DEN first class catering issues
Mar 29, 2018, 11:06 pm
#721
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,663
I find it interesting that people think construction in a airport facility not owned by United is completely within the airlines control (or even much at all in United's control). I doubt this has anything to do with cost - probably more to do with unions, permits, inspections, approvals, etc.....
I doubt this has anything to do with cost given it is such a small expense in the big picture of UA revenue/profit.
I doubt this has anything to do with cost given it is such a small expense in the big picture of UA revenue/profit.
Mar 29, 2018, 11:20 pm
#722
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I don't believe for a second, anyone flies DEN (not DIA) to HNL for the food - it is all about the lie flat bed. They would've given you any of the buy on board boxes in the back also.
It is so much ado about nothing except a money grab from fliers.
Mar 29, 2018, 11:54 pm
#723
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Mar 30, 2018, 8:15 am
#724
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Montrose, CO
Programs: United 1K MM, Marriott LTPP
Posts: 548
Mar 30, 2018, 8:27 am
#725
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,626
Which leads credence to the argument that when it is important to provide half-way decent catering out of DEN, UA can make it happen. Domestic F clearly isn't one of their priorities.
Mar 30, 2018, 8:34 am
#726
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,301
What do you think you would've gotten otherwise? I fly HNL-SFO, HNL-SFO-XXX, HNL-DEN-XXX, or HNL-EWR at least 40x times per year. I can speak from firsthand experience, whatever upgrade in food you think you;d get, just doesn't exist. The fact you got a $350 credit, which I'm fairly sure is 5* restaurant prices+, is incredible to me. (I also think the $200 credit I often get on the HNL-SFO is fairly ridiculous also for no personal device entertainment). Think about it, when I go to my favorite restaurant and they say, we are out of the Prime Rib, they don't give me a coupon for $100 for my next visit. If I go to the store and they are out of Milk, I don't get a coupon, etc....
I don't believe for a second, anyone flies DEN (not DIA) to HNL for the food - it is all about the lie flat bed. They would've given you any of the buy on board boxes in the back also.
It is so much ado about nothing except a money grab from fliers.
I don't believe for a second, anyone flies DEN (not DIA) to HNL for the food - it is all about the lie flat bed. They would've given you any of the buy on board boxes in the back also.
It is so much ado about nothing except a money grab from fliers.
1.I know what I would've gotten otherwise, and if you fly those routes so often, so do you. If not, you can look in the meal threads pre-October 2017 and see for yourself. What would make you think I was looking for an upgrade? You don't even make any sense with this comment.
2. When you go to your favorite restaurant, they have other things on the menu that you probably like. If they don't, you can drive to your 2nd favorite restaurant. On United, there is nothing else on the menu and you don't have the option at 38,000 feet to switch to another plane that might have different catering.
3. Of course no one flies out of DIA for the food (by the way, I used DIA as a reference to the airport, not a flight, as Denver International Airport is it's name), but we all have to eat, that's just the way our bodies are designed. And they would've given me any of the buy on board boxes in the back, if there were any. That was explained as a catering error to me, which really sums up this whole situation quite nicely.
Mar 30, 2018, 12:47 pm
#727
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
I just received a phone call from United from a very nice lady who called to apologize for the lackluster catering on my flight, and to offer a $125 ETC. She also said she would follow up with their food service manager.
Mar 30, 2018, 1:15 pm
#728
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat
Posts: 150
United is often dumb when it comes to PR, but they aren't that dumb.
Mar 30, 2018, 1:45 pm
#729
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,732
Not trying to elicit snarky response here but can someone tell me why:
1. The company has not communicated what the underlying issue is to PAX or FAs?
2. The company has not clearly communicate the time frame to a resolution?
Betting there would be real pressure to resolve this faster if DEN was not a captive UA market.
1. The company has not communicated what the underlying issue is to PAX or FAs?
2. The company has not clearly communicate the time frame to a resolution?
Betting there would be real pressure to resolve this faster if DEN was not a captive UA market.
Mar 30, 2018, 3:38 pm
#730
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
There was some discussion a while back that possibly UA is not at liberty to discuss publicly the issue because of pending litigation. I don't know that it was ever confirmed as true, or just a possible explanation, or even plausible versus straight incompetence / lack of priority.
Apr 1, 2018, 12:05 pm
#731
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 5
Flew DEN-KOA last Wednesday and spinach and feta pizza, chips, fruit cup and cheese cake was the only meal option. Much worse for those in coach - wifi was down and many IFE systems were as well. They had no BOB burgers, pepperoni pizza or anything beyond snack boxes. Not sure what happened to make catering even more terrible. The FA blamed “the kitchen having issues today” of course. I was like you mean even more issues than normal and he laughed. FAs were nice about it - I know it’s totally out of their control so we just laughed about it.
Also, I really got a kick out of my “mai tai” which I believe was rum mixed with fruit cup juice ��.
My kids were less than thrilled with the spinach and feta pizza. All they had instead were snack boxes, fruit cups and cheese cake. Really was a long flight without decent food service or even an arrival snack beyond chips. We planned to eat at Timberline in DEN but we ended up running from our connection straight to the plane due to a medical emergency on our ORD-DEN flight.
Just got home last night and will fire off an email to them this week. Hopefully I’ll get lucky and get some points or a credit for 5 paid first seats. The seat was comfortable and the FAs kind but that meal service really takes away from the special flight experience I was giving my mom in celebration of her year after brain cancer diagnosis and surgery. On the positive side big island was amazing! Highly recommended Mauna Kea Beach Hotel if you’re planning a trip! It’s a beautiful and special place!
Also, I really got a kick out of my “mai tai” which I believe was rum mixed with fruit cup juice ��.
My kids were less than thrilled with the spinach and feta pizza. All they had instead were snack boxes, fruit cups and cheese cake. Really was a long flight without decent food service or even an arrival snack beyond chips. We planned to eat at Timberline in DEN but we ended up running from our connection straight to the plane due to a medical emergency on our ORD-DEN flight.
Just got home last night and will fire off an email to them this week. Hopefully I’ll get lucky and get some points or a credit for 5 paid first seats. The seat was comfortable and the FAs kind but that meal service really takes away from the special flight experience I was giving my mom in celebration of her year after brain cancer diagnosis and surgery. On the positive side big island was amazing! Highly recommended Mauna Kea Beach Hotel if you’re planning a trip! It’s a beautiful and special place!
Apr 1, 2018, 1:13 pm
#732
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Osaka
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier Executive
Posts: 581
I flew DEN SFO on widebody and was served fruit out of a plastic cup. It was disgusting for first class. Along with no pillows, blankets, and headphones delta is looking much better for f service. United used to have great catering and now it is awful. It reminds me of PMCO food I had to endure out of IAH when continental was still around. I really hope they improve their food service out of denver soon! Maybe Delta will move their SLC hub to denver soon!
Apr 2, 2018, 4:11 pm
#733
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,732
There was some discussion a while back that possibly UA is not at liberty to discuss publicly the issue because of pending litigation. I don't know that it was ever confirmed as true, or just a possible explanation, or even plausible versus straight incompetence / lack of priority.
Apr 2, 2018, 5:23 pm
#734
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, UA Mileage Plus 1K, AA Executive Plat, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,344
I was told by 2 different UA personnel in DEN that the inaugural to LHR had the Business class catering spoiled prior to departure and ended up giving out gift certificates to Elways. Anything along those lines to be truthful?
Apr 2, 2018, 5:27 pm
#735
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901