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}
Jan 21, 2021, 1:42 pm
#1246
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,453
Some minor service changes starting February 1st, courtesy of Brian Sumers on Twitter:
- Additional entree choice, "packaged sides," croissant, and packaged roll for Polaris pre-arrival meals
- "French Twist" croissant (to be served warm) replacing Turkey Monte sandwich on AM domestic flights from hubs and select outstations
- Hot chocolate coming to an end as a regularly offered beverage
Jan 21, 2021, 1:44 pm
#1247
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
Some minor service changes starting February 1st, courtesy of Brian Sumers on Twitter:
- Additional entree choice, "packaged sides," croissant, and packaged roll for Polaris pre-arrival meals
- "French Twist" croissant (to be served warm) replacing Turkey Monte sandwich on AM domestic flights from hubs and select outstations
- Hot chocolate coming to an end as a regularly offered beverage
I guess that due to low demand, they stopped loading hot chocolate packs.
Jan 22, 2021, 3:38 pm
#1248
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
I decided this week for my TYO to SFO flight to switch over to ANA’s 777-300ER instead of the UA flight I usually take. What a world of difference. I was the only passenger in three cabin first class, with two dedicated FA’s plus the purser. They had full meal catering and all services, if anything the menu was actually larger and more elaborate than pre COVID. Normal cutlery and crystal glasses, bottle of Krug and fine wines and more meal options than I could possibly even hope to try plus snacks and a fresh hamburger and ramen noodles (and a half dozen other significant items) as mid flight options.
F was just me. J had about 6 pax. Y had about 15. Felt extremely safe and was far more enjoyable than any UA pre or current COVID flight I’ve taken in the last few years.
I’ll be switching back to ANA for all my future TPAC. UA and my GS status will go by the wayside.
Some airlines just know how to do it right. Most don’t, including UA.
F was just me. J had about 6 pax. Y had about 15. Felt extremely safe and was far more enjoyable than any UA pre or current COVID flight I’ve taken in the last few years.
I’ll be switching back to ANA for all my future TPAC. UA and my GS status will go by the wayside.
Some airlines just know how to do it right. Most don’t, including UA.
Jan 22, 2021, 5:13 pm
#1249
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Jan 22, 2021, 6:58 pm
#1250
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
Not directly related to catering, however, most UA MP elites that I know are flying transatlantic and/or transpacific on UA metal for lifetime miles which could be only obtained through flying UA metal rather than alliance partners. That's how UA is surviving on those routes and attracting business travellers or people who could afford flying premium. There is also another factor that some people feel more safer onboard the airline of their home country.
If people were more aware of the situation, someone who is flying international business or first all the time would definitely choose an Asian carrier over UA for transpacific or the LH Group over UA for travel to Europe. They definitely have better service, plus some carriers are doing joint-business with United where the ticket prices exactly match United Polaris.
If people were more aware of the situation, someone who is flying international business or first all the time would definitely choose an Asian carrier over UA for transpacific or the LH Group over UA for travel to Europe. They definitely have better service, plus some carriers are doing joint-business with United where the ticket prices exactly match United Polaris.
Jan 26, 2021, 10:43 am
#1251
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,501
A couple data points from some recent UA Express Flights up front:
Republic E170 DTW-IAD: Full choice of beverages once in the air, no food. Only time for a single drink due to turbulence. Also had TSA checking boarding passes/ID's prior to boarding.
Mesa E175 IAD-BDL: Full choice of beverages once in the air, also got the snack bag which contained biscoff, stroopwaffles, water and wipes. Great service by our FA who also provided multiple refills on this short hop.
Nice change from AA where you play the guessing game each time.
Republic E170 DTW-IAD: Full choice of beverages once in the air, no food. Only time for a single drink due to turbulence. Also had TSA checking boarding passes/ID's prior to boarding.
