Apr 18, 2020, 1:31 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ll-cabins.html
Updated posting July 2020 - Ice, tea and coffee returns and some small food enhancements.
orignal posting
crew meals, covered by contract, appear minimally changed
Updated posting July 2020 - Ice, tea and coffee returns and some small food enhancements.
Safety updates to inflight dining
Your safety and the safety of our employees is our highest priority. To try and further limit potential exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) on board, we’re temporarily adjusting our inflight service as of March 29 and will be moving to primarily pre-packaged foods and sealed beverages. Preorder meals and food for purchase will not be available. We’re also unable to offer special meals except for Kosher meals on flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Beverage changes for all flights
We will be offering sealed beverages on all flights. If you’re on a flight under 1 hour, you’ll receive beverages on request. We’ll also offer coffee and tea on domestic flights departing before 9:45 a.m. and on all international and premium transcontinental flights. Non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary, and alcoholic beverages are complimentary in premium cabins. Wine and beer are also complimentary in United Economy® on long-haul international flights.
Food changes for domestic flights
We won't have snacks available in United Economy for flights under 2 hours and 20 minutes or in United First® for flights under 1 hour. As always, you're welcome to bring snacks on board. For flights between 1 hour and 2 hours and 20 minutes in United First, you'll receive an "all-in-one" snack bag with a wrapped sanitizer wipe, 8.5-ounce bottled water and two snacks.
For flights 2 hours and 20 minutes or longer, you'll receive an "all-in-one" snack bag with a wrapped sanitizer wipe, 8.5-ounce bottled water and two snacks in United Economy. In the premium cabin, you'll be offered a snack box.
Food changes for premium transcontinental flights
If you're flying in United Economy or Economy Plus®, you'll receive an "all-in-one" snack bag with a wrapped sanitizer wipe, 8.5-ounce bottled water and two snacks. Customers in the premium cabin will receive their meal with their entrée choice covered and will be offered a packaged snack for pre-arrival.
Food changes for international flights
In United Economy®, you’ll receive an entrée, a snack and packaged dessert, as well as pre-packed mid-flight and pre-arrival items on select flights. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap.
In United Premium Plus® and United Polaris® business class, your entrée, dessert and bread will be served together. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. You’ll receive a pre-packaged snack for midflight and a fresh packaged meal for pre-arrival on select flights.
Your safety and the safety of our employees is our highest priority. To try and further limit potential exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) on board, we’re temporarily adjusting our inflight service as of March 29 and will be moving to primarily pre-packaged foods and sealed beverages. Preorder meals and food for purchase will not be available. We’re also unable to offer special meals except for Kosher meals on flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Beverage changes for all flights
We will be offering sealed beverages on all flights. If you’re on a flight under 1 hour, you’ll receive beverages on request. We’ll also offer coffee and tea on domestic flights departing before 9:45 a.m. and on all international and premium transcontinental flights. Non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary, and alcoholic beverages are complimentary in premium cabins. Wine and beer are also complimentary in United Economy® on long-haul international flights.
Food changes for domestic flights
We won't have snacks available in United Economy for flights under 2 hours and 20 minutes or in United First® for flights under 1 hour. As always, you're welcome to bring snacks on board. For flights between 1 hour and 2 hours and 20 minutes in United First, you'll receive an "all-in-one" snack bag with a wrapped sanitizer wipe, 8.5-ounce bottled water and two snacks.
For flights 2 hours and 20 minutes or longer, you'll receive an "all-in-one" snack bag with a wrapped sanitizer wipe, 8.5-ounce bottled water and two snacks in United Economy. In the premium cabin, you'll be offered a snack box.
Food changes for premium transcontinental flights
If you're flying in United Economy or Economy Plus®, you'll receive an "all-in-one" snack bag with a wrapped sanitizer wipe, 8.5-ounce bottled water and two snacks. Customers in the premium cabin will receive their meal with their entrée choice covered and will be offered a packaged snack for pre-arrival.
Food changes for international flights
In United Economy®, you’ll receive an entrée, a snack and packaged dessert, as well as pre-packed mid-flight and pre-arrival items on select flights. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap.
In United Premium Plus® and United Polaris® business class, your entrée, dessert and bread will be served together. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. You’ll receive a pre-packaged snack for midflight and a fresh packaged meal for pre-arrival on select flights.
Safety updates to inflight dining
Your safety and the safety of our employees is our highest priority. To try and further limit potential exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) on board, we’re temporarily adjusting our inflight service as of March 29 and will be moving to primarily pre-packaged foods and sealed beverages. Preorder meals and food for purchase will not be available. We’re also unable to offer special meals except for Kosher meals on flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Beverage changes for all flights
We will only offer sealed beverages and we will no longer offer ice, coffee and tea service, and poured alcohol. Instead of pouring you water from a large bottle, we’ll provide sealed individual water bottles. In premium cabins, we will offer beer and individual wines. Flights under 2 hours and 20 minutes will only have beverages on request.
