May 11, 2022, 1:38 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This us an archive thread, the active thread is General discussion of UA's inflight service (Domestic / International, all cabins)
previous thread: COVID Era UA inflight service changes
Thread is for general discussion of the state of UA in-flight service / catering, comparison to other carriers, past UA offerings and concerns with management decisions.
For a specific post about a recent in-flight food, use the appropriate Let's Eat .... thread.
The current Onboard Service descriptions by UA.com
Long-haul international premium cabin dining
North America, Caribbean and Latin America premium cabin dining
United Economy dining
Since the UA website is extremely vague, I'm looking for a few volunteers to submit data, and I will summarize to complete the wiki. kind regards, phkc070408
Domestic Under 300 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Domestic Over 300 Miles Under 800 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Domestic Over 800 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon or Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon or Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening/. or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
P-Tcon
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Polaris USA - Europe
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Related thread: How bad does onboard catering need to get before UA invests in improving it?
previous thread: COVID Era UA inflight service changes
Thread is for general discussion of the state of UA in-flight service / catering, comparison to other carriers, past UA offerings and concerns with management decisions.
For a specific post about a recent in-flight food, use the appropriate Let's Eat .... thread.
The current Onboard Service descriptions by UA.com
Long-haul international premium cabin dining
North America, Caribbean and Latin America premium cabin dining
United Economy dining
Since the UA website is extremely vague, I'm looking for a few volunteers to submit data, and I will summarize to complete the wiki. kind regards, phkc070408
Domestic Under 300 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Domestic Over 300 Miles Under 800 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Bagged Snack? Yes/No
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Domestic Over 800 Miles
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon or Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon or Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening/. or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Late Evening?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Served Snacked? Yes/No. Hot/Cold. What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket?
P-Tcon
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Snack Basket/Pre-Arrival?
Any other notes of relevance?
Polaris USA - Europe
Sample 1
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 2
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 3
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 4
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Sample 5
Route? Morning or Afternoon/Evening or Red-Eye?
PDB - Yes/No? What was offered?
Menu?
Hot Towels?
First Meal Served? Yes/No. Short description.
Appetizer / Desert Info:
Snack Basket/Mid-Flight Snack?
Arrival Meal? Short Description.
Any other notes of relevance?
Related thread: How bad does onboard catering need to get before UA invests in improving it?
General discussion of UA's inflight service (Domestic / Int値, all cabins) {Archive}
Nov 3, 2022, 11:24 am
#1741
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
You must have missed that they crushed Q3 profit numbers and doubled guidance for Q4. They (and apparently most UA flyers) don't care. Revenue way up - profit way up - NPS scores up - why would they mess with the playbook?
Nov 3, 2022, 11:52 am
#1742
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,217
Because none of those numbers are sustainable, especially in the face of a changing economic reality. You can't build a long term product on the basis of 24 months of 'revenge travel' bounce numbers, only an idiot CEO would assume this will continue long term.
Nov 3, 2022, 12:02 pm
#1743
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
This forum has been predicting the demise of UA for at least the past 15 years - and that hasn't been reality despite all the armchair CEO's - higher mileage redemptions - higher club fees - reduced benefits - lifetime benefit erosion - and on and on and on - and yet, here we are.
Nov 3, 2022, 12:57 pm
#1744
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
No, I saw that and that old Greek term-hubris-came right to mind. Kirby's not the first to believe that "this time it's different". We'll see
Nov 3, 2022, 6:24 pm
#1745
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
If sent to the right contact, I think it's a great idea to share our dissatisfaction. It's not going to result in regime change, but it might make things less miserable.
Nov 3, 2022, 10:22 pm
#1746
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
So what is the moral? Passengers should shut up because executives are bagging bonuses? Or maybe that there's literally no one at UA who cares about the product any more?
If sent to the right contact, I think it's a great idea to share our dissatisfaction. It's not going to result in regime change, but it might make things less miserable.
