Special Meals - Questions, Experiences,... only AVML, GFML, Kosher, VGML meals
#47
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 67
AVML LHR to SFO Polaris
Lunch and Brunch were basically the same, but the food was pretty decent. No naan or other bread like in the past. Desert was prepackaged.
Lunch (First meal)
Brunch (Second Meal)
Incidentally, I miss the pre-pandemic multiple course polaris meals. Even with AVML, the flight attendants would try to sequence the meal as much as possible.
Lunch and Brunch were basically the same, but the food was pretty decent. No naan or other bread like in the past. Desert was prepackaged.
Lunch (First meal)
Brunch (Second Meal)
Incidentally, I miss the pre-pandemic multiple course polaris meals. Even with AVML, the flight attendants would try to sequence the meal as much as possible.
Last edited by goatee87; May 2, 2022 at 11:36 pm Reason: adding images
#48
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 67
I am also wondering if my late request was an issue on the outbound flight out of SFO. I requested at right around t-24, so maybe they didn't have enough time to delivery a true AVML meal.
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,877
Possible, but someone else reported the same issue. I wasn't around to check the coding unfortunately. Worth complaining to United?
I am also wondering if my late request was an issue on the outbound flight out of SFO. I requested at right around t-24, so maybe they didn't have enough time to delivery a true AVML meal.
I am also wondering if my late request was an issue on the outbound flight out of SFO. I requested at right around t-24, so maybe they didn't have enough time to delivery a true AVML meal.
typically, they’ll deliver special meals first - with FAs carrying them, vs. the regular meal service which comes on the cart. Either the AVML request was in, and it was delivered early with the special meals, or it wasn’t, and she would have been asked for her meal choice from whatever was on the cart. Maybe they did the best they could given that it might have been under T-24, but I suspect they either would have had it - delivered with the special meals, or didn’t, and she would have been presented with cart options, at which point most probably would have asked about it and the FAs should go over the manifest to see what was listed, and come up with a solution, if possible.
we’ve run into two specific situations where my wife didn’t get the AVML we ordered. One was PMUA (or maybe just after merger), and we were upgraded about a month prior to NRT-BKK (yeah, that long ago), and I think that somehow canceled the request. We know the meal request was properly listed because my wife received it on the just prior NH TPAC flight on the same itinerary. FAs did their best to put some veggie sides together to make a meal - very appreciated for sure. The other time was ORD-FRA in Y. Not sure what happened, but I know we were ok there - not sure if it’s the case anymore, but at least pre-pandemic, due to the number of pax typically connecting to various destinations in India on LH via FRA, apparently AVML is always one of the options for FRA flights.
#50
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,151
AVML LHR to SFO Polaris
Lunch and Brunch were basically the same, but the food was pretty decent. No naan or other bread like in the past. Desert was prepackaged.
Lunch (First meal)
Brunch (Second Meal)
Incidentally, I miss the pre-pandemic multiple course polaris meals. Even with AVML, the flight attendants would try to sequence the meal as much as possible.
Lunch and Brunch were basically the same, but the food was pretty decent. No naan or other bread like in the past. Desert was prepackaged.
Lunch (First meal)
Brunch (Second Meal)
Incidentally, I miss the pre-pandemic multiple course polaris meals. Even with AVML, the flight attendants would try to sequence the meal as much as possible.
The main used to be more substantial and varied between the two meals. Pity that didn’t last.
#51
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,014
AVML LHR to SFO Polaris
Lunch and Brunch were basically the same, but the food was pretty decent. No naan or other bread like in the past. Desert was prepackaged.
Lunch (First meal)
Brunch (Second Meal)
Incidentally, I miss the pre-pandemic multiple course polaris meals. Even with AVML, the flight attendants would try to sequence the meal as much as possible.
Lunch and Brunch were basically the same, but the food was pretty decent. No naan or other bread like in the past. Desert was prepackaged.
Lunch (First meal)
Brunch (Second Meal)
Incidentally, I miss the pre-pandemic multiple course polaris meals. Even with AVML, the flight attendants would try to sequence the meal as much as possible.
Thank goodness you got something decent.
#52
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,014
yup - that French Toast was not AVML.
interestingly enough, and this was a few years back, we were ex-pats in BOM and so did the EWR-BOM and vv. in J. Wife, who is from South India and grew up in MAA, so knows good Indian food, was way more impressed with the ex-EWR AVML than the ex-BOM.
Let us see if they respond.
Yes, in the past (approx 2007 onwards to 2011 approx) - EWR AVML came from a place called something like "jyoti catering" (cannot remember the exact name) --- so EWR_BOM and EWR FRA flights had excellent AVML meals (those were my most common flights as well!).