Food changes for domestic flights
For flights under 2 hours and 20 minutes, we will not offer a snack service in any cabin. As always, you’re welcome to bring snacks on board.
For flights over 2 hours and 20 minutes, you will receive your choice of pretzels, a stroopwafel or cookies in United Economy®. In the premium cabin, you’ll be offered a snackbox.
Food changes for premium transcontinental flights
If you’re flying in United Economy or Economy Plus®, you’ll be offered a snack choice. Customers in the premium cabin will receive their packaged meal with their entrée choice covered and will be offered a packaged snack for pre-arrival.
Food changes for international flights
In United Economy®, you’ll receive an entrée, a snack and packaged dessert, as well as pre-packed mid-flight and pre-arrival items on select flights. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap.
In United Premium Plus® and United Polaris® business class, your entrée, dessert and bread will be served together. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. You’ll receive a pre-packaged snack for midflight and a fresh packaged meal for pre-arrival.
Your safety and the safety of our employees is our highest priority. To try and further limit potential exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) on board, we’re temporarily adjusting our inflight service as of March 29 and will be moving to primarily pre-packaged foods and sealed beverages. Preorder meals and food for purchase will not be available. We’re also unable to offer special meals except for Kosher meals on flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Beverage changes for all flights
We will only offer sealed beverages and we will no longer offer ice, coffee and tea service, and poured alcohol. Instead of pouring you water from a large bottle, we’ll provide sealed individual water bottles. In premium cabins, we will offer beer and individual wines. Flights under 2 hours and 20 minutes will only have beverages on request.
Food changes for domestic flights
For flights under 2 hours and 20 minutes, we will not offer a snack service in any cabin. As always, you’re welcome to bring snacks on board.
For flights over 2 hours and 20 minutes, you will receive your choice of pretzels, a stroopwafel or cookies in United Economy®. In the premium cabin, you’ll be offered a snackbox.
Food changes for premium transcontinental flights
If you’re flying in United Economy or Economy Plus®, you’ll be offered a snack choice. Customers in the premium cabin will receive their packaged meal with their entrée choice covered and will be offered a packaged snack for pre-arrival.
Food changes for international flights
In United Economy®, you’ll receive an entrée, a snack and packaged dessert, as well as pre-packed mid-flight and pre-arrival items on select flights. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap.
In United Premium Plus® and United Polaris® business class, your entrée, dessert and bread will be served together. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. You’ll receive a pre-packaged snack for midflight and a fresh packaged meal for pre-arrival.
crew meals, covered by contract, appear minimally changed
COVID Era UA inflight service changes {Archive}
Mar 27, 2020, 10:17 pm
#31
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Mar 27, 2020, 10:46 pm
#32
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My guess is they are gone, never to return - Kirby probably didn't even know about it, otherwise he would have stopped them long ago.
A lot of that list is really nonsensical - why is it OK to serve a hot meal on flights over 4hrs but not on flights over 2hrs? Why not just give passengers on the shorter flights a covered tray to open themselves just like on the longer flights? What makes the longer flight passengers more deserving, or less risky than the shorter flight passengers?
The FAs can wear gloves - are they really that much more special or delicate than the fast food workers who still work the drive-thru lanes, handing food/drinks/cash/credit cards back and forth with customers? The cashiers still working in grocery stores?
These changes aren't for safety, they are for saving money - at least Delta had the cojones to tell it to my face that they were slashing inflight services specifically to save money and not hiding behind a "oh no, the virus!" excuse.
A lot of that list is really nonsensical - why is it OK to serve a hot meal on flights over 4hrs but not on flights over 2hrs? Why not just give passengers on the shorter flights a covered tray to open themselves just like on the longer flights? What makes the longer flight passengers more deserving, or less risky than the shorter flight passengers?
The FAs can wear gloves - are they really that much more special or delicate than the fast food workers who still work the drive-thru lanes, handing food/drinks/cash/credit cards back and forth with customers? The cashiers still working in grocery stores?
These changes aren't for safety, they are for saving money - at least Delta had the cojones to tell it to my face that they were slashing inflight services specifically to save money and not hiding behind a "oh no, the virus!" excuse.
Mar 28, 2020, 12:16 am
#34
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
My guess is they are gone, never to return - Kirby probably didn't even know about it, otherwise he would have stopped them long ago.
A lot of that list is really nonsensical - why is it OK to serve a hot meal on flights over 4hrs but not on flights over 2hrs? Why not just give passengers on the shorter flights a covered tray to open themselves just like on the longer flights? What makes the longer flight passengers more deserving, or less risky than the shorter flight passengers?
The FAs can wear gloves - are they really that much more special or delicate than the fast food workers who still work the drive-thru lanes, handing food/drinks/cash/credit cards back and forth with customers? The cashiers still working in grocery stores?
These changes aren't for safety, they are for saving money - at least Delta had the cojones to tell it to my face that they were slashing inflight services specifically to save money and not hiding behind a "oh no, the virus!" excuse.
