2022 Let's Eat - United First, United Business, & Premium Transcon Service
Sep 22, 2022, 9:12 pm
#1381
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
A joke of breakfast service today. PHX-IAH
6:30am flight. 737-900 mainline. 2 1/2 hours over 1,000 miles.
UA advertises 800+ gets hot meals. Inbound lunch flight had hot entrees but this was a joke.
FAs we’re even like “sorry it’s not much” to everyone when presenting. Don’t think it’s a catering issue cuz “cheese” was shown as pre order option.
6:30am flight. 737-900 mainline. 2 1/2 hours over 1,000 miles.
UA advertises 800+ gets hot meals. Inbound lunch flight had hot entrees but this was a joke.
FAs we’re even like “sorry it’s not much” to everyone when presenting. Don’t think it’s a catering issue cuz “cheese” was shown as pre order option.
Sep 24, 2022, 4:36 am
#1383
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern California
Programs: United MileagePlus Premier 1K, Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
Posts: 1,150
is RON = received over night ?
Sep 24, 2022, 5:38 am
#1384
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: No. California
Programs: UA MP HH LTD
Posts: 2,040
Sep 24, 2022, 7:12 pm
#1385
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 18
Hey, so it’s been a hot minute since I’ve I’ve flown on United. Can y’all please let me know my best options as well as the ones to avoid? Thanks. 
Sep 24, 2022, 7:15 pm
#1386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Some people seem to get weirded out by the meatballs, so if you are a classicist eater, perhaps do not pick. The chili is a small portion, on the lighter side.
Sep 24, 2022, 7:56 pm
#1387
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
Tiny silver lining for veg leaning or full vegetarians is UA prioritized keeping an option available throughout the scaled back service, and the options are reasonable (taste / selection)
Sep 24, 2022, 8:06 pm
#1388
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 18
I just went to pre-order and the falafel option wasn’t there anymore. Is that typical?
Sep 24, 2022, 8:15 pm
#1391
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Sep 25, 2022, 9:23 am
#1392
Join Date: May 2014
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 187
IAD-SFO
Polaris cabin, which was nice, but the overall experience was a clear reminder that a nice cabin doesn't match the service level. No pillows/blankets/amenities. We were offered a PDB (water, sparkling). Meal choice was "chicken or Impossible meatballs", announced over the PA, no descriptions of what came with either given. No pre-order available even for this transcon. Main dish orders were taken before takeoff. Beverage orders taken row by row once underway, brought in a reasonable amount of time. No nuts or anything with them. No refills ever offered, except once during meal service. No prepping the cabin for the meal, just, suddenly, FA standing there with a tray to plunk down, glaring at each person as to why they didn't have their tray table ready. Meal presented all on on tray. I got the meatballs ...
So, a few things.
First, why no regular salad? This was a dinner flight, and the fruit was a strange side with dinner. That said, the grapes and blueberries were nice at least. The roll was quasi-warm, and actually not that bad, not fresh baked bread with a great crust and chew or anything, but not stale and dry. But that is all I have to say positive about the meal. The main dish seemed like someone had microwaved it on high for way, way too long, and then forgot about it for an hour. It was very dried out, completely mushy (the cous cous, the veggies, and the meatballs), and yet ... not even warm. The meatballs were cold inside. I actually don't mind impossible meat, but they were oddly dense and yet mush at the same time, and really, really needed sauce - mine had very little. I had some ketchup in my purse that helped considerably. The broccolini was a kinda odd shade of green, and didn't taste fresh at all, cous cous just unseasoned mush. Packaged brownie-bar was a letdown too, as I actually like the pie in the sky ...
And that was that. The remainder of the flight, the FAs never came through, no refills of drinks, no snacks, nothing.
Polaris cabin, which was nice, but the overall experience was a clear reminder that a nice cabin doesn't match the service level. No pillows/blankets/amenities. We were offered a PDB (water, sparkling). Meal choice was "chicken or Impossible meatballs", announced over the PA, no descriptions of what came with either given. No pre-order available even for this transcon. Main dish orders were taken before takeoff. Beverage orders taken row by row once underway, brought in a reasonable amount of time. No nuts or anything with them. No refills ever offered, except once during meal service. No prepping the cabin for the meal, just, suddenly, FA standing there with a tray to plunk down, glaring at each person as to why they didn't have their tray table ready. Meal presented all on on tray. I got the meatballs ...
So, a few things.
First, why no regular salad? This was a dinner flight, and the fruit was a strange side with dinner. That said, the grapes and blueberries were nice at least. The roll was quasi-warm, and actually not that bad, not fresh baked bread with a great crust and chew or anything, but not stale and dry. But that is all I have to say positive about the meal. The main dish seemed like someone had microwaved it on high for way, way too long, and then forgot about it for an hour. It was very dried out, completely mushy (the cous cous, the veggies, and the meatballs), and yet ... not even warm. The meatballs were cold inside. I actually don't mind impossible meat, but they were oddly dense and yet mush at the same time, and really, really needed sauce - mine had very little. I had some ketchup in my purse that helped considerably. The broccolini was a kinda odd shade of green, and didn't taste fresh at all, cous cous just unseasoned mush. Packaged brownie-bar was a letdown too, as I actually like the pie in the sky ...
