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]
Oct 24, 2018, 8:26 am
#2281
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
Flying D1 redeye SFO-BOS on Friday, and was just offered the option of pre-selecting from three pretty good looking options (beef tenderloin, chicken piccata, black truffle ravioli).
UA, why can't you allow us to pre-select? And why can't you serve a real meal on flights departing after 9 pm?
UA, why can't you allow us to pre-select? And why can't you serve a real meal on flights departing after 9 pm?
Oct 24, 2018, 8:30 am
#2282
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: GEG/DEN/ATL
Programs: UA 1K, TK E+, AS MVPG, SPG&Marriott Plat, HHD, Hertz PC
Posts: 407
If not offered the 1st choice and don't really want the 2nd, I quietly remind the FAs that I'm 1K and am supposed to be getting my first choice. Believe it or not sat down next to a GS that had no idea of this benefit and was constantly getting the left overs because she preferred the last row in F.
Oct 24, 2018, 9:27 am
#2283
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Until UAs sees the imminent need to compete ... they won't. BOS-SFO, while perhaps a slow start, is now pretty routinely selling out in J much like EWR-SFO and with the frequency they offer, it really isn't a competition ... so they can get away with not offering the same benefits competitors do on their red-eyes. Until DL and AA routinely offer meal pre-orders ... UA won't go down that road, we all know they copy when needed but never innovate.
Oct 24, 2018, 3:19 pm
#2284
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
yeah, sure ... and they followed ... as usual. Mint came first as far as I recall and then UA decided it was time to make BOS-SFO a premium market. Otherwise they could have not competed on this route and they knew that damn well.
Nov 5, 2018, 10:33 am
#2285
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Various tier levels of frequent flyer/hotel plans received for bellyaching about minor flaws in the service I received.
Posts: 610
I know this policy is a YMMV policy, but recently my mileage has varied tons. On my past five flights, I've been towards the back of the cabin, and been told there was only one choice, one time being told "I'm sorry, all we have left are snack boxes from the back." Today, when I said "hmm, that's odd" (about only having one choice) the f/a went back to the galley and came back and said "Oh, I'm sorry, can I get your first and second choice" :/ My anecdotal experience is that maybe the f/as need a refresher on this policy.
Nov 5, 2018, 4:31 pm
#2286
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
Interesting thread. I don't fly UA often, and I initially came here to research if UA allowed pre-ordering of meals a month ahead of time like AA does. I now realize they don't. And worse, as a non-rev flyer using points for business class CDG-LAX, I guess I'll get last choice on the meals!
Nov 5, 2018, 5:17 pm
#2287
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: Hyatt Globalist | Jumpseat Platinum
Posts: 546
Interesting thread. I don't fly UA often, and I initially came here to research if UA allowed pre-ordering of meals a month ahead of time like AA does. I now realize they don't. And worse, as a non-rev flyer using points for business class CDG-LAX, I guess I'll get last choice on the meals!
Nov 6, 2018, 5:51 am
#2289
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,349
...one time being told "I'm sorry, all we have left are snack boxes from the back." Today, when I said "hmm, that's odd" (about only having one choice) the f/a went back to the galley and came back and said "Oh, I'm sorry, can I get your first and second choice" :/ My anecdotal experience is that maybe the f/as need a refresher on this policy.
Nov 6, 2018, 7:45 am
#2290
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
I was asked for a second choice sitting in row 1 on BOS-SFO yesterday. I wanted the eggs (quiche) not a bunch of sugary carbs (brioche french toast or cereal). I had a sense from lack of pre-boarders there were very few GS/1K on board. Told FA "no second choice." She said, "so nothing?" I just smiled. Got the quiche.
Nov 21, 2018, 12:52 pm
#2291
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,342
Is the meal prioritization any different on UA Express vs. Mainline? Currently on a UA Express flight in row 4 on an E175; options I'd heard up to row 3 were beef salad or chicken wrap, but I was only offered the chicken wrap sitting in row 4. I'd asked whether 1K's were supposed to get first choice, and the FA said "we stopped doing that a few months ago, priority is front to back now." There weren't a lot of preboards, as no one boarded during the GS call, and I was the only one to board during the 1K preboard call, so doesn't seem like an elite heavy flight.
Is the policy different on UA Express, or is this just an FA making up something instead of admitting she didn't follow priority? Even after questioning, I didn't get my first choice.
EDIT: caught a quick glance at the manifest on a trip to the lav, and confirmed what I'd expected. There was one other 1K, and a handful of Gold/Silver/No Status pax, so definitely not a cabin full of 1K/GS.
Is the policy different on UA Express, or is this just an FA making up something instead of admitting she didn't follow priority? Even after questioning, I didn't get my first choice.
EDIT: caught a quick glance at the manifest on a trip to the lav, and confirmed what I'd expected. There was one other 1K, and a handful of Gold/Silver/No Status pax, so definitely not a cabin full of 1K/GS.
Last edited by gcashin; Nov 21, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Nov 21, 2018, 12:57 pm
#2292
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
Is the meal prioritization any different on UA Express vs. Mainline? Currently on a UA Express flight in row 4 on an E175; options I'd heard up to row 3 were beef salad or chicken wrap, but I was only offered the chicken wrap sitting in row 4. I'd asked whether 1K's were supposed to get first choice, and the FA said "we stopped doing that a few months ago, priority is front to back now." There weren't a lot of preboards, as no one boarded during the GS call, and I was the only one to board during the 1K preboard call, so doesn't seem like an elite heavy flight.
Is the policy different on UA Express, or is this just an FA making up something instead of admitting she didn't follow priority? Even after questioning, I didn't get my first choice.
Is the policy different on UA Express, or is this just an FA making up something instead of admitting she didn't follow priority? Even after questioning, I didn't get my first choice.
It amazes me when FA's try to pull a fast one on a 1K or GS. Don't they realize that the higher elites usually have extensive experience in UA policy/procedures ??
Last edited by FlyngSvyr; Nov 21, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Nov 21, 2018, 2:36 pm
#2293
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
Is the meal prioritization any different on UA Express vs. Mainline? Currently on a UA Express flight in row 4 on an E175; options I'd heard up to row 3 were beef salad or chicken wrap, but I was only offered the chicken wrap sitting in row 4. I'd asked whether 1K's were supposed to get first choice, and the FA said "we stopped doing that a few months ago, priority is front to back now." There weren't a lot of preboards, as no one boarded during the GS call, and I was the only one to board during the 1K preboard call, so doesn't seem like an elite heavy flight.
Is the policy different on UA Express, or is this just an FA making up something instead of admitting she didn't follow priority? Even after questioning, I didn't get my first choice.
Is the policy different on UA Express, or is this just an FA making up something instead of admitting she didn't follow priority? Even after questioning, I didn't get my first choice.
Nov 21, 2018, 2:56 pm
#2294
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,342
FA definitely making something up. You should write in, if only to make sure this FA is trained/reminded of the proper procedure.
It amazes me when FA's try to pull a fast one on a 1K or GS. Don't they realize that the higher elites usually have extensive experience in UA policy/procedures ??
It amazes me when FA's try to pull a fast one on a 1K or GS. Don't they realize that the higher elites usually have extensive experience in UA policy/procedures ??
I'll have to keep that one in my back pocket for next time! ;-)
Nov 22, 2018, 1:06 pm
#2295
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I was on an E75 meal flight last weekend (MCI-EWR) and it was the same thing: F/A just took orders from 1A to 4D with no prioritization.