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 30, 2019, 5:58 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
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Posts: 6,349
The difference here is that they will "express dine" the whole cabin, not just by individual request.
Mar 30, 2019, 6:58 pm
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Isn't express service currently available by request? So the people who just want to eat and get to bed quickly can, but people who want the full service still get it. Sounds like UA trying to frame trimming back service as an "enhancement."
Mar 30, 2019, 7:22 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 294
I like this. I value sleep over food and food over slow service under the guise of good dining experience. In my experience with UA TPAC & TATL, the service is fairly brisk, although I always welcome making it even faster. The airline that really needs to implement this is LH. Horrendously slow service. I don't need to chew food slowly like a bovine & interact with teutonic flight attendants over a 2-3 hour period during dinner. I want to eat and sleep as much as possible, because once I arrive in Germany, I usually have another 7-9 hour flight. And the timing of the flights is such that it's difficult to sleep on one of those flights to begin with due to time-zone differences. So when sleep is ruined on the one you need to sleep on due to slow service, it results in my arriving at my destination nearly 24 hours later feeling totally exhausted from lousy sleep. (No, not eating is not an option since these are long flights.) I might as well fly coach and save a lot of money.
Mar 30, 2019, 7:30 pm
#34
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But here is the counterpoint. When some wish to go to sleep due the short duration of the flight, they cannot...even if they order the express dining option. Why? Because the FAs make so much noise for the few in the cabin who want meal service drawn out. The lights plus noise make sleep impossible for me. Thus, it’s not so easy as saying make it optional and everyone is happy.
Mar 30, 2019, 7:40 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
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Moreover, if you care about jet lag you shouldn't be eating much of anything at the start of the flight anyway.
Mar 30, 2019, 7:54 pm
#36
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-RM
Mar 30, 2019, 8:20 pm
#38
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Mar 30, 2019, 9:22 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Portland OR
Programs: United 1K 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 560
I’m totally in favor of this for all the reasons Matthew states.
Eye masks don’t help me sleep; they’re uncomfortable and keep me awake. Noise cancelling headphones help, but there’s also feeling the vibrations of FAs walking back and forth up and down the aisle and (though an all-Polaris fleet will eliminate it) your seat mate receiving and handing back their plates multiple times, often right over my head.
Eye masks don’t help me sleep; they’re uncomfortable and keep me awake. Noise cancelling headphones help, but there’s also feeling the vibrations of FAs walking back and forth up and down the aisle and (though an all-Polaris fleet will eliminate it) your seat mate receiving and handing back their plates multiple times, often right over my head.
Mar 30, 2019, 9:32 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2001
Location: IAD
Posts: 6,148
I value sleep on eastbound IAD-Europe redeyes and ask for the express option every time. Since the express dinner service is optional often the FAs forget that I asked for it. The breakfast service on those flights is more important than dinner IMHO. While eye shades and ear plugs help they don’t fully eliminate the sound of clinking dishes. Anything to get more quiet time and better sleep.
Different travelers have different needs so will be interesting to see the feedback on this test.
Different travelers have different needs so will be interesting to see the feedback on this test.
Mar 30, 2019, 9:56 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Delaware
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 1,393
No, because they need that FA for the westbound daylight journey
Totally Agreed
I also agree that it's a smart move on UAs part. People pay for J for the comfort when sleeping and sleep is scarce on the short TATLs.
Mrs. and I are actually odd-balls - we have a hard time sleeping on planes, even in J. We just pay for J for comfort and priority (it could help during IRROPS) and we don't mind the meal spread out, but like I said, we are in the minority.
As far as sleep masks and ear plugs, I work at night and wear one almost every day. I can still see light shine around the sides.
Would I be taking this too far to mention this as a possibility on the Trans-Cons EWR/BOS - SFO/LAX on ALL flights? These are business heavy routes and many people might prefer to spend an extra 30 minutes on being productive rather than waiting for the next course.
I also agree that it's a smart move on UAs part. People pay for J for the comfort when sleeping and sleep is scarce on the short TATLs.
Mrs. and I are actually odd-balls - we have a hard time sleeping on planes, even in J. We just pay for J for comfort and priority (it could help during IRROPS) and we don't mind the meal spread out, but like I said, we are in the minority.
As far as sleep masks and ear plugs, I work at night and wear one almost every day. I can still see light shine around the sides.
Would I be taking this too far to mention this as a possibility on the Trans-Cons EWR/BOS - SFO/LAX on ALL flights? These are business heavy routes and many people might prefer to spend an extra 30 minutes on being productive rather than waiting for the next course.
Mar 30, 2019, 10:44 pm
#45
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