View Poll Results: Mandatory Express Dining Service for East Coast TATL red-eye flights?
Is a good idea
106
40.77%
Prefer having a choice of regular or express
154
59.23%
Voters: 260. You may not vote on this poll
United Will Trial Mandatory New Express Dining Service Concept In Business Class
Mar 31, 2019, 2:46 pm
#61
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 60
This benefits all passengers, not just those who want a quicker meal. While it cuts the service from 3 to 2 rounds, it cuts the use of carts from 3 to 1 and that 1 is early in the flight. This means that people who want the sleep, one of the primary reasons they pay for J, get to sleep. Eyeshades and the like don't make up much for the noise caused by the carts, dishes clanging and conversations between FA's and passengers.
It's just a trial, so we'll have to see if it works out. But, I'm not sure why this leads to the standard frothing about "cheap" because nothing changes. This service won't cost UA less.
It's just a trial, so we'll have to see if it works out. But, I'm not sure why this leads to the standard frothing about "cheap" because nothing changes. This service won't cost UA less.
I don’t see how it benefits all passengers. Yes, I agree about the noise, lights, sleeping, etc., but if UA goes to this as a norm, not just on late night flights, it does cheapen the experience physically if not economically. Essentially it makes J into Y with a bed.” Here’s your one tray meal, plop on the tray table. We’ll grab you dessert from the galley if you really insist. Of course, we’ll still pretend it’s a premium service, and charge correspondingly for it.” A lot of people do enjoy the whole multi-course, more personalized service.
As for cost, if it is forced out as the norm, it will save. Making biz essentially coach for service, you just need FA’s to run the meals out, drop them off, and then they can be reassigned to help in Y. Essentially this is what happens in domestic First. So maybe one or two fewer FA’s can result - even one less will add up. Preplating saves and speeds up catering by not having to load and buy/carry/clean the extra plates. Need more room on that crowded tray? Smaller plates - that hold less product and save pennies here and there (remember the classic AA tale of removing one love and saving thousands). Bread catering can be cut as you could just serve a (one) roll on the tray. Dessert costs may drop because when it’s not dragged along the aisle fewer people may order it. Liquor/wine costs may drop because in a shortened meal service there will potentially less demand, at least for refills. They may even eliminate linens on the tray table (saves a step and no laundering cost)...what’s on the plastic is “good enough”, something which should appeal to management.
Make no mistake, UA wouldn’t be trying this out if they didn’t think they’d shave a few dollars off expenses, no mattter how loudly they pretend it’s to enhance your trip.
As for cost, if it is forced out as the norm, it will save. Making biz essentially coach for service, you just need FA’s to run the meals out, drop them off, and then they can be reassigned to help in Y. Essentially this is what happens in domestic First. So maybe one or two fewer FA’s can result - even one less will add up. Preplating saves and speeds up catering by not having to load and buy/carry/clean the extra plates. Need more room on that crowded tray? Smaller plates - that hold less product and save pennies here and there (remember the classic AA tale of removing one love and saving thousands). Bread catering can be cut as you could just serve a (one) roll on the tray. Dessert costs may drop because when it’s not dragged along the aisle fewer people may order it. Liquor/wine costs may drop because in a shortened meal service there will potentially less demand, at least for refills. They may even eliminate linens on the tray table (saves a step and no laundering cost)...what’s on the plastic is “good enough”, something which should appeal to management.
Make no mistake, UA wouldn’t be trying this out if they didn’t think they’d shave a few dollars off expenses, no mattter how loudly they pretend it’s to enhance your trip.
Last edited by ATLintheair; Mar 31, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Mar 31, 2019, 5:10 pm
#62
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,117
I don’t see how it benefits all passengers. Yes, I agree about the noise, lights, sleeping, etc., but if UA goes to this as a norm, not just on late night flights, it does cheapen the experience physically if not economically. Essentially it makes J into Y with a bed.” Here’s your one tray meal, plop on the tray table. We’ll grab you dessert from the galley if you really insist. Of course, we’ll still pretend it’s a premium service, and charge correspondingly for it.” A lot of people do enjoy the whole multi-course, more personalized service.
