United Domestic First Meal Service Reduction
May 9, 2018, 7:52 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
This is a good post.
Bottom line is if what FF'ers want is tons of upgrades, that's going to mean a low level of inflight amenities. If the airline is going to offer luxury in FC, it needs most of those seats to be paid for at a high price. Airlines took awhile to figure this out, which is why people got to upgrade into luxury.
Bottom line is if what FF'ers want is tons of upgrades, that's going to mean a low level of inflight amenities. If the airline is going to offer luxury in FC, it needs most of those seats to be paid for at a high price. Airlines took awhile to figure this out, which is why people got to upgrade into luxury.
May 9, 2018, 8:22 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,200
Just came off a "lunch" flight hub to hub DEN-SFO. Choices were a few pieces of cheese or a small salad with no bread or meat (FA quote). It was catered at SFO! FA's are beyond embarrassed by the offering and were openly asking us to write in with our complaints. I'll do it, but bottom line I don't think it will change. I remember a couple years ago when survey data for Polaris came back with "sleep and price" being the deciding factors for travelers. Kirby took that and ran with it. As long as prices are good, food will continue to regress. "Streamline" is the new buzz word for small portions and snacks. Get used to it folks.
May 9, 2018, 8:27 pm
#48
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,419
Just came off a "lunch" flight hub to hub DEN-SFO. Choices were a few pieces of cheese or a small salad with no bread or meat (FA quote). It was catered at SFO! FA's are beyond embarrassed by the offering and were openly asking us to write in with our complaints. I'll do it, but bottom line I don't think it will change. I remember a couple years ago when survey data for Polaris came back with "sleep and price" being the deciding factors for travelers. Kirby took that and ran with it. As long as prices are good, food will continue to regress. "Streamline" is the new buzz word for small portions and snacks. Get used to it folks.
May 10, 2018, 12:42 am
#49
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
May 10, 2018, 5:26 am
#50
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
This is already done. You can't CPU on the PS flights and those flights never get a snack basket. With Hawaii, you can CPU from the West Coast and the food shown couple posts above looks like utter trash. You can't CPU on the "Long Haul Hawaii" flights and the food looks A LOT better. Just a theory on my part nothing concrete.
May 10, 2018, 7:48 am
#51
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: 1K
Posts: 121
I'm not denying this and would hope the corporation would think this way. That said, if they want people to pay up for first, offer a product that's worth it. A wrap that my three year old nephew eats for a snack and a little chocolate square isn't going to entice me to continue to purchase them. I get it's a difficult balancing act for United on determining how many full fare tickets they should sell, P fares, and leave space for upgrades, and I'm glad I'm not the one in charge of it All the while what level of service can they provide with these mix of passengers to remain competitive. I'm sure I'm in the minority,. but I don't expect to be upgraded much on domestic flights unless I fly at odd times (which I have done when flexible) otherwise I just buy an F ticket. That said, as long as AA is relatively close in price to United and the specific routes I'm flying now, I'll buy their F ticket until either United drops this snack service or AA starts to cut. When I'm spending an extra $200-$400 dollars, I'd like to think they can afford to throw me some nuts and instead of a cheese plate something a little more filling. I won't deny that F is priced cheaper now on some routes than it used to be or that I've noticed, however again as long as AA isn't too much more and their offering is better, I'll fly them. United still has me international, I enjoy the Polaris lounge and I'm content with the offerings in air.
May 10, 2018, 9:52 am
#52
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
I'm not denying this and would hope the corporation would think this way. That said, if they want people to pay up for first, offer a product that's worth it. A wrap that my three year old nephew eats for a snack and a little chocolate square isn't going to entice me to continue to purchase them. I get it's a difficult balancing act for United on determining how many full fare tickets they should sell, P fares, and leave space for upgrades, and I'm glad I'm not the one in charge of it All the while what level of service can they provide with these mix of passengers to remain competitive. I'm sure I'm in the minority,. but I don't expect to be upgraded much on domestic flights unless I fly at odd times (which I have done when flexible) otherwise I just buy an F ticket. That said, as long as AA is relatively close in price to United and the specific routes I'm flying now, I'll buy their F ticket until either United drops this snack service or AA starts to cut. When I'm spending an extra $200-$400 dollars, I'd like to think they can afford to throw me some nuts and instead of a cheese plate something a little more filling. I won't deny that F is priced cheaper now on some routes than it used to be or that I've noticed, however again as long as AA isn't too much more and their offering is better, I'll fly them. United still has me international, I enjoy the Polaris lounge and I'm content with the offerings in air.
