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
Jun 17, 2019, 7:46 am
#646
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,520
Yes, LH meals have small portions. However, they are plated with forethought and served almost as efficiently as on OS, and I don't recall any "weird pickled flavors." I had decent steak outbound and excellent scallops and shrimp inbound my last trip, and best of all, there was none of the "may I have your second choice if your first isn't available" nonsense we get on UA. Wines were good and matched the menu. The only thing UA still does better is ice cream sundaes. Yum!
Jun 17, 2019, 8:40 am
#647
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI
Programs: UA 1K, MR Titanium, IHG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 3,841
Yes, LH meals have small portions. However, they are plated with forethought and served almost as efficiently as on OS, and I don't recall any "weird pickled flavors." I had decent steak outbound and excellent scallops and shrimp inbound my last trip, and best of all, there was none of the "may I have your second choice if your first isn't available" nonsense we get on UA. Wines were good and matched the menu. The only thing UA still does better is ice cream sundaes. Yum!
Jun 17, 2019, 9:17 am
#648
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: LX Senator; AF Platinum and Club 2000; AA Platinum for life (former EXP)
Posts: 493
One comment on portion size. UA leads the pack in the race to offer ridiculously small portions. Appetizers with one shrimp. Yippeee. What a disgrace.
Jun 17, 2019, 9:43 am
#649
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Mlife NOIR
Posts: 320
Wines were barely drinkable, but champagne was very good - and certainly much better than the sparkling wine I was served on my last LH J flight. (Maybe UA is going through their Global First champagne reserves?)
Jun 17, 2019, 10:04 am
#650
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI
Programs: UA 1K, MR Titanium, IHG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 3,841
Jun 17, 2019, 10:50 am
#651
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: 2,497
NRT-IAH 16 June 435 pm 772 (Polarisized) seat 11A
Rumors of the excellent tenderloin proved true! The garlic bread was great also - alas, no second come-through. Dessert featured a Japanese cake, which was a nice touch. Pre-arrival quiche was something new (although it looked like an old domestic F breakfast from a few years ago). Other than no second pass on the garlic bread, great crew - really enjoyed the flight, especially after a couple of hours in the still-excellent VIP (former GF) lounge.
Random question - did Kirby get his hands in the retrofits? Note the boring all gray "Polaris" wall instead of the fancy and more striking patterned blue on some other birds.
Random question - did Kirby get his hands in the retrofits? Note the boring all gray "Polaris" wall instead of the fancy and more striking patterned blue on some other birds.
Last edited by st530; Jun 17, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Jun 17, 2019, 10:53 am
#652
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,442
Jun 17, 2019, 10:57 am
#653
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: 2,497
Jun 17, 2019, 11:12 am
#655
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,442
Bingo.
My guess is the custom lighted panels cost thousands of dollars each, so ditching them for a generic Polaris placard was an easy way to save a few hundred grand across the entire retrofit program.
And yes... your meal looked excellent, even with the new catering guidelines. Attention to detail can make all the difference.
My guess is the custom lighted panels cost thousands of dollars each, so ditching them for a generic Polaris placard was an easy way to save a few hundred grand across the entire retrofit program.
And yes... your meal looked excellent, even with the new catering guidelines. Attention to detail can make all the difference.
Jun 17, 2019, 11:28 am
#656
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,157
Typically, they have been less concerned about cutting that type of spend.
Jun 17, 2019, 5:03 pm
#657
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,682
Rumors of the excellent tenderloin proved true! The garlic bread was great also - alas, no second come-through. Dessert featured a Japanese cake, which was a nice touch. Pre-arrival quiche was something new (although it looked like an old domestic F breakfast from a few years ago). Other than no second pass on the garlic bread, great crew - really enjoyed the flight, especially after a couple of hours in the still-excellent VIP (former GF) lounge.
Random question - did Kirby get his hands in the retrofits? Note the boring all gray "Polaris" wall instead of the fancy and more striking patterned blue on some other birds.
Random question - did Kirby get his hands in the retrofits? Note the boring all gray "Polaris" wall instead of the fancy and more striking patterned blue on some other birds.
Jun 17, 2019, 8:03 pm
#658
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
So whats with the whole not plating in the galley thing? Has it been rolled back, randomly done on certain routes or for certain dishes? Correct me if I'm wrong but some of the mains look like they were plated in the galley and some look like it was all cooked together.
Jun 17, 2019, 8:26 pm
#659
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,392
Certain dishes have been changed to be shipped in casserole dishes for "all-in-one" cooking (it's most of them). This allowed them to cut an FA from most of the int'l aircraft.
Jun 17, 2019, 8:42 pm
#660
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
Appears there's still latitude for crews who actually care (NRT) to fine tune both cooking time (medium rare tenderloin) and plating/presentation. As opposed to the absolute minimum possible effort reflected in findark's LHR-EWR dorm food casserole pics.