If sent to the right contact, I think it's a great idea to share our dissatisfaction. It's not going to result in regime change, but it might make things less miserable.
Regardless - everyone is free to complain to UA - my personal opinion is they would prefer complainers exercise their choice in other airlines where the grass may - or may not be greener.
Nov 3, 2022, 10:36 pm
#1747
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
I've always been fascinated that people have issue with bonuses - they certainly earned any bonus achieved based on revenue, profit, and even increased NPS scores - they certainly crushed it operationally.
Regardless - everyone is free to complain to UA - my personal opinion is they would prefer complainers exercise their choice in other airlines where the grass may - or may not be greener.
Regardless - everyone is free to complain to UA - my personal opinion is they would prefer complainers exercise their choice in other airlines where the grass may - or may not be greener.
This thread is a discussion of in flight service, and I don't eat NPS or quarterly earnings. If the service is poor the discussion should be critical.
Nov 3, 2022, 11:55 pm
#1748
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,055
NPS = net promoter score
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_promoter_score
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_promoter_score
Nov 4, 2022, 2:22 am
#1749
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 497
Flew UA C to Europe in the past week. Was so disappointed in the food offering.
Still no appetizer course. Just a salad and and entre served "all at once" rather than a salad and appetizer. Followed by an entree served later.
Still no bread served from a bread basket. And still no garlic bread. Roll comes pre-plated and served on the tray with everything else. Asking for another roll get's me "eye-rolls" from the FAs.
Still no dessert cart or make your own sundaes. There is ice cream but it is pre-packaged and not as appealing.
C'mon UA. It's time to bring the Polaris Food / Soft Product back to pre-pandemic service levels. I've flown LH business several times and they are back to 2019 services. Fine wines. Bread served from a basket. Separate courses. Appetizers with salad. Then entree. Then dessert and cheese. Then port wine.
The Polaris seat is great. But the meals and service are terrible.
Still no appetizer course. Just a salad and and entre served "all at once" rather than a salad and appetizer. Followed by an entree served later.
Still no bread served from a bread basket. And still no garlic bread. Roll comes pre-plated and served on the tray with everything else. Asking for another roll get's me "eye-rolls" from the FAs.
Still no dessert cart or make your own sundaes. There is ice cream but it is pre-packaged and not as appealing.
C'mon UA. It's time to bring the Polaris Food / Soft Product back to pre-pandemic service levels. I've flown LH business several times and they are back to 2019 services. Fine wines. Bread served from a basket. Separate courses. Appetizers with salad. Then entree. Then dessert and cheese. Then port wine.
The Polaris seat is great. But the meals and service are terrible.
Nov 4, 2022, 8:11 am
#1750
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,467
The only way things are going to improve are if the market and UA's customers provide negative feedback on its poor inflight product.
Nov 4, 2022, 8:31 am
#1751
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
"I do think that being the cheapest with the worst product works for UA. Kirby is being smart by not investing in better food in F and Polaris. He knows he can't compete with the international carriers in quality, so why bother trying?"
This strategy is working great for UA and it won't change until pax numbers drop. So everyone should expect more of the same and take their own food onboard like I do-even if you're in Polaris
Nov 4, 2022, 9:14 am
#1752
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
Flew UA C to Europe in the past week. Was so disappointed in the food offering.
Still no appetizer course. Just a salad and and entre served "all at once" rather than a salad and appetizer. Followed by an entree served later.
Still no bread served from a bread basket. And still no garlic bread. Roll comes pre-plated and served on the tray with everything else. Asking for another roll get's me "eye-rolls" from the FAs.
Still no dessert cart or make your own sundaes. There is ice cream but it is pre-packaged and not as appealing.
C'mon UA. It's time to bring the Polaris Food / Soft Product back to pre-pandemic service levels. I've flown LH business several times and they are back to 2019 services. Fine wines. Bread served from a basket. Separate courses. Appetizers with salad. Then entree. Then dessert and cheese. Then port wine.
