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 26, 2019, 3:59 pm
#241
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,200
Coming off a couple TPAC flights this month and then reading this thread remind me of the old Woody Allen joke............“There's an old joke - um... two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of 'em says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions." I guess we should be thankful for the small portions 
Feb 26, 2019, 5:18 pm
#242
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
I'm posting this from aboard my westbound TATL flight today. This is now the worst business-class catering I have ever encountered on United. Shameful. Prior to Feb 1, I often thought 'that was pretty good' after a meal, even as the relentless cutbacks were evident. Now I'm simply offended and feel that Oscar, Scott et all are laughing it up while we shell out for this garbage (and collecting their yearend bonuses based on exceeding cost-saving targets...)
One joy of the slow inflight wifi is checking the prices of the wines on offer. None of today's selections costs more than US$12 a bottle online.
UA couldn't even deliver the slices of smoked salmon on the menu today. Instead it was two slices of mozzarella and two slices of cardboard out-of-season tomatoes. Based on my own work in catering, I'd guess the unit price for this dish was +/- US$0.37.
Main was 'roasted halibut' which I'll call halibut flakes. There was exactly four bites on this pre-plated 'main'. I'll be charitable and say that the fish bone sticking out was there to give the flakes some authenticity.
UA couldn't even deliver the slices of smoked salmon on the menu today. Instead it was two slices of mozzarella and two slices of cardboard out-of-season tomatoes. Based on my own work in catering, I'd guess the unit price for this dish was +/- US$0.37.
Main was 'roasted halibut' which I'll call halibut flakes. There was exactly four bites on this pre-plated 'main'. I'll be charitable and say that the fish bone sticking out was there to give the flakes some authenticity.
Feb 26, 2019, 9:37 pm
#243
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Million Miler, Marriott platinum, lifetime platinum
Posts: 974
I'm depressed. I don't travel for business, but for leisure. I have splurged on 4 Polaris segments in the next 4 months, and I don't even want to bother. What hideous food. Shame on UA.
Feb 26, 2019, 10:28 pm
#244
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,014
Not defending the cutback in onboard catering, but I bet UA's cost of food provided to Polaris customers has actually increased when one totals inflight catering plus Polaris lounge food now that Polaris lounges exist at SFO/ORD/IAH/LAX/EWR. I'll guess I'll just expect to be provided less in-flight and eat a bit more in Polaris lounge pre-flight and post-flight.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Feb 26, 2019 at 10:39 pm
Feb 26, 2019, 10:39 pm
#245
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Posts: 56,446
Feb 26, 2019, 10:59 pm
#246
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,061
Feb 26, 2019, 11:04 pm
#247
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Feb 26, 2019, 11:36 pm
#248
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
But what on earth is the other stuff on either side of the fish?
Feb 27, 2019, 12:04 am
#249
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Montréal, Canada
Posts: 1,610
Just some DP's from two TPAC's in Feb:
EWR-HKG: Lanson Brut Black Label champagne
I chose the short ribs, which were unusually dry and stringy with seriously overcooked vegetables.
HKG-EWR: Alfred Gratier Brut
I chose a scallop and shrimp dish that I hadn't yet encountered. It was actually quite tasty, and the portion size decent. There were two or three medium sized scallops and two large shrimps. The scallops weren't overcooked, and had some nice sear marks. I usually seem to be happier with my Polaris seafood meals, so I think I'll continue selecting them until something new and exciting comes along.
EWR-HKG: Lanson Brut Black Label champagne
I chose the short ribs, which were unusually dry and stringy with seriously overcooked vegetables.
HKG-EWR: Alfred Gratier Brut
I chose a scallop and shrimp dish that I hadn't yet encountered. It was actually quite tasty, and the portion size decent. There were two or three medium sized scallops and two large shrimps. The scallops weren't overcooked, and had some nice sear marks. I usually seem to be happier with my Polaris seafood meals, so I think I'll continue selecting them until something new and exciting comes along.
Feb 28, 2019, 11:33 am
#250
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: ual,aa
Posts: 50
What J meals offerings recently SFO-CDG?
Travelling end of April out of SFO - won't have time to eat in the lounge - anyone travel this routing lately and if so - how were the on-flight meals? Thanks!
Feb 28, 2019, 12:29 pm
#251
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,014
My question is - is your connection too short to even grab a bite from the buffet? That might suggest you are booking a risky connection, even though it might meet UA's MCT of 1 hour(?) domestic to int'l at SFO.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Feb 28, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Feb 28, 2019, 3:49 pm
#252
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: LX Senator; AF Platinum and Club 2000; AA Platinum for life (former EXP)
Posts: 494
These pre-plated main courses are disgusting. A disgrace. Memo to UA: seeing things like this only confirms my judgment always to fly other carriers on long hauls.
Feb 28, 2019, 9:32 pm
#253
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 139
I'll concur that this is a major downgrade. On my SFO - Sydney RT two major things were worse as a result of this change.
1) Food was much worse - it's just not possible to cook everything at one time to one temperature and do things well. If I ignore plating, the meal was much closer to a good coach meal.
2) With the reduction of FA's (on a 789) FA's were literally speed walking from the front galley to the back during service. As I was sitting in row 1, this was annoying. If I were sitting in row 9, I imagine it took forever to be served. Additionally, basic service for everything was much slower - refills were sparse, trays were cleared slowly, etc.
This may be the tipping point for me to start spreading spend across a few airlines for better service.
1) Food was much worse - it's just not possible to cook everything at one time to one temperature and do things well. If I ignore plating, the meal was much closer to a good coach meal.
2) With the reduction of FA's (on a 789) FA's were literally speed walking from the front galley to the back during service. As I was sitting in row 1, this was annoying. If I were sitting in row 9, I imagine it took forever to be served. Additionally, basic service for everything was much slower - refills were sparse, trays were cleared slowly, etc.
This may be the tipping point for me to start spreading spend across a few airlines for better service.
Feb 28, 2019, 9:33 pm
#254
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Montréal, Canada
Posts: 1,610
1-) Braised Beef Short Rib with port wine sauce, mashed potatoes with olives, onions & carrots
2-) Grilled Chicken Breast with béarnaise sauce, brown rice, asparagus
3-) Poached Hake Fish Fillet with Chardonnay cream sauce, quinoa with vegetables, bell pepper, green beans & onion
4-) Cannoncino Manicotti, ricotta, tomato basil sauce, porcini mushrooms & tomato
Feb 28, 2019, 10:18 pm
#255
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