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
Mar 2, 2019, 1:09 pm
#271
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,025
Mar 2, 2019, 2:35 pm
#272
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, BA Silver, AC, AF/KL, AV, VS | Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 457
I booked my HKG-SFO-PDX flights eight months ago so I was unaware of these cuts coming. Now, my flight is in two weeks and after reading this thread I'm kicking myself for passing up the EVA option, even though that meant leaving my hotel @o-dark thirty to catch the first leg to TPE (the later flights weren't available at the time). Looks like I'm adding EF alerts and hoping any of the west coast flights open up - looks like maybe five days prior to departure EVA releases seats.
I walked away from UA 11 years ago as a 1K and never stepped foot onboard any of their planes since. The Polaris hype - the "real Polaris" on the 77W - actually had me thinking they were coming back. I'm really disappointed by this development. I can pack my own pjs (see the Polaris Pajamas thread) but inedible food is too far.
I walked away from UA 11 years ago as a 1K and never stepped foot onboard any of their planes since. The Polaris hype - the "real Polaris" on the 77W - actually had me thinking they were coming back. I'm really disappointed by this development. I can pack my own pjs (see the Polaris Pajamas thread) but inedible food is too far.
Mar 2, 2019, 2:42 pm
#273
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
Mar 2, 2019, 3:31 pm
#274
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Mlife NOIR
Posts: 320
I booked my HKG-SFO-PDX flights eight months ago so I was unaware of these cuts coming. Now, my flight is in two weeks and after reading this thread I'm kicking myself for passing up the EVA option, even though that meant leaving my hotel @o-dark thirty to catch the first leg to TPE (the later flights weren't available at the time). Looks like I'm adding EF alerts and hoping any of the west coast flights open up - looks like maybe five days prior to departure EVA releases seats.
I walked away from UA 11 years ago as a 1K and never stepped foot onboard any of their planes since. The Polaris hype - the "real Polaris" on the 77W - actually had me thinking they were coming back. I'm really disappointed by this development. I can pack my own pjs (see the Polaris Pajamas thread) but inedible food is too far.
I walked away from UA 11 years ago as a 1K and never stepped foot onboard any of their planes since. The Polaris hype - the "real Polaris" on the 77W - actually had me thinking they were coming back. I'm really disappointed by this development. I can pack my own pjs (see the Polaris Pajamas thread) but inedible food is too far.
The Veuve La Grande Dame alone is worth it
Mar 2, 2019, 4:09 pm
#275
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
Eva has a nice product. I personally don't think the food is very good, nor do I like the TPE transit (at least not compared to Hong Kong). But the soft product is certainly better than UA's. Just based on FA staffing alone. And they also don't skimp on the food service, with ample mid-flight options. You won't get the feeling that everything has been cut to the bone.
Mar 2, 2019, 4:29 pm
#276
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,025
I will, but at this time they seem very committed to the path and happy with themselves - the last response (of quite a few) received was actually long and detailed - platitudes about investing in the hard product and “optimizing” catering operations after months of “careful” study; deciding that passengers are expected to drink two glasses of wine each and “don’t mind” when selections are not available. Then they couple the response with an ETC. They are basically trimming opex wherever they can to hit investor numbers, and investing only in capex (new AC, seats, lounges, app). It’s quite disorganized — the compensation they issue per passenger can easily provision an entire cart of additional wine at trade and duty free prices, for example. I don’t want an ETC or miles when something isn’t right, just a decent onboard product.
Mar 2, 2019, 7:54 pm
#277
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
They are basically trimming opex wherever they can to hit investor numbers, and investing only in capex (new AC, seats, lounges, app). It’s quite disorganized — the compensation they issue per passenger can easily provision an entire cart of additional wine at trade and duty free prices, for example. I don’t want an ETC or miles when something isn’t right, just a decent onboard product.
Mar 2, 2019, 8:37 pm
#278
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,158
The elimination of the 788 mid-galley position is less noticeable with 36 J seats, but with the 789 at 48 J seats and the 772 with 50 plus all the crew meals, it is really strained. The 77W still has kept the mid-galley position, so each Galley takes 30 pax, a better ratio. The 789 has become really challenging for FAs to work ... it is bare bones, production-line service. The high-density 767 about to be launched will be the same production-style approach.
