Jan 21, 2019, 2:25 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Related threads
2019 Let's Eat - United First, United Business, & Premium Transcon Service
2019 Let's Eat - Economy Class (Domestic & International)
And the 2018 thread is here: 2018 Let's Eat - Polaris Business
2019 Let's Eat - United First, United Business, & Premium Transcon Service
2019 Let's Eat - Economy Class (Domestic & International)
And the 2018 thread is here: 2018 Let's Eat - Polaris Business
2019 Let's Eat - Polaris Business
Feb 8, 2019, 10:21 am
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Same on SYD-SFO last month. FAs explained it is the pre-pour sparkling wine they use for boarding. There was no champagne available, and only one bottle of white that was a Pouilly-Fuisse. The printed menu Chardonnay and Riesling had all been consumed on the outbound. It’s the new normal.
Feb 8, 2019, 1:01 pm
#137
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
Feb 8, 2019, 3:25 pm
#138
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,504
So embarrassing to see all the cuts to Polaris, which seems to now be reduced to domestic F service, with bits and pieces added. Reminds me of AA in 2014 after the merger; they've since then walked back a vast majority of cuts and now has a pretty decent J/F product.
I remember when Polaris was first shown... I was blown away. It was truly premium and made UAL unique. Heck, even their website still shows the product as premium, including (now-misleading) meal photos. Really sad to see how far things has fallen in the past 3 years.
I remember when Polaris was first shown... I was blown away. It was truly premium and made UAL unique. Heck, even their website still shows the product as premium, including (now-misleading) meal photos. Really sad to see how far things has fallen in the past 3 years.
Feb 8, 2019, 5:38 pm
#139
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: LX Senator; AF Platinum and Club 2000; AA Platinum for life (former EXP)
Posts: 494
Those pre-plated main courses look like what economy was many years ago. Frankly disgusting and low class, but I guess that is UA's style these days.
Feb 8, 2019, 8:34 pm
#140
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Feb 8, 2019, 8:37 pm
#141
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Feb 8, 2019, 8:44 pm
#142
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
A
I keep writing about it every flight, and I brought it to the top at an event. I encourage everyone to do the same. I actually received a well-researched response that explained the wine is purchased in bulk every quarter, and apparently due to cost-saving and high levels of waste they piloted and then fully rolled out a program where alcohol is round trip catered.
FAs have told me they are now instructed to open wines on demand rather than uncork them all before going down the aisle, and then share wines across aisles rather than having duplicate bottles on food carts. I’m fine with minimizing wasteage, but they have to get a handle on consistent provisioning for a flight — either lock down the carts for the returns or do some replenishment at the out stations.
FAs have told me they are now instructed to open wines on demand rather than uncork them all before going down the aisle, and then share wines across aisles rather than having duplicate bottles on food carts. I’m fine with minimizing wasteage, but they have to get a handle on consistent provisioning for a flight — either lock down the carts for the returns or do some replenishment at the out stations.
Feb 8, 2019, 11:40 pm
#143
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,062
Feb 9, 2019, 6:26 am
#144
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: EWR
Programs: United GS Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 9
here is the sandwich option hack
Hack for UA 48
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 9, 2019 at 4:59 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Feb 9, 2019, 10:09 am
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,328
How can UA management keep straight faces going back on their Polaris launch statement of “game changer!”
Hello Oscar?
Hello Oscar?
Feb 9, 2019, 2:33 pm
#146
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: STL
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 72
2/8/19 UA40 EWR - FCO Menu, was not able to reach camera when food arrived. Did express dining.....chose the Ravioli and it was frozen except the edges. I ate the salad and the shrimp from the app. While they were edible, definitely not memorable. Shrimp had a little too much lemongrass for my taste. Skipped cheese and dessert (they had the caramel chocolate squares) and opted for sleep. Wine selection was not on the menu and couldn't find one at my seat, but looked to be standard choices. Had a glass of the red blend. There was an Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc on the cart which is at least drinkable. Couldn't see the rest. PDB sparkling wine was worse than I could have imagined from the descriptions here, will not make that mistake twice. Glad I listened to reports here about the food at least and had a proper meal at the Polaris Lounge before departure. Saved the day. Had the fruit and cereal for breakfast. Eggs looked fine, just not my thing.
Feb 9, 2019, 3:02 pm
#147
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
$10 at total Wine.
Last edited by 1kBill; Feb 10, 2019 at 10:15 am
Feb 9, 2019, 4:12 pm
#148
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS 2MM
Posts: 947
Had the new (1st February onwards) Polaris breakfast offering today out of LHR and it was atrocious, along with the service to go with. The “Steak and Eggs” was a small pan of some steamed slop which wouldn’t be ok on a domestic flight. Inedible. Very slow service and a poor galley person literally running up and down the aisle between the forward and mid galleys as they now only one person covering both. I gave up and had the anytime hot snack instead which was much better since the breakfast was a bust.
For the arrival service, they completely forgot to serve me. Call bell and light on for 20 minutes before I was able to flag down a flight attendant, only to get a rushed and similarly bad food offering. Before landing the purser stopped by to apologize and asked to please please please provide feedback to United as they hate the situation they’re in. They see the preplated food as poor quality and being forced to do service with reduced staff makes the customer suffer.
For the arrival service, they completely forgot to serve me. Call bell and light on for 20 minutes before I was able to flag down a flight attendant, only to get a rushed and similarly bad food offering. Before landing the purser stopped by to apologize and asked to please please please provide feedback to United as they hate the situation they’re in. They see the preplated food as poor quality and being forced to do service with reduced staff makes the customer suffer.
Feb 9, 2019, 5:00 pm
#149
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,693
Praying that my 2 month downtime will result in a correction.
Feb 9, 2019, 6:33 pm
#150
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
One piece of good news to report from UA 58 SFO-FRA. Just finished chowing down on an excellent bowl of the Spicy Thai Chicken. Same bowl as before, and was apparently plated on board. Unlike everything else, by the looks of things. Tasted as good as ever.
No issues with pace of service - though being in 1L I'm done ahead of time - just waiting on the ice cream now... and to cap off my lucky day, the ice cream arrived at row 1 in perfect condition - cold, solid, but creamy and effortlessly scoopable.
Identical menu to the EWR-FCO above, incidentally (apart from German rather than Italian, of course).
No issues with pace of service - though being in 1L I'm done ahead of time - just waiting on the ice cream now... and to cap off my lucky day, the ice cream arrived at row 1 in perfect condition - cold, solid, but creamy and effortlessly scoopable.
Identical menu to the EWR-FCO above, incidentally (apart from German rather than Italian, of course).
Last edited by cricketer; Feb 9, 2019 at 6:49 pm Reason: ice cream update