[Rumor] FA says "No catering on short flights" beginning April 1, 2018
#76
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,335
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,882
Just a point of calibration to illustrate how pathetic UA is. I often fly GVA-ZRH on SWISS. That is a less than 40 minute flight. They serve a small meal of good quality. On the SFO-LAX route not only is there no real service, the flights are not reliable. UA routinely cancels flights when the load factor is light. And the short run BOI-
SFO is even worse. What is the word that is in vogue now "deplorable"?
SFO is even worse. What is the word that is in vogue now "deplorable"?
#79
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DSM
Programs: UA 1K, AA EP, DL PL, HH Dia, Marriott Gld, National Exp
Posts: 720
I had FA tell me nothing (NOTHING!) would be catered on flights 200 miles and less. In fact, he said they were going to offload any catering left from previous flight. Not even water would be onboard.
He said FA are fighting it, as they realize how quickly a "short" fllight can turn into hours on a plane.
Fine with no service in flight, but not even water on board? Sheesh ...
He said FA are fighting it, as they realize how quickly a "short" fllight can turn into hours on a plane.
Fine with no service in flight, but not even water on board? Sheesh ...
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,718
That unpredictability (service levels determined by crew whim, or whether the truck made it to the gate before push) is one of United's major brand problems. You never know what you're in for. At least if they zeroed all catering on sub-200m flights you would know you're in for nothing.
#81
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,335
I had FA tell me nothing (NOTHING!) would be catered on flights 200 miles and less. In fact, he said they were going to offload any catering left from previous flight. Not even water would be onboard.
He said FA are fighting it, as they realize how quickly a "short" fllight can turn into hours on a plane.
Fine with no service in flight, but not even water on board? Sheesh ...
He said FA are fighting it, as they realize how quickly a "short" fllight can turn into hours on a plane.
Fine with no service in flight, but not even water on board? Sheesh ...
Wow! It took one month for my original post to be verified. THANK YOU.
But now I am wondering if it is the SAME FA that is spreading this information?
#82
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
If anything like this does, indeed, come to pass, it will be interesting to see if it includes F/J on such flights.
I also find it hard to believe FAs are "fighting it," as mentioned above. They might be fighting to have some water bottles loaded, but there's no way the average FA would be unhappy if in-flight service went away on these short hops.
#83
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
That unpredictability (service levels determined by crew whim, or whether the truck made it to the gate before push) is one of United's major brand problems. You never know what you're in for. At least if they zeroed all catering on sub-200m flights you would know you're in for nothing.
So instead of trying to fix the image...it is justified to lower expectations
#84
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
United isn't totally wrong here, though, if this does come to pass. If regional jets had been used on some of these routes from the start, there probably never would have been in-flight service in the first place. We're spending quite a bit less time in the air on these routes than we used to.
#85
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,335
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,451
I had FA tell me nothing (NOTHING!) would be catered on flights 200 miles and less. In fact, he said they were going to offload any catering left from previous flight. Not even water would be onboard.
He said FA are fighting it, as they realize how quickly a "short" fllight can turn into hours on a plane.
Fine with no service in flight, but not even water on board? Sheesh ...
He said FA are fighting it, as they realize how quickly a "short" fllight can turn into hours on a plane.
Fine with no service in flight, but not even water on board? Sheesh ...
#88
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
(bolding mine)
That's exactly what I am trying to find out too. With all the reports of the inconsistent service on these short flights with UA, it would be interesting to know if anything changed April 1?
Has anyone received a Stroopwaffel or other catering on UA's shortest flights since 4/1/2018?
For me, at least, it has nothing to do with whether I can go without water for 45 minutes, and all to do with whether UA has reduced service yet again.
That's exactly what I am trying to find out too. With all the reports of the inconsistent service on these short flights with UA, it would be interesting to know if anything changed April 1?
Has anyone received a Stroopwaffel or other catering on UA's shortest flights since 4/1/2018?
For me, at least, it has nothing to do with whether I can go without water for 45 minutes, and all to do with whether UA has reduced service yet again.
Received a Stroopwaffel from the FA. No beverage, but we almost never do, as this a very short flight. Once in a great while a motivated FA will blitz through the cabin with a water service, but that is rare.
#89
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
UA2034 ORD-CHS Sat 4/14 dep 07:45 blocked at 2h15 must be a short flight as it’s marked ‘refreshments’ in F. It’s an A319.
‘Meal’ consisteted of 1 muffin on a tiny plastic plate. No hot towel. No table cloth, obviously. Scott Kirby is having an impact.
Last edited by AirbusFan2B; Apr 14, 2018 at 8:42 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Hertz Pres
Posts: 289