2014 Let's Eat - Domestic/Canada/Latin America First, BusinessFirst, & Business Class
Apr 17, 2014, 11:59 am
#316
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FLL
Programs: United Premier 1K; Alaska MVP 75K; Hilton Honors Diamond; Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 667
Consider yourself lucky. Despite a general lack of variety, breakfast is the most consistent (and hearty) meal UA offers.
Apr 17, 2014, 3:28 pm
#317
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,506
UA1006 BOG-IAH
Int'l 752
Dinner (red-eye)
No menu. The choices were beef or a fish/shrimp combination. I went for the fish. It was sloppily plated, cold, and basically inedible. Came with a green salad that was poorly shredded and had I think one black olive and one tomato wedge. Desert was a single foil wrapped truffle that looked as if it had been left in the sun all day.
Service was awful. Only exception was the purser, who turned out to be pretty pleasant. But she didn't show up front until after the dinner service.
Connecting to . . .
UA1276 IAH-LAX
Int'l 752
Breakfast
The standard horrible UA breakfast that I've seen at least 20 times over the past two years. I passed on everything.
Service was (again) awful.
Int'l 752
Dinner (red-eye)
No menu. The choices were beef or a fish/shrimp combination. I went for the fish. It was sloppily plated, cold, and basically inedible. Came with a green salad that was poorly shredded and had I think one black olive and one tomato wedge. Desert was a single foil wrapped truffle that looked as if it had been left in the sun all day.
Service was awful. Only exception was the purser, who turned out to be pretty pleasant. But she didn't show up front until after the dinner service.
Connecting to . . .
UA1276 IAH-LAX
Int'l 752
Breakfast
The standard horrible UA breakfast that I've seen at least 20 times over the past two years. I passed on everything.
Service was (again) awful.
Apr 17, 2014, 4:13 pm
#318
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,930
Dinner, on the other hand...
Last edited by MatthewLAX; Apr 17, 2014 at 6:52 pm Reason: removed animated picture
Apr 17, 2014, 4:33 pm
#319
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
Can you elaborate on the awful serice? My biggest complaint about UA premium cabins is the "disappearing crew" immediately after my tray is cleared But BOG-IAH redeye is usually pretty quiet after dinner since most people are sleeping, so the disappearing crew wouldn't surprise me so much.
As noted above, my meal was cold and sloppily plated. Whoever was manning the galley clearly just didn't care. The crewmembers who handled drinks and meal service were distant and generally unfriendly. The only exception was the purser, but she didn't make an appearance up front until we were several hours into the flight, and by then it was too late. She did apologize profusely for the mishandling of the drunk seated next to me.
Apr 17, 2014, 5:03 pm
#320
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,646
The biggest problem with the service on that particular flight was the way the flight crew handled the incredibly intoxicated pax seated next me. He was stumbling drunk when he boarded; they should never have let him on. But they did, then proceeded to serve him something like 10-15 more drinks (seriously) over the first two hours of the flight. His antics thereafter made sleep impossible.
Upcoming DEN-SEA trip, blocked at 2hr, 50 min and 1024 miles.
It is the 8:06pm departure so I am aware this is not within the 'traditional' meantime window for purpose of UA's policy.Wouldn't this then qualify for the snack plate as it is >900 miles?
On my itinerary, it is coded as 'refreshments'.
Anyone else able to provide a firsthand experience?
Also, FWIW, as much as the 'snack' is hated I don't mind it because I am vegetarian. The salty lunch meat aside, it provides me a decent snack similar to what I would eat home.
It is the 8:06pm departure so I am aware this is not within the 'traditional' meantime window for purpose of UA's policy.Wouldn't this then qualify for the snack plate as it is >900 miles?
On my itinerary, it is coded as 'refreshments'.
Anyone else able to provide a firsthand experience?
Also, FWIW, as much as the 'snack' is hated I don't mind it because I am vegetarian. The salty lunch meat aside, it provides me a decent snack similar to what I would eat home.
By the same logic, I vote that we propose to $mi/J that we start paying ~90% of the asking price for our tickets.
Apr 17, 2014, 5:22 pm
#321
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Virgin Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 204
Is it sad that I've been flying so much SFO-BOS transcons these days that I've missed the old SFO-JFK?
