 2014, 11:30 am
#138
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
Flight/Route: UA1733/DEN-LAX
Date: January 23, 2014
Aircraft/Seat: 737-800/1A
Departure Time/Duration: 2:26 p.m./2:27
Meal: Lunch
Another couple of Denver-West Coast lunch flights; as least DEN-LAX still gets meals, unlike SNA and SAN.
Nuts and red wine to start; I usually don't like bulkheads, but the sCO aircraft seem to be a bit more generous with the legroom.
A choice of the shrimp salad or the "Parmesan chicken wrap." Easy choice as the wrap is pathetic.
The shrimp seem to have been exiled to a small container on the side. Once I assembled the salad it was quite tasty.
Tomato bisque with croutons; I like them better in the soup than on the salad. The bisque was delicious.
Oatmeal-raisin cookies were served after the meal.
Date: January 23, 2014
Aircraft/Seat: 737-800/1A
Departure Time/Duration: 2:26 p.m./2:27
Meal: Lunch
Another couple of Denver-West Coast lunch flights; as least DEN-LAX still gets meals, unlike SNA and SAN.
Nuts and red wine to start; I usually don't like bulkheads, but the sCO aircraft seem to be a bit more generous with the legroom.
A choice of the shrimp salad or the "Parmesan chicken wrap." Easy choice as the wrap is pathetic.
The shrimp seem to have been exiled to a small container on the side. Once I assembled the salad it was quite tasty.
Tomato bisque with croutons; I like them better in the soup than on the salad. The bisque was delicious.
Oatmeal-raisin cookies were served after the meal.
Jan 30, 2014, 11:38 am
#139
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
Flight/Route: UA1043/LAX-DEN
Date: January 26, 2014
Aircraft/Seat: 757-300/4B
Departure Time/Duration: 11:10 a.m./2:17
Meal: Lunch
Really good service on this short flight; the two-man crew dispatched lunch like clockwork. Red wine and nuts to begin.
The red wine was the 2012 Astica Malbec, cheap but actually pretty drinkable.
Lunch choice: cheeseburger or chicken salad. The salad looked OK but I like the cheeseburger; once I scraped the melted cheese onto the bun and added the condiments it was quite satisfying. Soup was the chicken tortilla, which was good as well.
Chocolate-chip cookies were offered after lunch.
Date: January 26, 2014
Aircraft/Seat: 757-300/4B
Departure Time/Duration: 11:10 a.m./2:17
Meal: Lunch
Really good service on this short flight; the two-man crew dispatched lunch like clockwork. Red wine and nuts to begin.
The red wine was the 2012 Astica Malbec, cheap but actually pretty drinkable.
Lunch choice: cheeseburger or chicken salad. The salad looked OK but I like the cheeseburger; once I scraped the melted cheese onto the bun and added the condiments it was quite satisfying. Soup was the chicken tortilla, which was good as well.
Chocolate-chip cookies were offered after lunch.
Jan 30, 2014, 11:38 am
#140
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
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You do know how to make a UA meal look good!
PMUA used to nicely vary the salads--I think we get shrimp far too often and only once in a while the grimy chicken. The steak salad at UA was actually pretty darn good. So was the club(?) salad. And the shrimp/bacon salad was not bad either.
PMUA used to nicely vary the salads--I think we get shrimp far too often and only once in a while the grimy chicken. The steak salad at UA was actually pretty darn good. So was the club(?) salad. And the shrimp/bacon salad was not bad either.
Jan 30, 2014, 4:18 pm
#141
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
It does seem like UA is stuck in a rut. Shrimp salad, chicken salad, chicken "wrap," cheeseburger. Tomato bisque, mushroom bisque, tortilla soup, French onion soup. Since the alternative is probably another cutback, I shouldn't complain too loudly 
Jan 30, 2014, 9:35 pm
#142
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Million Miler, Marriott platinum, lifetime platinum
Posts: 974
I was flying yesterday PHX EWR in the bulkhead aisle, and my heart went out to those in F subject to the CALZONE thing, for about the 3rd year in a row.
I enjoyed the warmed roast beef sandwich, and the brownie brittle which while not fantastic, is leagues above what is served in F. And I had my food and drinks before they had theirs!
Upon boarding, some obnoxious lady made some scene regarding overhead compartments, sahing how "She was in FIRST CLASS".......how sad. She apparently hasn't flown UA in F. I hope she enjoyed her 7/11 hot pocket.