May 10, 2018, 10:51 am
#53
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
At least some media is bringing attention
https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen...offerings.html
Didn't realize tomato juice got axed too.
https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen...offerings.html
Didn't realize tomato juice got axed too.
May 10, 2018, 1:30 pm
#54
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
To be fair, it's FLL on Tuesday... and the south Florida season is over. Even still, I bet there are far fewer CPUs on Th/F and Sun.
Regardless, UA publishes meal service standards by flight length length and then adds exception city pairs. If CPUs utilization is going to determine UA meal's service standards, then meals will be served according to city-pairing with flight time as the exception...
Furthermore, if CPU utilization is going to determine what F gets, then odd markets like CLT-ATL or DFW-IAH or ROC-ORD where CPUs are rare will get meals (AA examples, sorry most of my flight is with AA). Any correlation between CPUs and meal service is ridiculous. UA has to offer a meal even where CPUs are common because of competition. Unfortunately, Kirby and Co have just decided to make those "meals" smaller and smaller.
Regardless, UA publishes meal service standards by flight length length and then adds exception city pairs. If CPUs utilization is going to determine UA meal's service standards, then meals will be served according to city-pairing with flight time as the exception...
Furthermore, if CPU utilization is going to determine what F gets, then odd markets like CLT-ATL or DFW-IAH or ROC-ORD where CPUs are rare will get meals (AA examples, sorry most of my flight is with AA). Any correlation between CPUs and meal service is ridiculous. UA has to offer a meal even where CPUs are common because of competition. Unfortunately, Kirby and Co have just decided to make those "meals" smaller and smaller.
Indeed, here is a prediction:
Over the next few years, legacy carriers will correlate their first class service more exactly with average amount paid by F passengers. That will mean more p.s. routes, on the one hand, and more "snacked" routes, on the other.
The airline maximizes revenue by selling luxurious first service in markets where that sells, and cheap upgrades and CPU's with limited amenities where that doesn't sell.
May 10, 2018, 1:53 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
It's not ridiculous at all.
Indeed, here is a prediction:
Over the next few years, legacy carriers will correlate their first class service more exactly with average amount paid by F passengers. That will mean more p.s. routes, on the one hand, and more "snacked" routes, on the other.
The airline maximizes revenue by selling luxurious first service in markets where that sells, and cheap upgrades and CPU's with limited amenities where that doesn't sell.
Indeed, here is a prediction:
Over the next few years, legacy carriers will correlate their first class service more exactly with average amount paid by F passengers. That will mean more p.s. routes, on the one hand, and more "snacked" routes, on the other.
The airline maximizes revenue by selling luxurious first service in markets where that sells, and cheap upgrades and CPU's with limited amenities where that doesn't sell.
May 11, 2018, 6:22 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Currently on UA628 LGA-ORD. Fully expected based on reports for breakfast to have been “snacked” but the offering was the egg white pastry or cereal+fruit, same as always. Unless I’m misunderstanding the reductions there was no change in this route.
May 11, 2018, 6:40 am
#57
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
The latest cuts affect everything between 11-4p ET on those similar length routes.. now getting the two-bite wrap or cheese plate.
May 11, 2018, 6:45 am
#58
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 8,994
I would venture to guess that NYC-ORD is a route that they will maintain a higher level of meal service for.
May 11, 2018, 6:52 am
#59
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Someone can correct if I'm wrong, but I believe this latest round of cuts would not have affected routes like this. Similarly, I flew TPA-ORD this AM and we had the egg white/provolone breakfast sandwich (90% bread, 9% cheese, <1% egg, in case anyone cares - I ate one bite).. this has been the standard since the Sept 2017 cutbacks.
The latest cuts affect everything between 11-4p ET on those similar length routes.. now getting the two-bite wrap or cheese plate.
The latest cuts affect everything between 11-4p ET on those similar length routes.. now getting the two-bite wrap or cheese plate.
May 11, 2018, 6:53 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,442
I actually like the noodle bowl, so I was fine with it, but would find the cheese plate (the alternative) or half-wrap inadequate.
