So Did Hot Bites Officially Bite The Dust?or is the Report of Their Demise Premature?
Dec 31, 2018, 1:08 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
I have not had it in over a year China-->US. I still get it US to China. However, due to the numerous cuts that Polaris has had over the past 24 months, I've decided to just fly coach. Hoping I'll requal for GS this year as my spend is actually up 10% yoy, but I won't get it for sure next year since I've decided it's not worth paying $5k to fly between Asia and the US in Polaris versus $500 in Y. I've been giving away most of my GPU's also since I've decided it's also not worth $1500 for a round trip versus $500. The quality has gone down soooooo much. I was really excited when Polaris first launched. Now, I'm disappointed. oh well, hello cattle class.
Dec 31, 2018, 1:30 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,220
I have not had it in over a year China-->US. I still get it US to China. However, due to the numerous cuts that Polaris has had over the past 24 months, I've decided to just fly coach. Hoping I'll requal for GS this year as my spend is actually up 10% yoy, but I won't get it for sure next year since I've decided it's not worth paying $5k to fly between Asia and the US in Polaris versus $500 in Y. I've been giving away most of my GPU's also since I've decided it's also not worth $1500 for a round trip versus $500. The quality has gone down soooooo much. I was really excited when Polaris first launched. Now, I'm disappointed. oh well, hello cattle class.
Dec 31, 2018, 2:09 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
This is what I was told. Service has been enhanced to align hot bites with ultra long haul service where PJs and blankets are provisioned. Apparently we, the customer, asked for this as too much food was already provided on shorter sectors. FAs have also been instructed to only open wines as they are requested and share them between aisles using the credenza to stop waste. The latter makes sense.
Dec 31, 2018, 2:36 pm
#19
Join Date: May 1999
Location: JFK, LGA, EWR
Programs: AA Platinum (Lifetime), United GS, HHonors Diamond, Shangri-la Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 549
i fly EWR or SFO to NRT and also EWR to HKG six or seven times a year. you used to be able to go to the galley and get a decent sandwich or wrap... now, it's just whatever is left over from the dinner service, mostly cheese plates and brownies or some sort of fruit tart, supplemented by domestic snacks, like twix bars or potato chips. if you can find a helpful flight attendant, the response is as above... they either know nothing about it or they will serve you tomato soup twenty minutes later.
this is not such a big deal leaving from the USA, as the quality of the dinner service is pretty good (spicy thai chicken, anybody?), but the quality of the food ex HKG and ex NRT varies from pretty bad to awful. (YMMV.)
i'm spending 5K to 9k for a round trip business fare and more often than not, i'm bringing some of my own snacks on board, along with my own sprite zero.
Dec 31, 2018, 2:51 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
I have not had it in over a year China-->US. I still get it US to China. However, due to the numerous cuts that Polaris has had over the past 24 months, I've decided to just fly coach. Hoping I'll requal for GS this year as my spend is actually up 10% yoy, but I won't get it for sure next year since I've decided it's not worth paying $5k to fly between Asia and the US in Polaris versus $500 in Y. I've been giving away most of my GPU's also since I've decided it's also not worth $1500 for a round trip versus $500. The quality has gone down soooooo much. I was really excited when Polaris first launched. Now, I'm disappointed. oh well, hello cattle class.
Dec 31, 2018, 3:13 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: UA/CO GS, PP, MM
Posts: 360
I had it on that flight as well. IIRC they had some other hot bite options as well.
Dec 31, 2018, 5:28 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
My understanding of the "enhancements" would be that the hot snacks would be available by asking and that they would advertise it on the water bottles that they handout and NOT on the menu anymore. I got the water bottle with the tag and when I asked, I was told that the LAX-LHR route does not have them. I guess the only thing that is consistent is United's inconsistency.
Dec 31, 2018, 6:06 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 949
My understanding of the "enhancements" would be that the hot snacks would be available by asking and that they would advertise it on the water bottles that they handout and NOT on the menu anymore. I got the water bottle with the tag and when I asked, I was told that the LAX-LHR route does not have them. I guess the only thing that is consistent is United's inconsistency.
Dec 31, 2018, 6:41 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,220
That TATL route doesn't have them. Hence, the tag on the water bottle says "snacks" and not "hot bites." In your case, I would venture to guess the 'snacks,' if any, consisted of various leftover desserts, a cheese plate or two, and some crappy chips/crackers. If lucky, some fresh produce such as oranges that look and smell very good but then taste bitter.
Dec 31, 2018, 8:15 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,894
Perhaps I average 2 international roundtrips per month (one flight per week), I found myself sick of hearing tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. More often than not, it is the only hot bite choice.
On flights departing China, you can forget about any hot bites most of the time. On flights departing US to Asia, it seems they are still available subject to FA’s discretion.