It's beyond my comprehension how they cannot come up with anything new to serve. Just simply amazing the lack of any decent leadership.
I enjoyed the warmed roast beef sandwich, and the brownie brittle which while not fantastic, is leagues above what is served in F. And I had my food and drinks before they had theirs!
Upon boarding, some obnoxious lady made some scene regarding overhead compartments, sahing how "She was in FIRST CLASS".......how sad. She apparently hasn't flown UA in F. I hope she enjoyed her 7/11 hot pocket.
It's beyond my comprehension how they cannot come up with anything new to serve. Just simply amazing the lack of any decent leadership.
Jan 31, 2014, 8:03 am
#143
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Flight/Route: UA1639/EWR-ORD
Aircraft: 737-900
Departure Time/Duration: 7:59 a.m.
Meal: Breakfast
I was surprised to still see a meal service on this route...though not at all surprised by the same old meal choices.
PDB of choice
Drink service
Choice of sausage egg sandwich or honey nut cheerios
Cinnamon roll served toward the end of the meal service
Aircraft: 737-900
Departure Time/Duration: 7:59 a.m.
Meal: Breakfast
I was surprised to still see a meal service on this route...though not at all surprised by the same old meal choices.
PDB of choice
Drink service
Choice of sausage egg sandwich or honey nut cheerios
Cinnamon roll served toward the end of the meal service
Jan 31, 2014, 9:14 am
#144
Join Date: May 2006
Location: STL
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,429
Jan 31, 2014, 6:45 pm
#145
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 721
Flight/Route: UA1639/EWR-ORD
Aircraft: 737-900
Departure Time/Duration: 7:59 a.m.
Meal: Breakfast
I was surprised to still see a meal service on this route...though not at all surprised by the same old meal choices.
PDB of choice
Drink service
Choice of sausage egg sandwich or honey nut cheerios
Cinnamon roll served toward the end of the meal service
Aircraft: 737-900
Departure Time/Duration: 7:59 a.m.
Meal: Breakfast
I was surprised to still see a meal service on this route...though not at all surprised by the same old meal choices.
PDB of choice
Drink service
Choice of sausage egg sandwich or honey nut cheerios
Cinnamon roll served toward the end of the meal service
220–899 miles
(Approximately 1–2.5 hours) Warmed, all-natural breakfast scones or a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit
Note: United will serve meals or snacks on flights longer than 700 miles in the following markets:
Chicago O'Hare to/from Boston, Denver, New York LaGuardia and New York/Newark
Denver to/from Houston Intercontinental and Los Angeles
We had the same choice of mcmuffin or honey nut cheerios this morning on UA 206 ORD-MCO, though the FA also offered a "continental breakfast" (as in Europe, not sCO) of the fruit and yogurt and cinnamon roll or croissant. A little creativity to make the other choices spread farther.
Jan 31, 2014, 7:31 pm
#146
Join Date: May 2006
Location: STL
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,429
Well seeing as the "continental breakfast" offering was nothing more than assembling items from each existing tray setup, I would either chalk this up to an FA hoping to score leftover/extra Jeff McMuffins and/or cereal for the rest of the crew or an effort to make it seem like there are really 3 meals choices instead of the crummy 2 on offer.
Feb 2, 2014, 8:04 pm
#147
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM/AA Gold & 1MM/HH Gold/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,924
Flight/Route: UA484/DEN-DCA
Aircraft: 757
Departure Time/Duration: 10:26 AM/2h42m
Meal: Lunch
PDBs were offered and orders taken in rows 1 and 2, then row 6, and then rows 3-5. Choice of garden salad with shrimp or chicken hot pocket. No mention of tomato soup when orders taken.
Oatmeal raisin cookies were passed out after trays were picked up.
Aircraft: 757
Departure Time/Duration: 10:26 AM/2h42m
Meal: Lunch
PDBs were offered and orders taken in rows 1 and 2, then row 6, and then rows 3-5. Choice of garden salad with shrimp or chicken hot pocket. No mention of tomato soup when orders taken.
Oatmeal raisin cookies were passed out after trays were picked up.
Last edited by TWA Guy; Feb 3, 2014 at 7:30 am
Feb 2, 2014, 8:10 pm
#148
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
I've still never had an UA cheeseburger. 
Feb 3, 2014, 12:53 am
#149
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,814
I had the cheeseburger a couple of weeks ago San Francisco-ORD and it was not bad.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Feb 11, 2014 at 6:55 pm Reason: image removal
Feb 3, 2014, 3:43 am
#150
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