Oct 14, 2015, 3:37 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA Press Release dated October 14 2015.
Oct 25: PS menus get upgraded and look delicious
Nov 1: Domestic first flights between 1:30 and 3:59pm that are more than 3 hours get lunch
Nov 1: Hawaii and transcon redeyes get dinner service
Beginning Nov. 1, the airline will refresh lunch and dinner choices for United First and United Business customers on flights throughout the U.S. and Canada, and to Mexico, Caribbean and Latin America leisure markets.
United-operated flights that currently offer meal service will addnew dishes, like Spanish paella, mushroom risotto and seafood cioppino on shorter dinner flights.
Meal window expansion
The carrier will also expand meals to:
Lunch flights longer than three hours, departing between 1:30 and 3:59 p.m., which will offer options that include seasonal entree salads like a Napa salad with grilled salmon, goat cheese and fig and an arugula salad with Milanese-style chicken; and
Late-night flights between Hawaii and Houston, Chicago, New York/Newark and Washington, which will offer full dinner service with new entrees, such as hoisin short ribs with wasabi grits and stir-fried vegetables.
Late-night non-p.s. transcontinental flights and service between Hawaii and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver, as well as other late-departing flights of at least five hours and 20 minutes, will offer hearty sandwiches after takeoff, such as a pretzel burger with bleu cheese dressing, arugula and pickled onions, followed by warmed pastries before arrival.
United will continue to offer its p.s. made-to-order sundaes for dessert, followed by bake-on-board cookies prior to arrival.
Oct 25: PS menus get upgraded and look delicious
Nov 1: Domestic first flights between 1:30 and 3:59pm that are more than 3 hours get lunch
Nov 1: Hawaii and transcon redeyes get dinner service
Beginning Nov. 1, the airline will refresh lunch and dinner choices for United First and United Business customers on flights throughout the U.S. and Canada, and to Mexico, Caribbean and Latin America leisure markets.
United-operated flights that currently offer meal service will addnew dishes, like Spanish paella, mushroom risotto and seafood cioppino on shorter dinner flights.
Meal window expansion
The carrier will also expand meals to:
Lunch flights longer than three hours, departing between 1:30 and 3:59 p.m., which will offer options that include seasonal entree salads like a Napa salad with grilled salmon, goat cheese and fig and an arugula salad with Milanese-style chicken; and
Late-night flights between Hawaii and Houston, Chicago, New York/Newark and Washington, which will offer full dinner service with new entrees, such as hoisin short ribs with wasabi grits and stir-fried vegetables.
Late-night non-p.s. transcontinental flights and service between Hawaii and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver, as well as other late-departing flights of at least five hours and 20 minutes, will offer hearty sandwiches after takeoff, such as a pretzel burger with bleu cheese dressing, arugula and pickled onions, followed by warmed pastries before arrival.
United will continue to offer its p.s. made-to-order sundaes for dessert, followed by bake-on-board cookies prior to arrival.
Hi everyone,
As a follow-up to our recent news release about investments we’re making in dining onboard and in our United Clubs, we have a number of details to share about changes coming this weekend to every cabin on many of our North and Latin America flights, to offer you restaurant-quality meals. These latest upgrades come in addition to those we made October 25 to premium-cabin dining on our p.s. Premium Service.
For a more in-depth look at the investment we’re making in our food, UnitedAirtime.com now includes insightful foodie stories and a new video about why we want the food we serve to be exciting and interesting – something we’re working on in partnership with The Trotter Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring new generations of culinary minds.
Here are some highlights of menu changes on flights within the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and leisure markets in Mexico; which will be reflected beginning November 2 on our united.com North America premium-cabin dining page and Choice Menu page:
p.s. Premium Service enhancements beginning October 25:
Premium-cabin dining changes beginning November 1:
We hope many of you have the opportunity to experience these new dining options and we look forward to hearing from you.
-UA Insider
As a follow-up to our recent news release about investments we’re making in dining onboard and in our United Clubs, we have a number of details to share about changes coming this weekend to every cabin on many of our North and Latin America flights, to offer you restaurant-quality meals. These latest upgrades come in addition to those we made October 25 to premium-cabin dining on our p.s. Premium Service.
For a more in-depth look at the investment we’re making in our food, UnitedAirtime.com now includes insightful foodie stories and a new video about why we want the food we serve to be exciting and interesting – something we’re working on in partnership with The Trotter Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring new generations of culinary minds.
Here are some highlights of menu changes on flights within the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and leisure markets in Mexico; which will be reflected beginning November 2 on our united.com North America premium-cabin dining page and Choice Menu page:
p.s. Premium Service enhancements beginning October 25:
Premium-cabin dining changes beginning November 1:
-New seasonal entrée salads with refreshed protein component served on the side
-New side salads and transcon/Hawaii starter salads
-The United Business cabin on three-cabin aircraft will offer all entrée choices served in the United First cabin
-United Express two-cabin regional jet service will also offer new premium-cabin lunch, dinner and snacks, and expanded lunch meal service to flights longer than three hours
Choice Menu Bistro on Board changes beginning November 1 We hope many of you have the opportunity to experience these new dining options and we look forward to hearing from you.