Mesa E175 IAD-BDL: Full choice of beverages once in the air, also got the snack bag which contained biscoff, stroopwaffles, water and wipes. Great service by our FA who also provided multiple refills on this short hop.
Nice change from AA where you play the guessing game each time.
Jan 26, 2021, 3:55 pm
#1252
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
Not directly related to catering, however, most UA MP elites that I know are flying transatlantic and/or transpacific on UA metal for lifetime miles which could be only obtained through flying UA metal rather than alliance partners. That's how UA is surviving on those routes and attracting business travellers or people who could afford flying premium. There is also another factor that some people feel more safer onboard the airline of their home country.
If people were more aware of the situation, someone who is flying international business or first all the time would definitely choose an Asian carrier over UA for transpacific or the LH Group over UA for travel to Europe. They definitely have better service, plus some carriers are doing joint-business with United where the ticket prices exactly match United Polaris.
If people were more aware of the situation, someone who is flying international business or first all the time would definitely choose an Asian carrier over UA for transpacific or the LH Group over UA for travel to Europe. They definitely have better service, plus some carriers are doing joint-business with United where the ticket prices exactly match United Polaris.
Jan 26, 2021, 5:20 pm
#1253
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 520
I decided this week for my TYO to SFO flight to switch over to ANA’s 777-300ER instead of the UA flight I usually take. What a world of difference. I was the only passenger in three cabin first class, with two dedicated FA’s plus the purser. They had full meal catering and all services, if anything the menu was actually larger and more elaborate than pre COVID. Normal cutlery and crystal glasses, bottle of Krug and fine wines and more meal options than I could possibly even hope to try plus snacks and a fresh hamburger and ramen noodles (and a half dozen other significant items) as mid flight options.
F was just me. J had about 6 pax. Y had about 15. Felt extremely safe and was far more enjoyable than any UA pre or current COVID flight I’ve taken in the last few years.
I’ll be switching back to ANA for all my future TPAC. UA and my GS status will go by the wayside.
Some airlines just know how to do it right. Most don’t, including UA.
F was just me. J had about 6 pax. Y had about 15. Felt extremely safe and was far more enjoyable than any UA pre or current COVID flight I’ve taken in the last few years.
I’ll be switching back to ANA for all my future TPAC. UA and my GS status will go by the wayside.
Some airlines just know how to do it right. Most don’t, including UA.
Jan 27, 2021, 6:37 pm
#1254
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Norway, Maine
Programs: United Silver and HH Diamond
Posts: 1,474
I am flying first class IAD-PHX on 2/13. Should I expect any food or should I buy something to eat at the airport? Thanks.
Jan 27, 2021, 6:54 pm
#1255
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: 66,852
Jan 27, 2021, 8:28 pm
#1256
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Jan 28, 2021, 8:30 am
#1257
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Norway, Maine
Programs: United Silver and HH Diamond
Posts: 1,474
Jan 28, 2021, 9:47 am
#1258
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,926
If you have a Priority Pass card and are traveling during its opening hours, the Air France Lounge offers a decent spread of food even during COVID times.
Jan 28, 2021, 9:56 am
#1259
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
LH has some sandwiches and pasta salad, which taste decent and are relatively filling.
TK in the morning is a bit sparse (hard boiled eggs, small pastry, yoghurt), but in the afternoon is better (turkey? sandwich, eggplant, chickpea salad). I put the eggplant in the turkey sandwich, added mustard, and found it quite good.
For reference, my memory is AF has baguette sandwiches, cheese/meat plates, parfait cups, instant noodles, and some other small snacks.
Feb 4, 2021, 12:57 am
#1260
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Some minor service changes starting February 1st, courtesy of Brian Sumers on Twitter:
- Additional entree choice, "packaged sides," croissant, and packaged roll for Polaris pre-arrival meals
- "French Twist" croissant (to be served warm) replacing Turkey Monte sandwich on AM domestic flights from hubs and select outstations
- Hot chocolate coming to an end as a regularly offered beverage