As for cost, if it is forced out as the norm, it will save. Making biz essentially coach for service, you just need FA’s to run the meals out, drop them off, and then they can be reassigned to help in Y. Essentially this is what happens in domestic First. So maybe one or two fewer FA’s can result - even one less will add up. Preplating saves and speeds up catering by not having to load and buy/carry/clean the extra plates. Need more room on that crowded tray? Smaller plates - that hold less product and save pennies here and there (remember the classic AA tale of removing one love and saving thousands). Bread catering can be cut as you could just serve a (one) roll on the tray. Dessert costs may drop because when it’s not dragged along the aisle fewer people may order it. Liquor/wine costs may drop because in a shortened meal service there will potentially less demand, at least for refills. They may even eliminate linens on the tray table (saves a step and no laundering cost)...what’s on the plastic is “good enough”, something which should appeal to management.
Make no mistake, UA wouldn’t be trying this out if they didn’t think they’d shave a few dollars off expenses, no mattter how loudly they pretend it’s to enhance your trip.
As for cost, if it is forced out as the norm, it will save. Making biz essentially coach for service, you just need FA’s to run the meals out, drop them off, and then they can be reassigned to help in Y. Essentially this is what happens in domestic First. So maybe one or two fewer FA’s can result - even one less will add up. Preplating saves and speeds up catering by not having to load and buy/carry/clean the extra plates. Need more room on that crowded tray? Smaller plates - that hold less product and save pennies here and there (remember the classic AA tale of removing one love and saving thousands). Bread catering can be cut as you could just serve a (one) roll on the tray. Dessert costs may drop because when it’s not dragged along the aisle fewer people may order it. Liquor/wine costs may drop because in a shortened meal service there will potentially less demand, at least for refills. They may even eliminate linens on the tray table (saves a step and no laundering cost)...what’s on the plastic is “good enough”, something which should appeal to management.
Make no mistake, UA wouldn’t be trying this out if they didn’t think they’d shave a few dollars off expenses, no mattter how loudly they pretend it’s to enhance your trip.
Mar 31, 2019, 5:29 pm
#63
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
As pointed out, it was in GF. I was once asked the difference between GF and BF and my answer was "$10,000 and soup. It's very good soup."
Many years ago, they had soup in J, before j was even J. I vividly remember one flight where someone thought tomato soup was a good idea. It may be, but tomato soup and turbulence is a very bad idea indeed.
Back to the topic at hand, I have no problem with making express dine the default. I think making it mandatory somewhat cheapens the experience.
Many years ago, they had soup in J, before j was even J. I vividly remember one flight where someone thought tomato soup was a good idea. It may be, but tomato soup and turbulence is a very bad idea indeed.
Back to the topic at hand, I have no problem with making express dine the default. I think making it mandatory somewhat cheapens the experience.
Mar 31, 2019, 6:18 pm
#64
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
Makes sense to me. Not sure if it should be mandatory. Would prefer if UA had a meal choice option like AA that could include this express service. That said, I like that they're trying this.
Mar 31, 2019, 7:38 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,089
I would not have a problem with this if there was a Polaris lounge at IAD or if the food were of better quality, but it seems most likely given UA's history to just be an occasion for them to cheapen the experience.
Mar 31, 2019, 8:49 pm
#66
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,450
I don’t want to give UA any ideas, but no doubt they are well aware of their competitors’ dining programs.
Last edited by EWR764; Mar 31, 2019 at 8:55 pm
Mar 31, 2019, 9:35 pm
#67
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,089
For BA out of IAD, I’ve never had a problem getting full dinner service even when I’ve had a snack in CW dining first. Many people do not eat on board, so I’m sure they provision accordingly but don’t seem to overdo it.
AF out of IAD only had full dining in the lounge for F. They may have provisioned for less than everyone eating, but not on account of the lounge. Maybe their new lounge will be different.
Trust UA to err on to err on the cheap side, though. They’ve been reducing quality for the food, beverage and service in Polaris since they rolled it out.
AF out of IAD only had full dining in the lounge for F. They may have provisioned for less than everyone eating, but not on account of the lounge. Maybe their new lounge will be different.
Trust UA to err on to err on the cheap side, though. They’ve been reducing quality for the food, beverage and service in Polaris since they rolled it out.
Mar 31, 2019, 10:01 pm
#68
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Portland OR
Programs: United 1K 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 560
Here’s hoping they add UA950 (IAD-BRU) to the list before 5/23. I booked PDX-LHR today and got a cheap Premium Plus fare via IAD and BRU, and the GPU just cleared. It’s on a 772 so it’ll be full lights on for the meal.
Apr 1, 2019, 5:58 am
#69
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
For BA out of IAD, I’ve never had a problem getting full dinner service even when I’ve had a snack in CW dining first. Many people do not eat on board, so I’m sure they provision accordingly but don’t seem to overdo it.