A lot of that list is really nonsensical - why is it OK to serve a hot meal on flights over 4hrs but not on flights over 2hrs? Why not just give passengers on the shorter flights a covered tray to open themselves just like on the longer flights? What makes the longer flight passengers more deserving, or less risky than the shorter flight passengers?
The FAs can wear gloves - are they really that much more special or delicate than the fast food workers who still work the drive-thru lanes, handing food/drinks/cash/credit cards back and forth with customers? The cashiers still working in grocery stores?
These changes aren't for safety, they are for saving money - at least Delta had the cojones to tell it to my face that they were slashing inflight services specifically to save money and not hiding behind a "oh no, the virus!" excuse.
This is ridiculous. It is clearly both costs and safety.
Of course it costs less and anyone flying now has to fly and has little choice.
But it also is for safety. How come they take risks on a 4 hr flight they won't take on a 2 hr flight? I am sorry, that is not a serious question. At some length of flight, customer hunger justifies taking the risk on an interaction. That in no way proves the restrictions aren't about safety. They are.
Mar 28, 2020, 1:23 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Posts: 5,656
This is ridiculous. It is clearly both costs and safety.
Of course it costs less and anyone flying now has to fly and has little choice.
But it also is for safety. How come they take risks on a 4 hr flight they won't take on a 2 hr flight? I am sorry, that is not a serious question. At some length of flight, customer hunger justifies taking the risk on an interaction. That in no way proves the restrictions aren't about safety. They are.
This is ridiculous. It is clearly both costs and safety.
Of course it costs less and anyone flying now has to fly and has little choice.
But it also is for safety. How come they take risks on a 4 hr flight they won't take on a 2 hr flight? I am sorry, that is not a serious question. At some length of flight, customer hunger justifies taking the risk on an interaction. That in no way proves the restrictions aren't about safety. They are.
First of all, nobody is going to starve on a 2 hr flight as you stated, but where we disagree is that a 4 hr flight is something different, still aren’t going to starve...
Once one enters the airplane, whether passengers or FA’s, selective food service doesn’t change exposure, its the same people. This is overreaction at best, or worse, the next devaluation out of “abundance” of caution.
If my good friend visits for dinner tomorrow, one hour in my house vs. four makes no difference.
Mar 28, 2020, 6:08 am
#36
Join Date: Sep 2000
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A reminder for those that were not in the forum or flying back in the day, post 9/11 in three cabin aircraft on domestic routes, we had a period of time where Business got a snack box, or "no choice" single meal option. Yes, it was due to budgets and managing costs. I don't have a problem with managing costs at a time like this. UA came back with full services when they were able, and I expect the same when this is all over as well.
Mar 28, 2020, 7:29 am
#38
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Posts: 1,201
Any UA restriction from bringing your own food on board as always?
Mar 28, 2020, 8:46 am
#39
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Where does it say that? It doesn't. I have no doubt that FAs will still provide a snack box if asked for. Besides, what 1K is going to be in coach on a domestic flight right now? None. As I've posted in other threads, there are quite a few flights I'm the ONLY elite on the plane, and therefore the only one in FC (barring any non-revs). Except for those who buy BE (and should they get a snack box anyway?).
-RM
-RM
Mar 28, 2020, 9:34 am
#40
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Mar 28, 2020, 9:34 am
#41
Join Date: Oct 2005
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I was just asking a question...relax
Mar 28, 2020, 11:15 am
#42
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At this point people should just be glad to see any flights operating at all. The airlines are one small piece of bad news away from just pulling the plug on the whole system for a few weeks.
Mar 28, 2020, 11:40 am
#43
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I am sure some of this is cost related. However, the less contact, the less risk, right? A lot of it is about protecting the cabin crew, which translates to protecting the passengers, right?
The US is really like a lot of small countries - each region has its own severity on Covid-19 and different policies dealing with it. We already see some states implement quarantine rules. If this thing does not get better soon and more states implement quarantine rules/more strict rules, the airlines might have to go cargo-only.
The US is really like a lot of small countries - each region has its own severity on Covid-19 and different policies dealing with it. We already see some states implement quarantine rules. If this thing does not get better soon and more states implement quarantine rules/more strict rules, the airlines might have to go cargo-only.
Mar 28, 2020, 11:47 am
#44
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Whether an FA delivers a glass of water to any given passenger or a glass of water, tray of food, dessert, glass of wine, and a hot towel to that same passenger, the contact is happening one way or the other. This is purely cost related at this point.
Mar 28, 2020, 12:08 pm
#45
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Disagree. There is a lot less contact with the new procedures. The riskiest thing (to F/As) is probably in the clean-up. There are a lot more contact points when you are picking up multiple plates, cups, glasses, silverware, etc. from each passenger and finding a place to stow it away in the galley. And guess what - when they are bringing someone else's dirty glass or tray or napkin to the galley and then fixing you a gin & tonic refill, they are not washing their hands in between.