IME, thinking about PDBs (or any other feature of United customer service) as a "right" that one is entitled to--while it may be correct from a legalistic perspective of "this is what UA asserted it was going to provide me when I bought my ticket"--is not a fruitful long-term route to getting what one wants out of the United Airlines experience as regularly as possible. IME, what gets me what I want from my United experiences as much as possible is to understand that FAs, GAs, TAs, and other United employees are doing difficult jobs with multiple frequently competing considerations to account for. I assume that they are doing the best they can to balance these competing considerations, and I try to make it clear to them through my statements, tone, and behavior that I perceive them as doing their best, not capriciously denying me my rights that I am entitled to. IME, this has worked very very well for me in terms of getting what I want over the decades, continuing through to the present.

Obviously not something to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a PDB in Y aboard our A320 (MCI-ORD) a few minutes ago. There was likely extra left over from F, but the Purser came through several rows of Y with water or OJ. Even something little makes the flying experience just a tiny bit nicer.

No PDB was offered on ICN-SFO on Feb. 19. The starting time for boarding was delayed by about 20 min due to the late arrival of SFO-ICN.

EWR BUF CRJ500 2/18 Small water bottle offered. After take off - outstanding service with doubles offered and a refill with several passes of a very abundant snack basket.

2/20 BUF ORD 737-700. Tray of water of Prosecco and again, excellent service in the air - refills offered multiple times. Snack basket passed.
2/21 ORD EWR 737-900. Tray of water or Prosecco. Excellent service with refills and snacks offered. A handwritten birthday card was given to me, which was a nice thing!

Lots of bubbles in almost-full plastic glasses IAH-SYD today. Lots :)

I do wish they would offer sparkling water as an option for the PDB. I do not drink champagne but do like non-alcoholic bubbles.

IAD-YUL
Wed 2/21
1758 dep.
E175 op by Republuc

PDB of choice but had to finish before we pushed back from the gate

DCA-SFO Friday night. PDB was a tray of cups of water. I wanted water so I didn't ask for different, but it was surprising that that was the offer on a Friday evening transcon.

After that the flight was lovely. two fantastic attendants in first, towels, nuts, multiple drink top ups. Constant trips through the cabin all the way across.

So my usual PDB as a talisman for the rest of the flight didn't hold.

2257 2/25 DEN - PVR: Mimosa / Water (no ice).

Lucky to get some bubbles on SYD-IAH.

SFO-SYD March 7, in a first for me, nothing offered, no tray round in the front cabin, we boarded on time and were delayed due to late connecting passengers but nothing offered. I noticed they had done it in the back cabin so I went back and asked FA there for sparkling which I got. The FA in my cabin was probably the laziest I have seen in a long time.

Recent experiences:
3/5 SEA-LAX AM flight: PDB choices were orange juice and water
3/5 LAX-SEA PM flight: PDB choices were sparking wine and water

Sure I know who that is.
Water and bubbles offered IAH-HNL and back.

March 11 - MCO EWR 757 - tray of water/prosecco offered.

March 15 - MCO-CLE - tray of water/OJ/mimosas offered. 10:36 am departure.