fezzington

Currently in Late-Alpha/Early-Beta testing. Wider rollout to beta testers to come as the bugs are worked out. I'd imagine a system wide rollout by Q3, but that's a total guess (in other words, don't quote me on it)

gcashin

United Express flight for YYC-SFO last week on a E175. No pax boarded during the GS pre-board, and 3 pax boarded during the 1K pre-board including myself. Meal options offered were chicken salad or pasta salad for rows 1-2, but by the time she got to me in 3A, it was only pasta salad being offered for rows 3-4. I'd asked about the chicken salad, and she said said she'd run out.

UA Express carriers seem to be far worse at prioritizing meals, as they seem to just go back to front, and rather than asking for first choice, it seems quite common for the FA's to just allocate the options as they go and by the time they get to row 3-4, there's often only one choice.

bocastephen

Did you remind the FA you were 1K and entitled to your meal choice and she would need to give you the chicken and figure it out for the other customers?

chavala

gcashin

I did and after some grumbling, and glares, I was able to get a salad with chicken. First she said "there's a lot of 1K's on board", and I noted that only 3 of us boarded with the 1K pre-board call and asked if she could check. Eventually she gave me the chicken salad, but she was clearly annoyed that I'd questioned the front-to-back meal prioritization, and had got herself into an awkward situation by committing the meals without checking status.

She didn't make any effort to offer PDB's either despite having plenty of time to stand around the galley, so she didn't seem to care too much.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

iluv2fly

Actually, she probably said: "You can't have your choice because this prima donna 1K DYKWIA in 3A wanted the chicken and forced me to give it to him. He wouldn't stop complaining so I had to do it. Blame him."

(Actually, this happened to me once. I overheard the FA and while it was not those exact words, it was close.)

cfischer

I hope you reported it to UA ...

bluedemon211

I'm not saying this was the case, but not every 1K pre-boards (prefer to wait until later), or perhaps lined up in BG1 not realizing they could pre-board (lots of people not on FT really don't know all rules). That said, I really like the "oh, do you no longer give preference to GS and 1K status?"

gcashin

She did have go go back to another customer, so didn't hear exactly what was said, but I wouldn't be too surprised.

I generally don't write in about small stuff, and I did get my meal choice, but I may consider writing in, as it was a bit annoying/awkward. I did get a post-flight survey and noted it there, although I'm sure those comments get aggregated at a pretty general level. She also didn't offer PDB's, so not a huge deal either, but it wasn't great service.

Yeah, I know there could have been other GS/1K's, but YYC-SFO is not a 1K heavy route in my experience. I think there were only 2 pax left on the upgrade list after all the upgrades cleared, and there were plenty of Plat/Gold/Silver bag tags in the cabin. While I'm not certain, I'd be willing to bet that the pax in the first two rows that were offered a two meal choices were not all 1K and GS.

TomMM

It's been my recent experience that FAs already know my status when taking my meal order or during drink service on single cabin UX flights.

tarheelnj

I find it very difficult when an FA says they only have one option to ask the above question or some variation of it - and not sound like a DYKWIA, particularly if her response is that there are a large, but unspecified, number of GS/1K's sitting ahead of me.

I'm on a flight tomorrow, where I'm in the last row/right side in FC (which are the last two seats they get to when taking meal orders). Do you think I'd have any luck if I went up to the GA before boarding, mentioned that I'm a 1K in the back of FC, and ask how many GS/1K flyers are in FC? (Assuming FC checked in full.) If it's a low number, I'd be more likely to push back. If it's 3/4 of the seats, then better to hedge my bets and buy something in the terminal.

lincolnjkc

IMO, that's boarderline DYKWA and I'm not sure how many agents will be willing to answer (personally: there are some throughout the system that I know well enough I'd feel comfortable asking--but likely wouldn't--and if I didn't already know the agent anyway I wouldn't feel comfortable asking). Watching the 1K/GS PB groups is probably the best way to judge approximate elite loads. As a picky eater, I feel your pain but would assume at least one if not both of the options will be borderline inedible and depending on my hunger level either pre-game in the terminal or request something from the back -- and have never had an issue with either, save for the occasional "So you've heard about my cooking, haven't you?" from a FA

gre

I fly IAD or DCA-DEN multiple times/year (family issues). I generally buy F if it's less than 2x E (which it is at most of my chosen times).

I also prefer the last row (5 on a 737) because I simply cannot bring myself to recline into someone else's space (my problem, not the subject of this post).

My questions regard meal selection and service. On EVERY flight this year I have been told "all we have left is...". Didn't meal selection used to be offered to paid pax before upgraders? Didn't UA occasionally start at the back of F even when they did not go by paid vs. upgrade? Does status even matter any more?

Regarding service, sitting in the back I see that those in the front are continually waited upon. FAs seem to ignore the back rows upon even the most trivial requests from rows further forward. Example, someone in row 2 asks for another drink, then someone else in row 2 asks for another drink, etc., and I have to push the call button (which I really don't like to do) just to get a little attention. I generally just walk up to the galley with my empty glass (but then I have to climb over my seat opponent because I prefer a window).

Comments? Solutions?

onthesam

It's supposed to be determined based on status as follows (without regard to fare class):

1. Global Services
2. Premier 1K
3. All other revenue passengers (no difference between $$$ or mileage or upgraders)
4. Nonrevs

Orders to be taken front to back with prioritization in the galley.

On service, OP do you usually sit aisle or window?