2022 Let's Eat - Polaris Business
Aug 1, 2022, 8:07 pm
#1111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,923
Aug 1, 2022, 8:31 pm
#1112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Aug 1, 2022, 8:48 pm
#1113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,923
Aug 2, 2022, 12:56 am
#1114
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Wow. First time in Polaris (usually fly delta one or virgin). The food service was just so basic and unacceptable for a 10+ hour flight west coast to Europe. As far as I can tell, the only difference between domestic first and polaris was the moment when I was asked “do you want nuts?” One tray was plopped down about 30 minutes after departure, then dessert quickly served and that was it until breakfast.
the snack bar was empty for most of the flight, and when it was not it was just chips and water. I asked if there was anything fresh available and was told no. I asked for peppermint tea, nope. My spouse was never offered wine except when he flagged down an FA to ask for it, and then had to ask for refills. Nothing proactive.
I don’t fly for the food but when I spend thousands of dollars of my own money it seems reasonable to expect a product that is at least decent.
the snack bar was empty for most of the flight, and when it was not it was just chips and water. I asked if there was anything fresh available and was told no. I asked for peppermint tea, nope. My spouse was never offered wine except when he flagged down an FA to ask for it, and then had to ask for refills. Nothing proactive.
I don’t fly for the food but when I spend thousands of dollars of my own money it seems reasonable to expect a product that is at least decent.
Aug 2, 2022, 5:43 am
#1115
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,322
CDG-EWR
July 24
777-200
I've been using US-EU lately and have taken the Polaris Lounge for granted. In this reverse direction, both meals were mediocre with sloppy presentation. With the chicken main I had to cautiously taste the 'risotto', stuffing, etc and they weren't good.
I would have eaten prior to the flight but the CDG Maple Leaf Lounge was a hot mess (literally) with limited seating until the YYZ flight boarded, and a sea of vultures attacking the buffet for cheese and ham. Bizarre get-your-own-drink (but it's behind a 'bar') and poor wines, no vodka.
Mid-flight they put out chips/chocolate/corn kernels on Row 1 - just in case you didn't have enough sodium with your main meal.
There was nothing premium about this flight.
Main - I couldn't stop thinking about the Bridesmaids food poisoning scene ('you ate a lot of that weird Chicken...'
)
CousCous prior to landing
July 24
777-200
I've been using US-EU lately and have taken the Polaris Lounge for granted. In this reverse direction, both meals were mediocre with sloppy presentation. With the chicken main I had to cautiously taste the 'risotto', stuffing, etc and they weren't good.
I would have eaten prior to the flight but the CDG Maple Leaf Lounge was a hot mess (literally) with limited seating until the YYZ flight boarded, and a sea of vultures attacking the buffet for cheese and ham. Bizarre get-your-own-drink (but it's behind a 'bar') and poor wines, no vodka.
Mid-flight they put out chips/chocolate/corn kernels on Row 1 - just in case you didn't have enough sodium with your main meal.
There was nothing premium about this flight.
Main - I couldn't stop thinking about the Bridesmaids food poisoning scene ('you ate a lot of that weird Chicken...'
)CousCous prior to landing
Aug 2, 2022, 7:21 am
#1116
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: MP - 1K, Hyatt - Platt, SPG - Gold
Posts: 336
Wow. First time in Polaris (usually fly delta one or virgin). The food service was just so basic and unacceptable for a 10+ hour flight west coast to Europe. As far as I can tell, the only difference between domestic first and polaris was the moment when I was asked “do you want nuts?” One tray was plopped down about 30 minutes after departure, then dessert quickly served and that was it until breakfast.
the snack bar was empty for most of the flight, and when it was not it was just chips and water. I asked if there was anything fresh available and was told no. I asked for peppermint tea, nope. My spouse was never offered wine except when he flagged down an FA to ask for it, and then had to ask for refills. Nothing proactive.
I don’t fly for the food but when I spend thousands of dollars of my own money it seems reasonable to expect a product that is at least decent.
the snack bar was empty for most of the flight, and when it was not it was just chips and water. I asked if there was anything fresh available and was told no. I asked for peppermint tea, nope. My spouse was never offered wine except when he flagged down an FA to ask for it, and then had to ask for refills. Nothing proactive.
