RUMOR-"Busted?": Free alcohol returns to TPAC on Jan 1, 2015
Dec 18, 2014, 2:42 pm
#46
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Most folks have reported few problems using "expired" drink chits. I've been denied only once, by a German flight crew.
Dec 18, 2014, 3:14 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,916
Dec 18, 2014, 3:43 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Seriously though, depends what you're doing on arrival... if your 16 hour ORD-HKG is followed by a another flight, say HKG-SIN....
Dec 18, 2014, 4:41 pm
#49
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,771
It's way better than the free wine in the United Clubs, Sycamore aka SICKamore.
Dec 22, 2014, 3:38 pm
#51
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
I still have a pile (>1000) of 1990's Headphone/Drink chits
When my grandad retired from united in 92 they gave him (or he grabbed) a box of them
The FA's who have been around that long happily take them and ask me where on earth I got one
Because of Tentacle Jr(s) I have told work I'm not flying next year so I'm trying to use everything up now
Dec 23, 2014, 11:23 am
#52
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Plenty of folks can responsibly have a beer or wine with the "meal" and maybe another, and resent having to shell out $15 to do so.
That said, while I'd prefer completely free, I would be fine with an approach that provided a pre-meal drink and a drink at the meal for free, and charge after that.
Dec 23, 2014, 11:49 am
#53
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: UA PP, AA, DL, BA, CX, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 2,002
Dec 23, 2014, 1:14 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 973
Yes, why the double standard, since UA will be the only carrier (except may be Icelandair) on TATL not to offer free alcohol, even all the Middle East carriers offer it. They can at least offer it once during the first meal.
Jan 1, 2015, 9:18 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: AMS
Posts: 899
This is what I don't understand indeed. Why should TATL pay for wine on UA while their closest partner LH is serving wine for free (and better wine than the small bottles on UA)?
Jan 1, 2015, 9:37 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Their "network" of closest partner TATL serves much better beer as well, free of charge (LX, though I believe LH has decent beer, but haven't done them in Y in some time)
Jan 1, 2015, 7:51 pm
#59
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego (SAN)
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 939
US has served complimentary wine with the main meal on TATL flights for quite some time, and aligned to the AA standard of free beer and wine throughout the flight in September. UA is indeed the lone (significant) TATL player in this regard.
Jan 1, 2015, 7:56 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468