We did EWR-BOM-EWR a few times last year --- the food was pitiful to say the least.
#53
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: GRR
Programs: Delta Plat & Million Miler
Posts: 1,375
Advice Please!
Looking For Advice Please.
I rarely travel with United, but later this the month will be taking Polaris to KEF from EWR. Looking at this thread, I am not expecting great meals. However, we are often willing to order special meals of almost any kind in the hopes of a somewhat better meal.
If you were us, which special meal would you order? Or would you take your chances with whatever the regular meals are?
I rarely travel with United, but later this the month will be taking Polaris to KEF from EWR. Looking at this thread, I am not expecting great meals. However, we are often willing to order special meals of almost any kind in the hopes of a somewhat better meal.
If you were us, which special meal would you order? Or would you take your chances with whatever the regular meals are?
#54
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,014
Ha ...UA did a UA ...on our return trip, they did not load our special meals at all (AVML).
Gate agents said "request may have fallen off the reservation" ...
LOL
best suggestion - if you really need the special meal - and want to fly UA ....then, have some food in hand; or be ready to be disappointed and hungry.
Gate agents said "request may have fallen off the reservation" ...
LOL
best suggestion - if you really need the special meal - and want to fly UA ....then, have some food in hand; or be ready to be disappointed and hungry.
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,877
we just flew AC to NRT, and glad I checked. I’ve always had them have a veg option on my long-hauls with them for, I don’t know, 20+ years, but I can’t recall if any were TPAC - I know they always have TATL. Checked the menu using flight status, since they post the menus there, and they have a western & Asian meat option for each service, but no veg option. I went with the AVML (woild have tried VOML, but they no longer offer that) - and was pretty good - lentils and rice, though disappointed with the complete lack of effort for AVML-style bread, which was just the standard Y pre-packaged roll.
for flavor, I’ve always thought AVMLs are better - they tend to use more flavorful sauces/spices, which also helps at cruising altitude since you can’t taste as well up there. As always, going to depend on what you like. If you don’t like Indian flavors, AVML probably won’t be good for you.
have no idea, but I just had a pretty good VOML on NRT-SIN on NH - was a tofu curry with rice. I do eat meat on occasion, but flying with my veggie family so usually eat veggie with them, and those definitely aren’t an option on the regular NH menus.
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,911
I’m so turned off by all four choices on an upcoming longhaul flight I’m thinking of ordering a special meal. Any tips?
These are the choices:
Departure is from EWR.
These are the choices:
Departure is from EWR.
#59
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,337
I always get AVML (Asian vegetarian, which is Indian-style) and sometimes VLML (lacto-ovo vegetarian), which is no longer an option for UA. The VGML (vegan) meal is usually pretty bad. I haven't had AVML since covid and haven't come across any reports or photos online. Does anybody have recent photos or experience with AVML meals in TATL Polaris?
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,151
I had AVML SFO-NRT in Prem Plus and while I expected and hoped for Indian style, it was not, but still was solid. First meal noodles and veggies East Asian style, couscous, and (here is where the Indian style comes in), naan and plain yogurt. So it was mismatched, but fine. Also an ice cream cup. Glad I’m not very lactose intolerant…
Mid flight snack cold dish of legumes, veggies, rice, lots of fruit…..and naan and plain yogurt. This was a substantial snack, like a 3rd meal. What’s weird is nobody else in Prem Plus got a tray of anything.
Pre landing I got the standard vegetation option of oatmeal with apples (quite tasty). It had an AVML sticker but was a typical offering. Side of fruit….and my 3rd naan
All in all, quantity was excellent, quality was pretty good, but the offering was mismatched. It should have been Indian paneer/curry with rice, then the naan and yogurt make sense.
This was July 1
Prem Plus is really good. I will be quiet though because Kirby Kwality Kutback is always lurking.
Mid flight snack cold dish of legumes, veggies, rice, lots of fruit…..and naan and plain yogurt. This was a substantial snack, like a 3rd meal. What’s weird is nobody else in Prem Plus got a tray of anything.
Pre landing I got the standard vegetation option of oatmeal with apples (quite tasty). It had an AVML sticker but was a typical offering. Side of fruit….and my 3rd naan
All in all, quantity was excellent, quality was pretty good, but the offering was mismatched. It should have been Indian paneer/curry with rice, then the naan and yogurt make sense.
This was July 1
Prem Plus is really good. I will be quiet though because Kirby Kwality Kutback is always lurking.
Last edited by uastarflyer; Jul 14, 2022 at 3:22 am