UA78 NRT-EWR (16 April 2019) -- Skipped 2nd Meal Service due to turbulence

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Apr 17, 2019, 9:27 am

#61

Kacee

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jbeans

+1 Same thing happened to me SFO-EWR last weekend.

I'm starting to wonder if this is some sort of organized work action to protest the crew reductions.

Another reason to book away. My next three international tickets are AF, EK, CX.

restlessinRNO, SFO777, worldclubber and 3 others like this.

Apr 17, 2019, 9:37 am

#62

jbeans

Join Date: Jan 2017

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

I'm starting to wonder if this is some sort of organized work action to protest the crew reductions.

There were at least 2 FAs serving my isle (2nd J cabin rows 9-15 in a retrofitted 757-200), so it didn't feel like they were short staffed. Of course, when they did serve meals they looked like they'd rather be elsewhere.

restlessinRNO likes this.

Apr 17, 2019, 9:39 am

#63

restlessinRNO

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

I'm starting to wonder if this is some sort of organized work action to protest the crew reductions.

Another reason to book away. My next three international tickets are AF, EK, CX.

Of course this is completely understandable, however none of these are *A. Many folks need to concentrate their flying on Star Alliance carriers.

Apr 17, 2019, 9:41 am

#64

mduell

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Quote:

Originally Posted by j2simpso

Out of curiosity what would happen if one of the passengers was a diabetic on the airplane. Do you think they would deny them a meal or drink due to turbulence?

I think anyone with such a precarious medical situation should be carrying their own snacks in excess of what they expect to need on the flight.

jsloan, D582 and ATLintheair like this.

Apr 17, 2019, 9:43 am

#65

FlyerTalker70

Join Date: Nov 2017

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

I'm starting to wonder if this is some sort of organized work action to protest the crew reductions.

Another reason to book away. My next three international tickets are AF, EK, CX.

Jeez you couldn't have picked three worse airlines if you threw a dart at the board:

AF : Growing labour disputes and anger over Canadian transplant Ben Smith
CX : Growing labour disputes over the recent closure of several international stations
EK : Growing labour disputes and turnover due to poor working conditions

-James

Apr 17, 2019, 9:45 am

#66

jbeans

Join Date: Jan 2017

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Quote:

Originally Posted by restlessinRNO

Of course this is completely understandable, however none of these are *A. Many folks need to concentrate their flying on Star Alliance carriers.

Plenty of better options in *A too; SQ, NH, BR, or SA would be my top choices.

IndyHoosier likes this.

Apr 17, 2019, 10:28 am

#67

formeraa

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SFO777

So what? Two hours out, they were over Manitoba, not anywhere near EWR.

Exactly! And why didn't the flight deck consult with the FA's earlier so they could start their service, say, 45 minutes early to avoid the turbulence? Yes, sometimes situations happen without warning, but most of the time a bit of planning could resolve the problem.

Apr 17, 2019, 11:59 am

#68

Hartmann

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Quote:

Originally Posted by clubord

Thanks for the PIREP.

I flew into EWR on the FLOSI arrival, 20-25 minutes of constant moderate (B763) from ALB southbound.

Not much fun today...

I came in on the FLOSI arrival on Monday and it was pretty brutal. Pretty much 40+ minutes of moderate to severe chop.

Apr 17, 2019, 4:03 pm

#69

HkCaGu

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartmann

I came in on the FLOSI arrival on Monday and it was pretty brutal. Pretty much 40+ minutes of moderate to severe chop.

Again, meal service has nothing to do with climb out or approach. It has to be cruise.

A while ago I was in touch with somebody on board SFO-PVG (789) and severe turbulence was forecast off the coast 1-2 hours out (i.e. meal time). The sev turb was forecast for something like FL280-FL360, and the pilots actually climbed to FL380 so meal service could be conducted. (It's unusual for the initial part of a medium/long-haul flight to fly that high due to density vs. economy.)

I'd be surprise if the area/altitudes of sev turb could not be avoided horizontally or vertically, especially 1-2 hours into/before landing, and especially up in Canadian airspace.

Apr 17, 2019, 5:25 pm

#70

Channel 9

Join Date: Aug 2007

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DL is installing a "crowd source" system where their planes automatically tell each other about actual turb they each are experiencing. Sounds fantastic and much more accurate than the current systems (pilot reports, forecasts). Do you know if UA has plans to do something similar?

Apr 17, 2019, 5:54 pm

#71

worldtrav

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 4,771

This is very surprising, given the fact United is Flyer Friendly.

It's even more surprising given all the flight attendants are attending mandatory "You'd better be nice" training at an event called Backstage. Perhaps this crew hasn't been to the training yet.

Apr 17, 2019, 6:14 pm

#72

LarryJ

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Channel 9

We are testing it on at least two fleets; the 737s and, I think, the 777s. Not sure if it has been expanded out to other fleets yet.

Just got a notice the other day that a new version of the iPad app is about to be pushed out.

wrp96 and east_west like this.

Apr 18, 2019, 2:00 pm

#73

dkc192

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Quote:

Originally Posted by j2simpso

it's a whole other thing to have a set of chinaware, silverware and bottles of Krug flying about the cabin.

Wait, UA serves Krug?! Do share more: on which routes/aircraft? Did I miss an announcement about a major "enhancement" to meal service?

Apr 18, 2019, 2:39 pm

#74

bocastephen

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Quote:

Originally Posted by dkc192

Wait, UA serves Krug?! Do share more: on which routes/aircraft? Did I miss an announcement about a major "enhancement" to meal service?

They do...on any codeshares operated by EVA

IndyHoosier and east_west like this.

Apr 18, 2019, 3:35 pm

#75

dilanesp

Join Date: Feb 2015

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I am really shocked at the number of people here who seem to think that meal service should go on when the flight attendants think it is unsafe.

It's not a restaurant with wings. Getting you there safely trumps any other concern.

ajGoes and ExplorerWannabe like this.

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