And that was that. The remainder of the flight, the FAs never came through, no refills of drinks, no snacks, nothing.
Sep 25, 2022, 10:43 am
#1393
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
EWR - LAX
9/20/22
This was my experience in PP, but given the fact that it's the same meal served as business cabin, it's worth to document the experience here.
The two choices were the same as business - chicken with polenta (with single stalk of broccolini and demi-glace sauce), or the ricotta-filled pasta sheets with vegetarian chili on top and boiled carrot discs and cauliflower (which the FA mistakenly marketing as butternut squash ravioli).
On the "Manage My Trip" screen, the system allowed me to pick special meals. Just to see what happens, I picked the vegetarian option. Surprisingly, the crew confirmed that they boarded my vegetarian option, which turned out to be the burrata ravioli with tomato sauce and sundried tomatoes that has been in rotation in the past. It was better than the two choices offered.
The surprise came at the pre-arrival snack time, which was the typical hummus/tabbouleh or ham and cheese plates. The FA said that they have a special vegetarian snack for me, which is:
Chickpea salad, fruit bowl, and gluten-free, vegan, and kosher chocolate chip cookies, in addition to the hummus plate. Not pictured: roll-up with real silverware.
That was surprisingly good, and much more substantial than what I needed.
9/20/22
This was my experience in PP, but given the fact that it's the same meal served as business cabin, it's worth to document the experience here.
The two choices were the same as business - chicken with polenta (with single stalk of broccolini and demi-glace sauce), or the ricotta-filled pasta sheets with vegetarian chili on top and boiled carrot discs and cauliflower (which the FA mistakenly marketing as butternut squash ravioli).
On the "Manage My Trip" screen, the system allowed me to pick special meals. Just to see what happens, I picked the vegetarian option. Surprisingly, the crew confirmed that they boarded my vegetarian option, which turned out to be the burrata ravioli with tomato sauce and sundried tomatoes that has been in rotation in the past. It was better than the two choices offered.
The surprise came at the pre-arrival snack time, which was the typical hummus/tabbouleh or ham and cheese plates. The FA said that they have a special vegetarian snack for me, which is:
Chickpea salad, fruit bowl, and gluten-free, vegan, and kosher chocolate chip cookies, in addition to the hummus plate. Not pictured: roll-up with real silverware.
That was surprisingly good, and much more substantial than what I needed.
Sep 25, 2022, 3:35 pm
#1394
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern California
Programs: United MileagePlus Premier 1K, Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
Posts: 1,150
EWR - LAX
9/20/22
This was my experience in PP, but given the fact that it's the same meal served as business cabin, it's worth to document the experience here.
The two choices were the same as business - chicken with polenta (with single stalk of broccolini and demi-glace sauce), or the ricotta-filled pasta sheets with vegetarian chili on top and boiled carrot discs and cauliflower (which the FA mistakenly marketing as butternut squash ravioli).
On the "Manage My Trip" screen, the system allowed me to pick special meals. Just to see what happens, I picked the vegetarian option. Surprisingly, the crew confirmed that they boarded my vegetarian option, which turned out to be the burrata ravioli with tomato sauce and sundried tomatoes that has been in rotation in the past. It was better than the two choices offered.
The surprise came at the pre-arrival snack time, which was the typical hummus/tabbouleh or ham and cheese plates. The FA said that they have a special vegetarian snack for me, which is:
Chickpea salad, fruit bowl, and gluten-free, vegan, and kosher chocolate chip cookies, in addition to the hummus plate. Not pictured: roll-up with real silverware.
That was surprisingly good, and much more substantial than what I needed.
9/20/22
This was my experience in PP, but given the fact that it's the same meal served as business cabin, it's worth to document the experience here.
The two choices were the same as business - chicken with polenta (with single stalk of broccolini and demi-glace sauce), or the ricotta-filled pasta sheets with vegetarian chili on top and boiled carrot discs and cauliflower (which the FA mistakenly marketing as butternut squash ravioli).
On the "Manage My Trip" screen, the system allowed me to pick special meals. Just to see what happens, I picked the vegetarian option. Surprisingly, the crew confirmed that they boarded my vegetarian option, which turned out to be the burrata ravioli with tomato sauce and sundried tomatoes that has been in rotation in the past. It was better than the two choices offered.
The surprise came at the pre-arrival snack time, which was the typical hummus/tabbouleh or ham and cheese plates. The FA said that they have a special vegetarian snack for me, which is:
Chickpea salad, fruit bowl, and gluten-free, vegan, and kosher chocolate chip cookies, in addition to the hummus plate. Not pictured: roll-up with real silverware.
That was surprisingly good, and much more substantial than what I needed.
Sep 26, 2022, 7:47 am
#1395
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DSM
Posts: 59
We're booked on 1656 ORD-CUN in J on November 25 and it's lists the meal as "snack". Is this a timing thing because the next flight out to CUN has "lunch" listed as the meal. On the website it doesn't say anything other than a hot meal is offered on flights over 800 miles. I'd hate to miss out on the "gourmet" hot food!!