Anyway, the bad and the good of SFO-BOS this past Monday:
Some passengers (including me) apparently didn't deserve ramekins for their nuts (though did get my first choice so not really complaining, but this explains some of the cuts...).
And this picture doesn't make it look particularly appetizing, but man was this delicious. What appears to be a slightly new menu item (at least I haven't seen it yet in the last 10 tcons in F): spinach cannelloni with alfredo sauce (topped with some sundried tomato). Maybe I was just really hungry, but it was some of the best food I've had on UA domestic so far.
Anyway, the bad and the good of SFO-BOS this past Monday:
Some passengers (including me) apparently didn't deserve ramekins for their nuts (though did get my first choice so not really complaining, but this explains some of the cuts...).
And this picture doesn't make it look particularly appetizing, but man was this delicious. What appears to be a slightly new menu item (at least I haven't seen it yet in the last 10 tcons in F): spinach cannelloni with alfredo sauce (topped with some sundried tomato). Maybe I was just really hungry, but it was some of the best food I've had on UA domestic so far.
Apr 17, 2014, 5:24 pm
#322
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,646
And this picture doesn't make it look particularly appetizing, but man was this delicious. What appears to be a slightly new menu item (at least I haven't seen it yet in the last 10 tcons in F): spinach cannelloni with alfredo sauce (topped with some sundried tomato). Maybe I was just really hungry, but it was some of the best food I've had on UA domestic so far.
Apr 17, 2014, 7:41 pm
#323
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
The incredibly shrinking burrito
UA820
SFO-MSP
A319
"Lunch"
How much smaller can domestic mid-con lunches yet?
SFO-MSP
A319
"Lunch"
How much smaller can domestic mid-con lunches yet?
Apr 20, 2014, 3:27 pm
#324
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Former 1KMM now free as UA Gold MM, former HH D, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,121
And the lazy, nuts, entree, cookie all-in-one presentation:
Apr 20, 2014, 3:29 pm
#325
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Apr 20, 2014, 3:38 pm
#326
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
Apr 20, 2014, 4:22 pm
#327
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,646
Apr 20, 2014, 6:12 pm
#328
Join Date: May 2002
Location: US
Programs: UA GS 2MM
Posts: 1,740
Though lazy, I love the idea of getting everything all at once. I prefer to eat and then either work or sleep. Waiting for a round of drinks and nuts, then the meal, and then...eventually...the cookie takes up sleeping/working time.
As an aside, the onion soup featured in the photo is disgusting. Easily the worst soup UA has put out.
As an aside, the onion soup featured in the photo is disgusting. Easily the worst soup UA has put out.
Apr 20, 2014, 9:02 pm
#329
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,700
Apr 20, 2014, 10:45 pm
#330
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
Sadly, I'm anti-cannelloni. I just don't like that particular dish. But it's been on the BusinessFirst menus for at least 3-4 years.
United makes beautiful soups, but the French Onion isn't one of them. It's a shame; they make such amazing tomato bisque, mushroom soup, tortilla soup, and my beloved "sweet chili soup."
The cookie with the meal usually screams, "We went to get through the service as soon as humanly possible because we want our breaks."
I'm starting to learn my favorite "BYO" options. I have my favorites from Newark; I just need to find a favorite BYO choice from Houston. If United follows in American's footsteps and posts its menus in advance, I would know "this is a flight that will require BYO" or "I actually like that meal." But given United's current cost-cutting and problems with SHARES, I don't see that happening any time soon.
United makes beautiful soups, but the French Onion isn't one of them. It's a shame; they make such amazing tomato bisque, mushroom soup, tortilla soup, and my beloved "sweet chili soup."
The cookie with the meal usually screams, "We went to get through the service as soon as humanly possible because we want our breaks."
I'm starting to learn my favorite "BYO" options. I have my favorites from Newark; I just need to find a favorite BYO choice from Houston. If United follows in American's footsteps and posts its menus in advance, I would know "this is a flight that will require BYO" or "I actually like that meal." But given United's current cost-cutting and problems with SHARES, I don't see that happening any time soon.