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}
Sep 10, 2021, 6:05 am
#2086
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 100K, Hyatt Globalist, and Marriott Titanium Member
Posts: 266
Transcon Meal Service
Sorry if this question was asked already, but hot covered meals are available on Premium Transcon Routes, right? I’m flying EWR to SFO in the real Polaris seat 767-300.
United’s website is showing conflicting info, plus the agent told me it’s just a snack box, but in my experience their call centers aren’t that knowledgeable. ThePointsGuy website also says hot meal service should be available, but I just want to check here too. Thanks!
United’s website is showing conflicting info, plus the agent told me it’s just a snack box, but in my experience their call centers aren’t that knowledgeable. ThePointsGuy website also says hot meal service should be available, but I just want to check here too. Thanks!
Sep 10, 2021, 6:07 am
#2087
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Sorry if this question was asked already, but hot covered meals are available on Premium Transcon Routes, right? I’m flying EWR to SFO in the real Polaris seat 767-300.
United’s website is showing conflicting info, plus the agent told me it’s just a snack box, but in my experience their call centers aren’t that knowledgeable. ThePointsGuy website also says hot meal service should be available, but I just want to check here too. Thanks!
United’s website is showing conflicting info, plus the agent told me it’s just a snack box, but in my experience their call centers aren’t that knowledgeable. ThePointsGuy website also says hot meal service should be available, but I just want to check here too. Thanks!
However, the starter, main course and the dessert is all served at once in a single tray.
Sep 10, 2021, 6:32 am
#2088
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
A premium product (the premium is the delta between the price of the economy ticket to the price of the business/business first/first/Polaris ticket) is meant to be a step up.
A lot of the current offering is comparable to economy if economy itself hadn’t been stripped back to a packet of pretzels and the world’s tiniest bottle of water.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 10, 2021 at 10:50 am Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Sep 10, 2021, 12:11 pm
#2089
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
it’s the stupid penny pinching that is hurting them… I’ve said before that while I don’t like it, I get the closure of the Polaris lounges. But they’re too tight to serve a drink before departure, a so called eco skies airline that uses plastic cups, you can’t put the nuts in the old containers and warm them, etc… it’s tiny things that all add up.
A premium product (the premium is the delta between the price of the economy ticket to the price of the business/business first/first/Polaris ticket) is meant to be a step up.
A lot of the current offering is comparable to economy if economy itself hadn’t been stripped back to a packet of pretzels and the world’s tiniest bottle of water.
A premium product (the premium is the delta between the price of the economy ticket to the price of the business/business first/first/Polaris ticket) is meant to be a step up.
A lot of the current offering is comparable to economy if economy itself hadn’t been stripped back to a packet of pretzels and the world’s tiniest bottle of water.
But I agree with your point about UA's blindingly shortsighted penny pinching for passengers who've paid for F - whether domestic or international.
David
Sep 11, 2021, 4:12 pm
#2090
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 110
Has anybody else experienced one-time use plasticware in first (hot meal service) today? The downside is the flimsy knife when cutting chicken.
DEN > IAH
UA313
Is this a permanent change, just a “safety measure” for 9/11, or did catering really forget the normal silverware for first?
DEN > IAH
UA313
Is this a permanent change, just a “safety measure” for 9/11, or did catering really forget the normal silverware for first?
Last edited by Starbase 1K; Sep 11, 2021 at 10:44 pm
Sep 11, 2021, 4:23 pm
#2091
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,511
Sep 11, 2021, 8:24 pm
#2092
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Million Miler, Marriott platinum, lifetime platinum
Posts: 974
Has anybody experienced one-time use plasticware in first today? The downside is the flimsy knife when cutting chicken.
DEN > IAH
UA313
May be a coincidence with other poster(s) as well that my flight also was scarce on headphones. I started bringing my own for when a flight has IFE. Unfortunately, United headphone availability has become too inconsistent. This also means I’ll have to travel with an extra item.
