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COVID Era UA inflight service changes {Archive}

Old Apr 18, 2020, 1:31 pm
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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.
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, were 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. Were 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 youre on a flight under 1 hour, youll receive beverages on request. Well 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 entre choice covered and will be offered a packaged snack for pre-arrival.

Food changes for international flights
In United Economy, youll receive an entre, 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 entre, dessert and bread will be served together. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. Youll receive a pre-packaged snack for midflight and a fresh packaged meal for pre-arrival on select flights.
orignal posting
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, were 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. Were 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, well 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, youre 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, youll be offered a snackbox.

Food changes for premium transcontinental flights
If youre flying in United Economy or Economy Plus, youll be offered a snack choice. Customers in the premium cabin will receive their packaged meal with their entre choice covered and will be offered a packaged snack for pre-arrival.

Food changes for international flights
In United Economy, youll receive an entre, 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 entre, dessert and bread will be served together. Everything is served packaged or covered for you to unwrap. Youll receive a pre-packaged snack for midflight and a fresh packaged meal for pre-arrival.


crew meals, covered by contract, appear minimally changed
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COVID Era UA inflight service changes {Archive}

Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:00 pm
  #1  
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COVID Era UA inflight service changes {Archive}

Changes coming to American Airlines domestic flights:

-No alcohol in coach
-No snacks or food for purchase in coach.
-50% of middle seats will be blocked
-Seats near flight attendant jump seats will blocked.
-No checked pets
-Passengers can move to other seats once on board

Last edited by J.Edward; Mar 24, 2020 at 7:20 pm Reason: update title
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:05 pm
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Link? I see nothing in the AA forum at first glance
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:11 pm
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Originally Posted by HNLbasedFlyer
Link? I see nothing in the AA forum at first glance
From a reporter.

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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:11 pm
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Assume temporary as part of the social distancing? I mean, given the current load on most routes, every should be able to have lie-flat in Y.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:13 pm
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I assume United will follow in suspending most food/beverage service. Delta is going even further with snack boxes only in domestic F.

I am sure we'll soon look back on 2015-early 2020 as "golden era" of inflight service.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:15 pm
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Originally Posted by bhunt
Changes coming to American Airlines domestic flights:

-No alcohol in coach
-No snacks or food for purchase in coach.
-50% of middle seats will be blocked
-Seats near flight attendant jump seats will blocked.
-No checked pets
-Passengers can move to other seats once on board
I can live with "no pets," period.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:18 pm
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Originally Posted by Repooc17
every should be able to have lie-flat in Y.
Both of them.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:18 pm
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WN has suspended all inflight service.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:24 pm
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50% of middle seats blocked? That sunds odd.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 7:24 pm
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Originally Posted by HNLbasedFlyer
Link? I see nothing in the AA forum at first glance
archive.is link to AA announcement
Newsroom - American Airlines Adjusts Food and Lounge Service in Response to COVID-19 - American Airlines Group, Inc.

FT AA Forum Threads:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...-policies.html
AA policy and issues: cabin, hold & service animals & pets (consolidated)
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 8:18 pm
  #11  
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Originally Posted by bhunt
Changes coming to American Airlines domestic flights:

-No alcohol in coach
-No snacks or food for purchase in coach.
-50% of middle seats will be blocked
-Seats near flight attendant jump seats will blocked.
-No checked pets
-Passengers can move to other seats once on board
Does that include "emotional support animals" (or whatever the appropriate term is)?

LAX
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 8:24 pm
  #12  
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Stopping Y snack box service makes no sense - the snacks are in sealed boxes, and payment is made with credit card, and the FAs can wear gloves - perhaps one FA can handle credit card payments while the others will serve food and beverages.

Considering how much revenue UA claims they make from onboard purchases, it seems odd to remove a key source of revenue when one is bleeding money every hour.

Originally Posted by LAX
Does that include "emotional support animals" (or whatever the appropriate term is)?

LAX
They would be in the cabin, not checked below. Given UA's track record with pet transport, this is probably worth a sigh of relief from America's pet population.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 8:33 pm
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Originally Posted by LAX
Does that include "emotional support animals" (or whatever the appropriate term is)?

LAX
Doesnt look like it. AAs concern seems to be taking possession of (and being responsible for) animals when connection reliability is reduced.

Emotional support animals are in custody of passenger during entire trip.

Or, Emotional support animals have custody of their owners during entire trip.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 8:38 pm
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Originally Posted by Xyzzy
50% of middle seats blocked? That sunds odd.
Agreed. Apparently they care about 50% of the Y pax, perhaps basic Y can upgrade to a 'social distancing' option.
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Old Mar 24, 2020, 8:54 pm
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
Stopping Y snack box service makes no sense - the snacks are in sealed boxes, and payment is made with credit card, and the FAs can wear gloves
It still puts the FAs within a foot of the passengers. The idea is to have minimal non-essential interaction with passengers.

They really should seat people only in the window seats to give the FAs the best possible social distance.
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