Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Official UNITED policy for meal preferences is to prioritize in the following order: (as of late 2023)
The proper way is to take orders front-to-back, and apply priority in the galley afterwards. Some FAs may still hop around the cabin seeking GS and 1Ks and take their orders first.
With the sharp increase in passengers pre-ordering meals, front-to-back ordering is now predominant.
Previous thread: Current UA Process for Prioritizing Meal Orders in Premium Cabins [ARCHIVE]
- Pre-orders
- Global Services members
- 1K members
- All other revenue passengers from front to back (no difference between $$$ or mileage or upgraders)
- Non-Revs
The proper way is to take orders front-to-back, and apply priority in the galley afterwards. Some FAs may still hop around the cabin seeking GS and 1Ks and take their orders first.
With the sharp increase in passengers pre-ordering meals, front-to-back ordering is now predominant.
Previous thread: Current UA Process for Prioritizing Meal Orders in Premium Cabins [ARCHIVE]
Current UA Process for Prioritizing Meal Orders in Premium Cabins
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA EXP, UA GLD, Bonvoy Titan, HH Dia, WoH Exp
Posts: 2,673
This discussion of meal order issues is laughable when AA has had meal pre-orders for a while now. Why can't UA do the same? Then they can't say "Oh we didn't load enough xyz meals".
For me, when they ran out of a certain pre-arrival meal, the FA told me to order the pre-arrival meal in advance, during regular dinner selection, on my next flight. It worked liked a charm on the return segment. Well at least it worked when I was a 1K last year. This year as a PLT, the FAs may not save a preferred pre-arrival meal for me anymore
For me, when they ran out of a certain pre-arrival meal, the FA told me to order the pre-arrival meal in advance, during regular dinner selection, on my next flight. It worked liked a charm on the return segment. Well at least it worked when I was a 1K last year. This year as a PLT, the FAs may not save a preferred pre-arrival meal for me anymore
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,868
For me, when they ran out of a certain pre-arrival meal, the FA told me to order the pre-arrival meal in advance, during regular dinner selection, on my next flight. It worked liked a charm on the return segment. Well at least it worked when I was a 1K last year. This year as a PLT, the FAs may not save a preferred pre-arrival meal for me anymore
#3
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Guatemala
Programs: CM PP DL GM
Posts: 406
No Luck for a GS
This year I have flown 15 long haul BF flights I never been asked for my meal before other passengers and I have sat in the middle of the cabin so at least for this GS has never happened this year
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,223
You're not supposed to get asked first. FAs are supposed to take orders by row and prioritize based on status in the galley.
#5
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: 4,369
Just to add a bit of levity to this thread...
The other day I was in in 1A on a transcon 757-300. The FA comes to me and deadpans, "Hi, I see this is your first United Airlines flight so I want to take your meal order first so you may enjoy our new cuisine options."
After a half-second of initial shock (as a GS and 3+mm), we both burst out laughing. And the ribs dish was quite good!
The other day I was in in 1A on a transcon 757-300. The FA comes to me and deadpans, "Hi, I see this is your first United Airlines flight so I want to take your meal order first so you may enjoy our new cuisine options."
After a half-second of initial shock (as a GS and 3+mm), we both burst out laughing. And the ribs dish was quite good!
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA 1k (12 year fallen GS) 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,153
Just to add a bit of levity to this thread...
The other day I was in in 1A on a transcon 757-300. The FA comes to me and deadpans, "Hi, I see this is your first United Airlines flight so I want to take your meal order first so you may enjoy our new cuisine options."
After a half-second of initial shock (as a GS and 3+mm), we both burst out laughing. And the ribs dish was quite good!
The other day I was in in 1A on a transcon 757-300. The FA comes to me and deadpans, "Hi, I see this is your first United Airlines flight so I want to take your meal order first so you may enjoy our new cuisine options."
After a half-second of initial shock (as a GS and 3+mm), we both burst out laughing. And the ribs dish was quite good!
I like the fact that the crews actually recall that I don't eat the main meals heading to APAC - and that are comfortable enough to have fun with it...
#8
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Guatemala
Programs: CM PP DL GM
Posts: 406
#9
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 66,954
I just did this on my flight home NRT-DEN ysterday. I told them to please save me a pre-arrival Asian meal. So I finally got one, the Yakisoba, and ironically it was awful! Tasted like Oodles of Noodles with ketchup and cardboard discs (which were supposed to be scallops).
They ran out of cereal in the first row of C yesterday, too. "You won't believe this, but they only cater 4 cereals for all of C, and the first 4 pax asked for it." In the J/K seats, there were indeed 4 pax asked ahead.
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,892
The policy is to not bounce around the cabin but to ask everyone their first and second choice (they usually only ask GS for first choice as should get it) then sort it out in the galley by status. So you would get priority based on GS but they should not be coming to you first and bounce around the cabin to the other GS and 1K's.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,879
Actually, there is no policy that you have any more priority over anyone relative to meal ordering. You have priority in meal choice. The actual policy may have you approached last (eg if you're in row 6 of a 75x), but your choice should be available, assuming the # of GSs seated in front of you ordering the same thing is less than the quantity of the selection catered.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; May 29, 2015 at 1:27 pm Reason: speling
#13
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,354
DEN-PHL today with 5 rows (20 seats of F). I actually paid for F since it was that or sit middle E- due to late (a week) booking. They did not take orders and prioritize. Asian noodle with chicken salad or a chicken sandwich- but when they got me in in row four, only Chicken sandwich...
I asked what happened to the noodle salad and she just smiled and said "I have a chicken sandwich!". Kind of annoying since I know that 5 people ahead of me were upgrades and I paid cash money to be there. I frankly don't give a crap if they were all GS.
When it comes to TODs, cash is king for UA, but not so much for F food.
Chicken sandwich was HARD. I had a hard time forking it, and I the chicken was all in one quarter of the sandwich. I've been a fan of the new F cabin food up until now.
I asked what happened to the noodle salad and she just smiled and said "I have a chicken sandwich!". Kind of annoying since I know that 5 people ahead of me were upgrades and I paid cash money to be there. I frankly don't give a crap if they were all GS.
When it comes to TODs, cash is king for UA, but not so much for F food.
Chicken sandwich was HARD. I had a hard time forking it, and I the chicken was all in one quarter of the sandwich. I've been a fan of the new F cabin food up until now.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA-GS, Hyatt-Defiantly Diamond, Marriott-Platinum, SPG-Platinum
Posts: 499
If I get upgraded at T-120, I show on the upgrade list. So how do you know the upgrades aren't GS? And I assume you read the wiki, so is this just a venting of anger for not getting your choice?