AF out of IAD only had full dining in the lounge for F. They may have provisioned for less than everyone eating, but not on account of the lounge. Maybe their new lounge will be different.
AF out of IAD only had full dining in the lounge for F. They may have provisioned for less than everyone eating, but not on account of the lounge. Maybe their new lounge will be different.
I think the UA PL's are key to making this work from the east coast, and arguably IAH / ORD too. Wish it was already online at IAD.
I'd guess higher quality food and beverage can be offered for less cost in a dedicated dining facility and kitchen than onboard. Said another way, assuming one had the time at the PL, who would not want to eat dinner there vs onboard? Sure you still need to cater the flight for those who get hungry or don't have time to stop in the PL, but the idea of dining on the ground prior to an evening Europe flight strikes me as a better option if one has the time. $0.02.
I'd guess higher quality food and beverage can be offered for less cost in a dedicated dining facility and kitchen than onboard. Said another way, assuming one had the time at the PL, who would not want to eat dinner there vs onboard? Sure you still need to cater the flight for those who get hungry or don't have time to stop in the PL, but the idea of dining on the ground prior to an evening Europe flight strikes me as a better option if one has the time. $0.02.
Apr 1, 2019, 7:30 am
#70
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
You can't rely on PL food always being an option for the pax. A meeting may run late - or traffic is very bad - and you'll arrive at the airport and have at most time for a quick bite from the buffet. Or you're connecting and the domestic inbound has 1+ hour of delay and you have only a few minutes to catch the INTL outbound.
Apr 1, 2019, 8:24 am
#71
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,450
For BA out of IAD, I’ve never had a problem getting full dinner service even when I’ve had a snack in CW dining first. Many people do not eat on board, so I’m sure they provision accordingly but don’t seem to overdo it.
AF out of IAD only had full dining in the lounge for F. They may have provisioned for less than everyone eating, but not on account of the lounge. Maybe their new lounge will be different.
Trust UA to err on to err on the cheap side, though. They’ve been reducing quality for the food, beverage and service in Polaris since they rolled it out.
AF out of IAD only had full dining in the lounge for F. They may have provisioned for less than everyone eating, but not on account of the lounge. Maybe their new lounge will be different.
Trust UA to err on to err on the cheap side, though. They’ve been reducing quality for the food, beverage and service in Polaris since they rolled it out.
Apr 1, 2019, 8:52 am
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
I think it makes more sense in places where they have the polaris lounge, but in general, I prefer the fast meal (or no meal) and sleep.
Its not like the "food" UA serves is actually some gastronomic experience where you want to savor each morsel while they trundle down the aisle slowly. And even worse than the dinner service, waking people up 90 mins (or longer) prior to landing, for "breakfast" when they just ate <3 hours ago is ridiculous. Even the EWR-TLV flights (at least the late one), the breakfast service is a bit early and they make a racket with all the clanging in the galleys.
Eastbound I'd rather skip the alcohol(and the onboard meal), take an ambien and get a great sleep rather than experience sub-food-court quality food at a glacial pace.
Its not like the "food" UA serves is actually some gastronomic experience where you want to savor each morsel while they trundle down the aisle slowly. And even worse than the dinner service, waking people up 90 mins (or longer) prior to landing, for "breakfast" when they just ate <3 hours ago is ridiculous. Even the EWR-TLV flights (at least the late one), the breakfast service is a bit early and they make a racket with all the clanging in the galleys.
Eastbound I'd rather skip the alcohol(and the onboard meal), take an ambien and get a great sleep rather than experience sub-food-court quality food at a glacial pace.
Apr 1, 2019, 10:05 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
True of course, but this was a rebuttal against the point that meal (boarding/quantity/service) reductions seemed acceptable in light of a PL food offering on the ground before departure. On heavy traffic days or during network mayhem (like today), it is possible that multiple pax in J were not able to enjoy a PL meal even if they wanted to.
Apr 1, 2019, 10:16 am
#75
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,941
LH does this on their late night departures from India (~3:30am). Personally I like it; on the ~9hr flight from Bangalore or Mumbai to Frankfurt I want to get as much sleep as I can. FWIW Bangalore is served by the 3-class 748 and has less than stellar food options in the shared Plaza Premium lounge. Mumbai has much better lounge food options but are not what I would consider comparable to a Polaris lounge.