I don’t fly for the food but when I spend thousands of dollars of my own money it seems reasonable to expect a product that is at least decent.
Aug 2, 2022, 7:57 am
#1117
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Wow. First time in Polaris (usually fly delta one or virgin). The food service was just so basic and unacceptable for a 10+ hour flight west coast to Europe. As far as I can tell, the only difference between domestic first and polaris was the moment when I was asked “do you want nuts?” One tray was plopped down about 30 minutes after departure, then dessert quickly served and that was it until breakfast.
the snack bar was empty for most of the flight, and when it was not it was just chips and water. I asked if there was anything fresh available and was told no. I asked for peppermint tea, nope. My spouse was never offered wine except when he flagged down an FA to ask for it, and then had to ask for refills. Nothing proactive.
I don’t fly for the food but when I spend thousands of dollars of my own money it seems reasonable to expect a product that is at least decent.
the snack bar was empty for most of the flight, and when it was not it was just chips and water. I asked if there was anything fresh available and was told no. I asked for peppermint tea, nope. My spouse was never offered wine except when he flagged down an FA to ask for it, and then had to ask for refills. Nothing proactive.
I don’t fly for the food but when I spend thousands of dollars of my own money it seems reasonable to expect a product that is at least decent.
Aug 2, 2022, 10:07 am
#1118
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,451
Any reports on the new ex-US and/or ex-Europe August menus?
Aug 2, 2022, 7:48 pm
#1119
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,532
UA 32 LAX-NRT August 1st, flown as part of one of the 60k business partner awards. PDB of water or sparkling wine. Pursuer introduced herself by name and FAs took orders during boarding. I overheard the FAs mention that there were 7 or 8 pre-orders, and they were all loaded in one cart so there was some hassle getting all the pre-orders to the correct places. Champagne was gosset. I pre-ordered the short rib.
Short rib was soft and tender. Bread was warm. Toasted nuts were served prior. Ice cream had good texture, not too hard.
Pre-arrival meal was two breakfast options, I had the quiche. I find the decision to make the pre-arrival meal a breakfast to be a very poor one, as neither the origin nor destination airports were anywhere close to breakfast time. Overall service was very good.
As for the food, well, after this I had a 5 ish hour flight on Thai (an airline that recently went through bankruptcy proceedings) to Bangkok, and in that time, I got a 5 course meal (nuts/amuse bouche, salad, thai duck curry, cheese plate, dessert), and a mid-flight snack of Chashu Ramen.
Short rib was soft and tender. Bread was warm. Toasted nuts were served prior. Ice cream had good texture, not too hard.
Pre-arrival meal was two breakfast options, I had the quiche. I find the decision to make the pre-arrival meal a breakfast to be a very poor one, as neither the origin nor destination airports were anywhere close to breakfast time. Overall service was very good.
As for the food, well, after this I had a 5 ish hour flight on Thai (an airline that recently went through bankruptcy proceedings) to Bangkok, and in that time, I got a 5 course meal (nuts/amuse bouche, salad, thai duck curry, cheese plate, dessert), and a mid-flight snack of Chashu Ramen.
Aug 3, 2022, 7:10 am
#1120
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 67
Nice to see the return of Shioyaki mackerel (or Saba-Shio) .
Aug 3, 2022, 11:22 am
#1121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
LHR-SFO 8/1.
I posted the menu above, not much changed from July as far as I could tell. No wine list, of course.
No PDBs offered, notwithstanding we were on the plane for over 2 hours before we took off, courtesy of rolling mechanical issues.
Warm nuts and Champagne Gosset - actually quite good.
The cauliflower salad, sadly still on the menu in August, was disgusting. The bread was cold and stale.
The halibut with braised fennel and Arrabiata sauce was really quite good. The fish, whilst obviously not halibut or very fresh, was at least still moist and firm, the fennel was good and the sauce livened it up. The potatoes, which were meant to be roast were more like boiled, but were fine.
The cheese was surprisingly good - a decent cheddar, some ripe and soft brie and some stilton - in fact I was very positively surprised by this, although it would have been nice to have some butter for the crackers and more than 4 grapes.
