EWR764

It's difficult to quantify, but between the dozens of Express flights that went from (substantially) no food to more-or-less full service, the exception markets, the expanded meal windows, reduced mileage cutoffs for meal service, upgraded transcon meals, improved midcon desserts and snack baskets on Express, I would argue those changes have more than offset the loss of the snack tray.

Moreover, I feel it's a wiser investment, as the 'take rate' for the snack tray, on redeyes especially, always seemed to be quite low. I don't want to get too far into the weeds on this, but you're correct that food came off a sizable number of flights (not sure about 'hundreds'). I feel it has mostly been replaced by more food, more often on flights were a greater number pax seem to actually want to eat.

malgudi

Bingo! Despite all the spin from UA, it is not hard to understand why they did this. Surely, not from an abundance of good will towards customers.

DLVXB6UA

I agree. Catering is a huge waste on red-eye flights, especially those departing after 10:30pm. Nearly everyone wants to sleep, in both cabins.

If I'm booked on a sunday night 10pm red-eye on LAX-JFK p.s. J, my first priority is getting sleep. I'm not sacrificing that even if the airline were serving caviar in white gloves.

Kmxu

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...494-image.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...495-image.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...496-image.html

JBord

I agree completely. The problem for UA here is that many Americans will still not touch something as "exotic" as curry. They have to offer something that's fairly bland.

IIRC, when UA had the Trotter menu for a while, it was higher in spices to compensate for diminished taste buds. It would be nice to have at least one option with stronger flavors again.

weirdlyndon

This! ^

Let's take something away, then bring it back a year later with much fanfare and a press release.

BearX220

No such thing as short-haul TATL.

BH62

The news release says "most" transPacific flights ... so leaving out ????

unavaca

I believe they're making it clear that this is long-haul TPAC as opposed to the island hopper.

Also, glad to see more vegetarian options. Airplane meat generally isn't all that good, so more veg options are always welcome.

mh3265a

I read that to mean GUM-HNL both the direct and "Island Hopper" flights. They recently "aligned" their menus to reflect what is offered on a domestic flight with a slight enhancement. They can do that on the GUM-HNL flights since it's a monopoly and there is NO competition.

Cargojon

Just like any thread announcing a positive UA move, there's gotta be a few posts of negativity buried in here. There always is.

hyho61

So UA which was the last holdout on complimentary beer/wine will join all the other airlines, barring very few on the TATL flights. Good.

What will happen to the free mid flight snack which they are giving on EWR-BOM/DEL, ORD-China, EWR-HKG flights and IAH-LOS flights. The mid flight snack actually is given right after the main meal service and then the next service is the pre arrival meal on these ULH flights. Do we have to purchase them or will that still be complimentary.

And one more thing still no complimentary meal or beer/wine on the service to Peru, these flights are long (7 hrs +).

ZZYZXROAD

I assume long haul is 8-12 hours, but I guess not. Didn't know 752 from EWR to DUB was considered long haul < 6 hours in the air. Good to know.

smxflyer

Looks like they are getting rid of the mid-flight snack and replacing it with choice menu purchases for those who want them. Kinda tacky and that is a loss, those India flights are long.

EWR/IAD-HNL also get nothing free and those are even longer.

transportprof

Icelandair still charges for wine, beer and food. But their lamb sandwiches are delicious.