-UA Insider
Starting Oct 25 '15 UA PS/HNL long-haul redeyes/mid-cons will feature BETTER options!
Jan 21, 2015, 5:02 pm
#76
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Alexandria, Longboat Key
Programs: UA Gold Marriott Gold AA Gold Choice Gold Wyndham PLAT IHG PLAT Avis President's Club Amtrak Select
Posts: 2,263
American only changed the meal windows down from 1,000 miles to 900 miles and put warm nuts back on flights longer than two hours. The reversals were only minor in detail. The catering is still the same as before the reversals. The first reversals were on DCA/IAD-MIA as too much paid customers complained about receiving Dougie's basket of delights than meal service. One can only hope Parker and Co. receive enough complaints about the quality AND quantity of the post 9/1 meal services to switch catering back to pre 9/1 American catering. Parker and Co. can talk about the new Dreamliners, which BTW look fantastic, and new flatbeds in business, albeit they had no input in the design, but degrading the soft products matters. Only Delta seems to care about trying to improve their soft product at the expense of devaluing Skymiles.
Jan 21, 2015, 5:11 pm
#77
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
"First See (and taste), Then Believe".
Jan 21, 2015, 5:15 pm
#78
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
Fix. The. Wine.
Then,
Fix. The. Coffee.
Jan 21, 2015, 5:16 pm
#79
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
After the "million dollar investment" last fall, I am dubiously skeptical about what exactly UA means by "reinventing premium dining." But the willingness of some people to accept the thinking that UA made a snap decision based on January bookings is just classic FT silliness.
Jan 21, 2015, 5:21 pm
#80
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Don't expect much there yet - the release says new menus for PS are later this year.
And they are sorely needed.
And they are sorely needed.
Jan 21, 2015, 5:24 pm
#81
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MP Gold, 1MM, Global Entry
Posts: 470
The other loss I see is afternoon flights in this scenario:
800 to 1,499 miles: Full meal service including 2 entrée choices on most flights departing between 5:00am and 8:00pm. Lunch service will consist of a choice of a protein salad served with soup or premium sandwich paired with a side salad, and dinner service will consist of 2 hot entrée choices served with a side salad. On flights departing between 1:30pm and 3:59pm, and all flights departing after 8:01pm, a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit will be offered.
My read of it is that a 2:00 PM IAD-DEN will no longer get a meal, but get a snack basket instead. Is that correct?
800 to 1,499 miles: Full meal service including 2 entrée choices on most flights departing between 5:00am and 8:00pm. Lunch service will consist of a choice of a protein salad served with soup or premium sandwich paired with a side salad, and dinner service will consist of 2 hot entrée choices served with a side salad. On flights departing between 1:30pm and 3:59pm, and all flights departing after 8:01pm, a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit will be offered.
My read of it is that a 2:00 PM IAD-DEN will no longer get a meal, but get a snack basket instead. Is that correct?
Jan 21, 2015, 5:38 pm
#82
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 794
I don't understand why it says there will "continue" to be a vegetarian option. There is almost never a vegetarian option. Sometimes you can cobble something together, but it's pretty rare there's actually a meatless option domestically.
I wouldn't even mind the salad minus the meat if they would have anything in the world other than ranch dressing.
I wouldn't even mind the salad minus the meat if they would have anything in the world other than ranch dressing.
Jan 21, 2015, 5:39 pm
#83
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
^
Amen! I'd also say improve the premium alcohol selection all-around. Dewar's, Jim Beam, and Jack Daniel's just KILL me every time. A nice single malt and a better blended Scotch and better bourbon would really impress. But I'd still improve the wine and coffee first, since I know more people drink those.
Still, nice move, United. I've been reasonably pleased with UA in F/B/BF/GF when compared to AA and DL, so I look forward to the coming improvements that might continue to make UA my fave among the US carriers.
Amen! I'd also say improve the premium alcohol selection all-around. Dewar's, Jim Beam, and Jack Daniel's just KILL me every time. A nice single malt and a better blended Scotch and better bourbon would really impress. But I'd still improve the wine and coffee first, since I know more people drink those.
Still, nice move, United. I've been reasonably pleased with UA in F/B/BF/GF when compared to AA and DL, so I look forward to the coming improvements that might continue to make UA my fave among the US carriers.
Jan 21, 2015, 6:44 pm
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
800 to 1,499 miles: Full meal service including 2 entrée choices on most flights departing between 5:00am and 8:00pm. Lunch service will consist of a choice of a protein salad served with soup or premium sandwich paired with a side salad, and dinner service will consist of a choice between a hot entrée served with a side salad or a protein salad with hot soup. On flights departing between 1:30pm and 3:59pm, and all flights departing after 8:01pm, a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit will be offered.