The other thing thats just been implemented March 1st is a cutback in provisioning of ice cream and cheese plates - ice cream is now provisioned at 65% of
the J cabin seat count, and cheese at 33%. Apparently we, the passengers, are “consuming less”, so they are “eliminating waste”. In other words, the quality was cut, and we couldn’t force it all down. In the B zone of the 789 last night, this meant neither of the two were available in my row. Adding this to trimmed / roundtrip wine provisioning, and it’s pretty sad.
*headpalm* what. is. wrong. with. this. airline?
Mar 2, 2019, 9:12 pm
#279
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
... that's assuming each passenger chooses only one of the ice cream or the cheese - I'm sure that some will choose both, especially considering the reduced size of the entrees.
Mar 2, 2019, 9:15 pm
#280
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
Mar 2, 2019, 9:16 pm
#281
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,059
The other thing thats just been implemented March 1st is a cutback in provisioning of ice cream and cheese plates - ice cream is now provisioned at 65% of
the J cabin seat count, and cheese at 33%. Apparently we, the passengers, are “consuming less”, so they are “eliminating waste”. In other words, the quality was cut, and we couldn’t force it all down. In the B zone of the 789 last night, this meant neither of the two were available in my row. Adding this to trimmed / roundtrip wine provisioning, and it’s pretty sad.
the J cabin seat count, and cheese at 33%. Apparently we, the passengers, are “consuming less”, so they are “eliminating waste”. In other words, the quality was cut, and we couldn’t force it all down. In the B zone of the 789 last night, this meant neither of the two were available in my row. Adding this to trimmed / roundtrip wine provisioning, and it’s pretty sad.
Mar 3, 2019, 5:59 am
#282
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
I’ll often skip the ice cream but this method of cut with no deployment of some of the savings into other parts of the onboard service is asking for trouble.
Mar 3, 2019, 6:17 am
#283
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 129
There is a ton of waste especially on the short overnight transatlantic flights. Last time I flew I had dinner and the cheese and then fell asleep. Sometime later I woke up to use the lav and walked past a cart with 15 or ice cream cups on it. I asked the FA if I could have one and she offered to build one with whatever toppings I wanted and deliver it to my seat while I used the lav.
I’ll reiterate what I said earlier, I don’t care about selecting a specific meal ahead of time but if we can select whether we want a meal at all it would be great. That should help quite a but with waste.
I’ll reiterate what I said earlier, I don’t care about selecting a specific meal ahead of time but if we can select whether we want a meal at all it would be great. That should help quite a but with waste.
Mar 3, 2019, 8:18 am
#284
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,520
I will, but at this time they seem very committed to the path and happy with themselves - the last response (of quite a few) received was actually long and detailed - platitudes about investing in the hard product and “optimizing” catering operations after months of “careful” study; deciding that passengers are expected to drink two glasses of wine each and “don’t mind” when selections are not available. Then they couple the response with an ETC.
There is a ton of waste especially on the short overnight transatlantic flights. Last time I flew I had dinner and the cheese and then fell asleep. Sometime later I woke up to use the lav and walked past a cart with 15 or ice cream cups on it. I asked the FA if I could have one and she offered to build one with whatever toppings I wanted and deliver it to my seat while I used the lav.
I’ll reiterate what I said earlier, I don’t care about selecting a specific meal ahead of time but if we can select whether we want a meal at all it would be great. That should help quite a but with waste.
I’ll reiterate what I said earlier, I don’t care about selecting a specific meal ahead of time but if we can select whether we want a meal at all it would be great. That should help quite a but with waste.
Mar 3, 2019, 8:44 am
#285
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: United GS; AA EXP; Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 174
Wow, talk about delusional behavior.....
I get it with the concern about waste when you are talking about perishable items like Ice cream and prepared food. But wine? How is it wasteful to carry enough wine so that they don't run out? As long as a bottle isn't opened, it can be used on the next leg.
I get it with the concern about waste when you are talking about perishable items like Ice cream and prepared food. But wine? How is it wasteful to carry enough wine so that they don't run out? As long as a bottle isn't opened, it can be used on the next leg.