UA78 NRT-EWR (16 April 2019) -- Skipped 2nd Meal Service due to turbulence
#31
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We have no idea what type of event it was, if any at all. I'm all for safety and always have my seat belt fastened when I am in my seat. But I've been on enough flights to know that the US3 are the first to turn on the seat belt sign and keep it on and the last to turn it off.
#32
Join Date: May 2012
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My goodness the second meal service is so awful anyway I rarely select it - crew safety is paramount. I would be more upset about beverage service being skipped. But it's safety first folks - that's what we have voted for. Society is so whiny these days - no sympathy from me.
#34
Join Date: Aug 2001
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My experience of UA vs European airlines is that UA is obsessed with the seat belt sign. They turn it off much later - usually at cruising altitude, they keep on turning it on throughout a flight, often forgetting to turn it off again and they turn it on usually at the top of the descent. The European airlines I fly all turn it off at about 10,000 feet, turn it on again around that level and rarely turn it on midflight, unless there really is turbulence.
The consequence of that is that on UA people mostly ignore the sign, whereas in Europe, if it's on, people obey it.
The consequence of that is that on UA people mostly ignore the sign, whereas in Europe, if it's on, people obey it.
#35
Join Date: May 2001
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I had a similar experience NRT-SFO two weeks ago, though they did eventually resume the meal service. The turbulence never got worse than a mild chop.
My observation is that compared to OAL I've flown recently, UA crews are very quick to halt the service, and very slow to start it back up. And I really doubt that carriers such as NH, CX, or SQ are any less concerned about safety.
My observation is that compared to OAL I've flown recently, UA crews are very quick to halt the service, and very slow to start it back up. And I really doubt that carriers such as NH, CX, or SQ are any less concerned about safety.
Of course I am amused by the comment that the OP should have chosen NH or JL, instead of UA.
#36
Join Date: Dec 2009
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I flew JL the 16th from NRT-JFK: some light chop and bumpy at times but meals were served and there was even an extra drink service in PE! They made an annct that there had been reports of it, but in talking with other JL flights, none had experienced it.......UA may be sneaking a fast one!
#37
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Isn't the real issue not that the food was or wasn't served but that the "excuse" of turbulence turned out to be such a lie that the seatbelt sign was turned off 10 mins later and remained off until landing? If it's safe enough to be up and about, it's safe enough to serve the food, especially in J.
#39
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We have no idea what type of event it was, if any at all. I'm all for safety and always have my seat belt fastened when I am in my seat. But I've been on enough flights to know that the US3 are the first to turn on the seat belt sign and keep it on and the last to turn it off.
or are you accusing the pilots of lying, that there was no expectation of turbulence and that there were other reasons for not serving food? The OP said:
#40
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Probably, I was addressing the guy who suggest PIREPs in the EWR area about turbulence might be the rationale.
#41
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Not to disparage anyone, but the U.S. is the most litigious society in the world, imho. When in doubt, we look to sue/ want recompense. With that backdrop, the US 3 likely default to CYA mode pretty quickly. That translates to the seat belt sign being on a lot.
#42
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
I'd be really disappointed and annoyed about this. If they are going to cancel the second meal service, they really should be more proactive about food vouchers or compensation. It's not even about principle - just a simple matter of taking care of the customer at that point.
#43
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
My experience of UA vs European airlines is that UA is obsessed with the seat belt sign. They turn it off much later - usually at cruising altitude, they keep on turning it on throughout a flight, often forgetting to turn it off again and they turn it on usually at the top of the descent. The European airlines I fly all turn it off at about 10,000 feet, turn it on again around that level and rarely turn it on midflight, unless there really is turbulence.
The consequence of that is that on UA people mostly ignore the sign, whereas in Europe, if it's on, people obey it.
The consequence of that is that on UA people mostly ignore the sign, whereas in Europe, if it's on, people obey it.
Years ago a UA plane dropped 1000 feet suddenly and unbuckled passengers were hurt.
Meal service is IRRELEVANT compared to passenger safety.
#44
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
Given the recent news about people being injured because of turbulence the Delta / Compass flight 5763 where a drink cart was involved and the Turkish Flight to JFK where a flight attendant broke their leg it is not surprising that the pilots may be overly cautious.
#45
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
I would say protecting passenger safety is a key part of customer service.