I would have liked some white wine with the fish but stuck to the Champagne as the FA was unable to say anything beyond Italian or Spanish or American Chardonnay, none of which sounded at all appetising.
I was brave and went for the Barbera with the cheese - not nice, but then the FA was unable to describe any other wine.
So, in all, I would give the food a 7/10, the wine a 5/10 and presentation and service a 1/10.
I posted the menu above, not much changed from July as far as I could tell. No wine list, of course.
No PDBs offered, notwithstanding we were on the plane for over 2 hours before we took off, courtesy of rolling mechanical issues.
Warm nuts and Champagne Gosset - actually quite good.
The cauliflower salad, sadly still on the menu in August, was disgusting. The bread was cold and stale.
The halibut with braised fennel and Arrabiata sauce was really quite good. The fish, whilst obviously not halibut or very fresh, was at least still moist and firm, the fennel was good and the sauce livened it up. The potatoes, which were meant to be roast were more like boiled, but were fine.
The cheese was surprisingly good - a decent cheddar, some ripe and soft brie and some stilton - in fact I was very positively surprised by this, although it would have been nice to have some butter for the crackers and more than 4 grapes.
I would have liked some white wine with the fish but stuck to the Champagne as the FA was unable to say anything beyond Italian or Spanish or American Chardonnay, none of which sounded at all appetising.
I was brave and went for the Barbera with the cheese - not nice, but then the FA was unable to describe any other wine.
So, in all, I would give the food a 7/10, the wine a 5/10 and presentation and service a 1/10.
Aug 3, 2022, 12:39 pm
#1122
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,344
I would have liked some white wine with the fish but stuck to the Champagne as the FA was unable to say anything beyond Italian or Spanish or American Chardonnay, none of which sounded at all appetising.
I was brave and went for the Barbera with the cheese - not nice, but then the FA was unable to describe any other wine.
I was brave and went for the Barbera with the cheese - not nice, but then the FA was unable to describe any other wine.
Aug 3, 2022, 1:14 pm
#1123
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,322
Aug 3, 2022, 1:28 pm
#1124
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: 66,850
Reminder, once again, this thread is for posting examples of present Polaris meals. It serves as a resource for those want to know what might be served during their future flights. Also Q&A about expectations.
As many have issues with UA's inflight service / meals, there is a separated thread created long ago for that discussion.
General discussion of UA's inflight service (Domestic / International, all cabins)
It is a sticky making it easy to find.
This discussion thread is the place for commenting on UA's present and present in-flight service, individual dissatisfaction, potential reasons for the present state and how other carriers are preforming in comparison.
The threads are separated as the discussion thread is large, and was making the Polaris meal thread hard to use as a reference thread. Realizing one discussion does tend to lead to the other and folks just response without considering the appropriate location. Posts have been moved as needed to the appropriate thread.
Today a large discussion on past Polaris inflight service was moved to , [;ease continue the discussion there
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
As many have issues with UA's inflight service / meals, there is a separated thread created long ago for that discussion.
General discussion of UA's inflight service (Domestic / International, all cabins)
It is a sticky making it easy to find.
This discussion thread is the place for commenting on UA's present and present in-flight service, individual dissatisfaction, potential reasons for the present state and how other carriers are preforming in comparison.
The threads are separated as the discussion thread is large, and was making the Polaris meal thread hard to use as a reference thread. Realizing one discussion does tend to lead to the other and folks just response without considering the appropriate location. Posts have been moved as needed to the appropriate thread.
Today a large discussion on past Polaris inflight service was moved to , [;ease continue the discussion there
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Aug 3, 2022, 1:30 pm
#1125
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,344
They pour drinks in the galley now, at least on my last two TATL flights. I don't know if that's a staffing thing, or something else buried in another thread, but that was my experience. I foolishly asked for a 'white wine' - no questions, just an unidentified white wine was brought back (which was drinkable).
From what I've seen there's variability depending on the crew. Some are back to doing the drinks cart with the nuts, and they put all the bottles on it, so you can easily ask to see. Others take drink orders with the meal orders before serving anything, and then it's harder to find out what the wines are, since they pour in the galley and deliver an unidentified glass.