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}
#91
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,098
Had 2 flights yesterday, one express <50 minutes absolutely no service in any class FA made an announcement.
Mainline > 3.5 hours, PDB as usual but now you get the whole can/container. FA asked for drink and snack box preference after take off, no other snacks catered in F (nothing that would be in the snack tray: chips, gummies, etc). F pax allowed 2 snack boxes.
Mainline > 3.5 hours, PDB as usual but now you get the whole can/container. FA asked for drink and snack box preference after take off, no other snacks catered in F (nothing that would be in the snack tray: chips, gummies, etc). F pax allowed 2 snack boxes.
#92
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#94
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#95
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No, on a 3.5hr flight the OP *should* have received the very same hot meal that would have been offered months ago, just on a sealed tray with an entree portion they would open themselves. A snack box is just the cheapo way out.
Again, if United came clean and said "hey we're running out of money and need to slash our inflight services, sorry about that, but we will restore everything back to normal as soon as this is all over" then I doubt there would be as much complaining - as that is the real, transparent answer, not this sanitary nonsense.
The difference is, that is exactly what Delta did - transparent, honest, upfront and a commitment to make it right when they can. Is it any wonder that customers respect Delta more than United?
Again, if United came clean and said "hey we're running out of money and need to slash our inflight services, sorry about that, but we will restore everything back to normal as soon as this is all over" then I doubt there would be as much complaining - as that is the real, transparent answer, not this sanitary nonsense.
The difference is, that is exactly what Delta did - transparent, honest, upfront and a commitment to make it right when they can. Is it any wonder that customers respect Delta more than United?
#96
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Interesting to read DL In Flight Service Changes during COVID-19 (Consolidated Thread), one could swap the airline names and would be pretty much indistinguishable
#97
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
No, on a 3.5hr flight the OP *should* have received the very same hot meal that would have been offered months ago, just on a sealed tray with an entree portion they would open themselves. A snack box is just the cheapo way out.
Again, if United came clean and said "hey we're running out of money and need to slash our inflight services, sorry about that, but we will restore everything back to normal as soon as this is all over" then I doubt there would be as much complaining - as that is the real, transparent answer, not this sanitary nonsense.
The difference is, that is exactly what Delta did - transparent, honest, upfront and a commitment to make it right when they can. Is it any wonder that customers respect Delta more than United?
Again, if United came clean and said "hey we're running out of money and need to slash our inflight services, sorry about that, but we will restore everything back to normal as soon as this is all over" then I doubt there would be as much complaining - as that is the real, transparent answer, not this sanitary nonsense.
The difference is, that is exactly what Delta did - transparent, honest, upfront and a commitment to make it right when they can. Is it any wonder that customers respect Delta more than United?
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Again, the tone here is preposterous. We know why cutbacks are happening, it is in part because of safety, and it clearly isn't some dark and sinister plan of the Bogeyman, Scott Kirby.
#98
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
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Posts: 5,656
Interesting to read DL In Flight Service Changes during COVID-19 (Consolidated Thread), one could swap the airline names and would be pretty much indistinguishable
You seriously believe a hot meal that has been cooked in a kitchen from ingredients from God knows where and handled by several people is just as safe as a cellophane sealed snack box of prepared, processed, sealed food items?
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Again, the tone here is preposterous. We know why cutbacks are happening, it is in part because of safety, and it clearly isn't some dark and sinister plan of the Bogeyman, Scott Kirby.
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Again, the tone here is preposterous. We know why cutbacks are happening, it is in part because of safety, and it clearly isn't some dark and sinister plan of the Bogeyman, Scott Kirby.
#99
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
You seriously believe a hot meal that has been cooked in a kitchen from ingredients from God knows where and handled by several people is just as safe as a cellophane sealed snack box of prepared, processed, sealed food items?
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Again, the tone here is preposterous. We know why cutbacks are happening, it is in part because of safety, and it clearly isn't some dark and sinister plan of the Bogeyman, Scott Kirby.
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Again, the tone here is preposterous. We know why cutbacks are happening, it is in part because of safety, and it clearly isn't some dark and sinister plan of the Bogeyman, Scott Kirby.
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
You seriously believe a hot meal that has been cooked in a kitchen from ingredients from God knows where and handled by several people is just as safe as a cellophane sealed snack box of prepared, processed, sealed food items?
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,415
You seriously believe a hot meal that has been cooked in a kitchen from ingredients from God knows where and handled by several people is just as safe as a cellophane sealed snack box of prepared, processed, sealed food items?
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Look, this is also a cost-cutting measure. It's disappointing, but it's also fair to say that airlines are in deep trouble right now. I don't really want to fly while the service is this bad (you can self cater, NK style I guess), but also I wasn't planning to fly right now anyway, so shrug.
#103
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
Hawaii is pretty hard core at the moment, but both locals and store employees are behaving just fine. Social distancing, constant hand sanitizer, hell my hands have had enough. Overreacting such as UA is not the answer. The clerks at the store handle much more, just another excuse by UA.
The clerks at the store are risking their lives so we don't starve.
#104
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Location: Honolulu Harbor
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#105
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You seriously believe a hot meal that has been cooked in a kitchen from ingredients from God knows where and handled by several people is just as safe as a cellophane sealed snack box of prepared, processed, sealed food items?
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Again, the tone here is preposterous. We know why cutbacks are happening, it is in part because of safety, and it clearly isn't some dark and sinister plan of the Bogeyman, Scott Kirby.
Because I think that's just obviously not true.
Again, the tone here is preposterous. We know why cutbacks are happening, it is in part because of safety, and it clearly isn't some dark and sinister plan of the Bogeyman, Scott Kirby.
The risk, as pointed out, is strictly for surface contact with an object, including a snack box, and the subsequent contact of the contaminated skin directly into an entry point to your body which is restricted to your nose and eyes - that's it. Not your mouth. Or anywhere else.
Again - there is zero chance of infection from the oral consumption of contaminated food or beverages. Zero. None. Nada. Zilch. A sick person can cough and sneeze all over your food, and you can eat it and not get sick - provided you don't touch it and then touch your eyes or put your finger in your nose or give the virus an entry point that does not include a trip through your digestive tract.
Therefore the restrictions in food service serve only to A) cut costs and B) provide some form of optics to customers who like yourself, are completely unclear on how the virus is transmitted and thus overreact to a threat that isn't there.
Good grief, this is really dramatic. So on my next trip through Jack-In-The-Box for those addictive Tiny Tacos, I will be sure and thank Betsy the drive-thru cashier for her brave sacrifice.