1,500 to 2,299 miles: Full meal service on flights departing between 5:00am and 9:00pm, including 3 entrée choices, with sorbet dessert and mint leaf on lunch flights, and gelato or ice cream with choice of toppings for dessert on dinner flights. On flights departing after 9:01pm, a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit will be offered.
Longer than 2,300 miles: Transcontinental and Hawaii flights will offer a full multi-course meal service with 3 entrée choices on flights departing before 9:00pm, a mid-flight snack selection of premium packaged snacks and fresh fruit on longer-haul Hawaii flights, and a pre-arrival refreshment or snack on all flights.
That's why I don't think this is a cost add for the company. They've cut a lot of cold plates and have removed a ton of dishware flying around the country.
Jan 21, 2015, 8:50 pm
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,889
Looking forward to the changes. And also, while the current cookies they have been using have been fine, I'm happy to see they are using Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, which I always have liked.
Not from DEN, but ORD/IAH-West coast, from my read, will mostly get meal service up until 9:00pm. Per UA Insider post on 1500-2299 miles gets full meal service on flights departing 5:00am - 9:00pm. ORD - west coast, and IAH, except LAX/SAN, are 1500+ miles (IAH-SFO, for example, per Great Circle Mapper is 1635 miles). This will be a huge improvement - the one choice of a snack plate, always seemingly with prosciutto, is terrible. At least if there's only one option, make it something that is a little more popular, like chicken. Which wouldn't even help my wife, who is vegetarian, and could never eat anything (and when asked for a snack box from Y, almost always charged for).
I've done a lot of ORD - SFO at ~8:00pm, so having a full meal, with an actual choice, will be a major improvement. 8:00pm flights ex-ORD never had a "meal" so they are definitely not losing.
Yup - this is what my wife normally does.
I agree about the last part, however, I believe it was always supposed to be the case.
The only loss that seems to come out of this is 8:01PM and later/redeye flights that lose the cold snack plate and instead get a snack basket only. This is in line with DL; for the redeyes I'm for the most part ok, however there are a lot of 8-9PM flights from IAH/ORD/DEN-West Coast that will definitely be losing meals. If you're connecting through any of these hubs from 50 seat markets/non-F cabin RJS (say STLIAH to IAHLAX), it is definitely a loss.
I've done a lot of ORD - SFO at ~8:00pm, so having a full meal, with an actual choice, will be a major improvement. 8:00pm flights ex-ORD never had a "meal" so they are definitely not losing.
From the USAToday article and the UA press release, it sounds like plenty. French toast soufflé and steel-cut oatmeal at breakfast, along with the soups and salads (Strawberry Fields) at lunch. I'm also happy to hear there's a dedicated veg entree at dinner as that hasn't always been the case.
I agree about the last part, however, I believe it was always supposed to be the case.
Jan 21, 2015, 10:16 pm
#87
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Ok, so sounds like my flight from ORD -> LAX in May just went from SNACK to a FULL Dinner flight! 
Before, the 7PM was the cut off time. Anything after that got a snack service.
Before, the 7PM was the cut off time. Anything after that got a snack service.
Jan 21, 2015, 10:47 pm
#88
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: KOA/PHKO
Programs: Starbucks Gold :-)
Posts: 831
Doing EWR-HNL Feb 2; Looking forward to trying!
Jan 21, 2015, 10:47 pm
#89
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,893
[*]Longer than 2,300 miles: Transcontinental and Hawaii flights will offer a full multi-course meal service with 3 entrée choices on flights departing before 9:00pm, a mid-flight snack selection of premium packaged snacks and fresh fruit on longer-haul Hawaii flights, and a pre-arrival refreshment or snack on all flights.
Is that a service downgrade? It's too bad it's not scheduled at 8:45 p.m. or 9:00 p.m.
Jan 21, 2015, 10:48 pm
#90
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA1MM*GL/1K, AA, BnVy PlatL, HH Silver,
Posts: 681
I don't understand why it says there will "continue" to be a vegetarian option. There is almost never a vegetarian option. Sometimes you can cobble something together, but it's pretty rare there's actually a meatless option domestically.
I wouldn't even mind the salad minus the meat if they would have anything in the world other than ranch dressing.
I wouldn't even mind the salad minus the meat if they would have anything in the world other than ranch dressing.
United First and vegetarian are two words that don't go together anymore unfortunately. Usually it's chicken paired with chicken and occasionally some other meat product out of ORD.
Will be interesting if true, but most likely I'd still go with AA which has Had a vegetarian offering on every flight ...lunch and dinner...that I can pre-order and guarantee since the U.S. merger (o the concept and convenience for F buying passengers).
At least the press release on the flyer talk home page indicates that they are now aspiring to "restaurant-quality" as opposed to previous goal of "institutional-quality." That sounds like a plus.
If any reports on them truly offering a vegetarian option that won't be gone once they pass through the GS/1K upgrades before getting to the F fare buying lowlifes, I would love to hear them.