Today, first received plasticware instead of a normal towel and silverware. Out of curiosity, is this a permanent change, just a “safety measure” for 9/11, or did catering really forget the normal silverware for first?
Has anybody experienced one-time use plasticware in first today? The downside is the flimsy knife when cutting chicken.
DEN > IAH
UA313
DEN > IAH
UA313
May be a coincidence with other poster(s) as well that my flight also was scarce on headphones. I started bringing my own for when a flight has IFE. Unfortunately, United headphone availability has become too inconsistent. This also means I’ll have to travel with an extra item.
Today, first received plasticware instead of a normal towel and silverware. Out of curiosity, is this a permanent change, just a “safety measure” for 9/11, or did catering really forget the normal silverware for first?
Has anybody experienced one-time use plasticware in first today? The downside is the flimsy knife when cutting chicken.
DEN > IAH
UA313
Sep 12, 2021, 7:54 am
#2093
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,927
Has anybody else experienced one-time use plasticware in first (hot meal service) today? The downside is the flimsy knife when cutting chicken.
DEN > IAH
UA313
Is this a permanent change, just a “safety measure” for 9/11, or did catering really forget the normal silverware for first?
DEN > IAH
UA313
Is this a permanent change, just a “safety measure” for 9/11, or did catering really forget the normal silverware for first?
Sep 12, 2021, 7:57 pm
#2094
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 112
I just flew first class on Emirates from Frankfurt to Dubai. This was my caviar portion of my dinner. Now…I’m not saying United should try to live up to Emirates standards. I paid a LOT more for the Emirates ticket than a comparable United Polaris class ticket. And I actually think the Polaris food tastes fine. But I think it is WELL past time for United to stop pretending it’s foil covered meals and plastic drink cups have anything to do with limiting the spread of COVID. That’s a lie.
Sep 12, 2021, 8:29 pm
#2095
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
I just flew first class on Emirates from Frankfurt to Dubai. This was my caviar portion of my dinner. Now…I’m not saying United should try to live up to Emirates standards. I paid a LOT more for the Emirates ticket than a comparable United Polaris class ticket. And I actually think the Polaris food tastes fine. But I think it is WELL past time for United to stop pretending it’s foil covered meals and plastic drink cups have anything to do with limiting the spread of COVID. That’s a lie.
Sep 12, 2021, 9:48 pm
#2096
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 112
No. United has specifically said their changes in meal service are due to COVID restrictions. The price of the tickets haven’t changed much since pre-COVID. That is when we used to get pre-departure drinks. And a drink in a glass with warmed nuts prior to a meal. And bread from a bread basket. And ice cream sundaes. And the option of a cheese plate.
Sep 12, 2021, 9:50 pm
#2097
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
No. United has specifically said their changes in meal service are due to COVID restrictions. The price of the tickets haven’t changed much since pre-COVID. That is when we used to get pre-departure drinks. And a drink in a glass with warmed nuts prior to a meal. And bread from a bread basket. And ice cream sundaes. And the option of a cheese plate.
UA's been claiming that the cutbacks are for our healthiness - its really for their walletness.
David
Sep 12, 2021, 10:04 pm
#2098
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ, PDX
Programs: UA 1 MM, AA, DL
Posts: 930
If any UA passenger has any hopes of ever being served caviar (again), it won't be on UA.
Sep 12, 2021, 10:09 pm
#2099
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: 66,855
And UA is not back to breaking even.
Sep 12, 2021, 11:06 pm
#2100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,927
No going to get into the other topics, but there is plenty of data to support that ticket prices are significant reduced across the spectrum, sure there are exceptions like tickets to Australia or China but outside of a few exceptions consolidated system-wide ticket prices are reduced domestically and internationally in the range of -30% to -40% versus 2019. Up from the -50% to -60% earlier in 2021.
And UA is not back to breaking even.
And UA is not back to breaking even.