The Polaris seat is great. But the meals and service are terrible.
Still no appetizer course. Just a salad and and entre served "all at once" rather than a salad and appetizer. Followed by an entree served later.
Still no bread served from a bread basket. And still no garlic bread. Roll comes pre-plated and served on the tray with everything else. Asking for another roll get's me "eye-rolls" from the FAs.
Still no dessert cart or make your own sundaes. There is ice cream but it is pre-packaged and not as appealing.
C'mon UA. It's time to bring the Polaris Food / Soft Product back to pre-pandemic service levels. I've flown LH business several times and they are back to 2019 services. Fine wines. Bread served from a basket. Separate courses. Appetizers with salad. Then entree. Then dessert and cheese. Then port wine.
The Polaris seat is great. But the meals and service are terrible.
Last edited by spartacusmcfly; Nov 4, 2022 at 11:55 am Reason: typo
Nov 4, 2022, 9:56 am
#1753
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Global Services 1MM,, AA Exec Plat. Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 606
Flew UA C to Europe in the past week. Was so disappointed in the food offering.
Still no appetizer course. Just a salad and and entre served "all at once" rather than a salad and appetizer. Followed by an entree served later.
Still no bread served from a bread basket. And still no garlic bread. Roll comes pre-plated and served on the tray with everything else. Asking for another roll get's me "eye-rolls" from the FAs.
Still no dessert cart or make your own sundaes. There is ice cream but it is pre-packaged and not as appealing.
C'mon UA. It's time to bring the Polaris Food / Soft Product back to pre-pandemic service levels. I've flown LH business several times and they are back to 2019 services. Fine wines. Bread served from a basket. Separate courses. Appetizers with salad. Then entree. Then dessert and cheese. Then port wine.
The Polaris seat is great. But the meals and service are terrible.
Still no appetizer course. Just a salad and and entre served "all at once" rather than a salad and appetizer. Followed by an entree served later.
Still no bread served from a bread basket. And still no garlic bread. Roll comes pre-plated and served on the tray with everything else. Asking for another roll get's me "eye-rolls" from the FAs.
Still no dessert cart or make your own sundaes. There is ice cream but it is pre-packaged and not as appealing.
C'mon UA. It's time to bring the Polaris Food / Soft Product back to pre-pandemic service levels. I've flown LH business several times and they are back to 2019 services. Fine wines. Bread served from a basket. Separate courses. Appetizers with salad. Then entree. Then dessert and cheese. Then port wine.
The Polaris seat is great. But the meals and service are terrible.
- Mostly dairy/gluten selections (ie., everything seems to have cheese, cream or wheat)
- Everything is unhealthy from calorie count to fat content to sugars etc.
- No printed wine list making it extremely difficult to understand options (FA's appear burdened to share what's available with any level of detail)
- No appetizers
- Salads are filled with fluff (ie cheese) + unhealthy dressings. How about just a simple oil & vinegar??
- Keep it simple United- the vast majority of people don't want fried avocadoes, egg white bites and uncooked gross bacon- how about just scrambled eggs, an omelet etc.? How about a nice dairy free option such as granola with coconut yogurt, or fruit plate with an acai bowl?
Nov 4, 2022, 10:18 am
#1754
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I've been doing this for at least 5 years now - thinking UA will improve inflight service/food will just an exercise in frustration. I'll have some of the food on board occasionally out of curiosity and it always is as expected - at best ok to terrible. Everything I bring onboard is better than any US carrier caters. UA isn't going to improve because they don't care if every FT person flies a international carrier as it is not the target flyer.
Nov 4, 2022, 10:24 am
#1755
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,280
Noting that six or lower is a bad NPS score, I never give UA a rating higher than six in the post-flight surveys. If the service didn't warrant a score of six or less, I don't respond to the survey.
The only way things are going to improve are if the market and UA's customers provide negative feedback on its poor inflight product.
The only way things are going to improve are if the market and UA's customers provide negative feedback on its poor inflight product.