I have not had hot bites on transatlantic flights in 2008 partly due to the short distance of the flights between East Coast and EU.
I miss the sandwiches and wraps when Polaris was first rolled out. I’d rather UA bring those back.
On flights departing China, you can forget about any hot bites most of the time. On flights departing US to Asia, it seems they are still available subject to FA’s discretion.
I have not had hot bites on transatlantic flights in 2008 partly due to the short distance of the flights between East Coast and EU.
I miss the sandwiches and wraps when Polaris was first rolled out. I’d rather UA bring those back.
Dec 31, 2018, 9:23 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
Agree with the many posts about FAs who dont know anything about the hot bites, but then after looking through the carts miraculously find them. I even had one flight where they offered the hot bites as a breakfast choice since they hadn’t served any of them during the flight.
i do wish they would bring back the wraps and small sandwiches though.
i do wish they would bring back the wraps and small sandwiches though.
Dec 31, 2018, 9:25 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 949
My experience: hot bites gone from most if not all TATL. Haven't been on West Coast - FRA lately to find out if the ultra-long TATL still have it but I've personally not seen them on flights even as long as SFO-LHR. Absolutely 0 hot bites out of ORD TATL. Menus and other marketing collateral no longer reflect 'hot bites' but rather refer to 'snacks.' No hot bites on shorter TPAC either.
Dec 31, 2018, 10:44 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA-GS 4M, Hilton Diamond , Marriott Platinum
Posts: 83
I loved the hot bites, but my experience is the same as everyone else. Since I don’t like the tomato soup+grilled cheese, I am often left with no warm option.
On SFO to Europe and SFO to Japan, I am usually stuck with the remainders of the desert cart. I am sometimes lucky between the west coast and HKG or Sydney, where I sometimes can get a hot rice dish.
Above all, I miss the lobster Mac n Cheese days, the PJs on 8+ hour flights, the good chocolates before takeoff (as opposed to the way-too-sweet ones before landing), the nice cart with the initial drinks, the champagne that is not hidden from our view... Polaris sure has changed a lot recently, and it is not only the warm bites. Does anyone really believe that these changes are really the result of customer feedback?
Happy New Year!
On SFO to Europe and SFO to Japan, I am usually stuck with the remainders of the desert cart. I am sometimes lucky between the west coast and HKG or Sydney, where I sometimes can get a hot rice dish.
Above all, I miss the lobster Mac n Cheese days, the PJs on 8+ hour flights, the good chocolates before takeoff (as opposed to the way-too-sweet ones before landing), the nice cart with the initial drinks, the champagne that is not hidden from our view... Polaris sure has changed a lot recently, and it is not only the warm bites. Does anyone really believe that these changes are really the result of customer feedback?
Happy New Year!
Dec 31, 2018, 11:04 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,339
I loved the hot bites, but my experience is the same as everyone else. Since I don’t like the tomato soup+grilled cheese, I am often left with no warm option.
On SFO to Europe and SFO to Japan, I am usually stuck with the remainders of the desert cart. I am sometimes lucky between the west coast and HKG or Sydney, where I sometimes can get a hot rice dish.
Above all, I miss the lobster Mac n Cheese days, the PJs on 8+ hour flights, the good chocolates before takeoff (as opposed to the way-too-sweet ones before landing), the nice cart with the initial drinks, the champagne that is not hidden from our view... Polaris sure has changed a lot recently, and it is not only the warm bites. Does anyone really believe that these changes are really the result of customer feedback?
Happy New Year!
On SFO to Europe and SFO to Japan, I am usually stuck with the remainders of the desert cart. I am sometimes lucky between the west coast and HKG or Sydney, where I sometimes can get a hot rice dish.
Above all, I miss the lobster Mac n Cheese days, the PJs on 8+ hour flights, the good chocolates before takeoff (as opposed to the way-too-sweet ones before landing), the nice cart with the initial drinks, the champagne that is not hidden from our view... Polaris sure has changed a lot recently, and it is not only the warm bites. Does anyone really believe that these changes are really the result of customer feedback?
Happy New Year!
I see no difference between the pre-Polaris United Business and Polaris of today....other than the sweet deserts.
The downgrade is the elimination of noodle soup during mid-flight over the Pacific, and elimination of two choices of decent salad dressing.
I consider the current Polaris inflight meals as an overall downgrade from the former United Business offerings.
Dec 31, 2018, 11:48 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA-GS 4M, Hilton Diamond , Marriott Platinum
Posts: 83
The new “low” for me:
-the weird brunch menu on CDG-SFO
-the frequently soggy nuts ex HKG and Tokyo. (Or have I just been unlucky?)
... all that, in addition to the diminishing mid-flight snack choices.. oh well...