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 8, 2022, 8:32 pm
#1786
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,460
Nov 9, 2022, 7:10 am
#1787
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
Nov 9, 2022, 9:21 am
#1788
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX-SEN, KL-Gold, BA-Gold, LA-Comodoro
Posts: 94
I had the honor of flying Polaris business class for the first time the day before yesterday and yesterday. I fly very often in business class in all possible airlines of this world, but somehow I have not yet made it to polaris business.
Maybe this is not news to you all, but while I found the hardware to be very convincing (I slept wonderful), the food was absurdly bad. I have never had such grotesque business class food in any airline worldwide.
First I flew on UA846 SCL-IAH. I chose beef, which was simply not edible. It was so hard that you could only cut it with a lot of effort (I am not exaggerating). It felt like it would have been cooked 2 hours full heat. The presentation was miserable. The bread next to it was also completely hard. I was not very hungry, so I did not complain, but it was absurd. I skipped breakfast.
Then I continued on UA20 IAH-AMS. While the dinner (chicken) was not good, but at least edible, the next absurdity followed with the Salmon Bagel for breakfast: The bagel was not only not fresh, but so hard that probably not even a rabbit could have bitten it. Again, I don't want to exaggerate provocatively, but the bagel was effectively hard as a rock and I seriously asked myself how such a thing could be presented to a customer.
As I have mentioned, I fly AA, AC, LX, LH, AF, KL, LA, AM, DL and many more very frequently and enjoy business class food on the plane most of the time, even if it is not restaurant quality of course. But what I was served on these two flights at United was that absurd that I was just laughing to myself.
My question to you: was I just unlucky (on both flights) or is it effectively "known" by "you" in the States that UA serves by far the worst food of any carrier?
Maybe this is not news to you all, but while I found the hardware to be very convincing (I slept wonderful), the food was absurdly bad. I have never had such grotesque business class food in any airline worldwide.
First I flew on UA846 SCL-IAH. I chose beef, which was simply not edible. It was so hard that you could only cut it with a lot of effort (I am not exaggerating). It felt like it would have been cooked 2 hours full heat. The presentation was miserable. The bread next to it was also completely hard. I was not very hungry, so I did not complain, but it was absurd. I skipped breakfast.
Then I continued on UA20 IAH-AMS. While the dinner (chicken) was not good, but at least edible, the next absurdity followed with the Salmon Bagel for breakfast: The bagel was not only not fresh, but so hard that probably not even a rabbit could have bitten it. Again, I don't want to exaggerate provocatively, but the bagel was effectively hard as a rock and I seriously asked myself how such a thing could be presented to a customer.
As I have mentioned, I fly AA, AC, LX, LH, AF, KL, LA, AM, DL and many more very frequently and enjoy business class food on the plane most of the time, even if it is not restaurant quality of course. But what I was served on these two flights at United was that absurd that I was just laughing to myself.
My question to you: was I just unlucky (on both flights) or is it effectively "known" by "you" in the States that UA serves by far the worst food of any carrier?
Nov 9, 2022, 10:22 am
#1789
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ, PDX
Programs: UA 1 MM, AA, DL
Posts: 930
I had the honor of flying Polaris business class for the first time the day before yesterday and yesterday. I fly very often in business class in all possible airlines of this world, but somehow I have not yet made it to polaris business.
Maybe this is not news to you all, but while I found the hardware to be very convincing (I slept wonderful), the food was absurdly bad. I have never had such grotesque business class food in any airline worldwide.
First I flew on UA846 SCL-IAH. I chose beef, which was simply not edible. It was so hard that you could only cut it with a lot of effort (I am not exaggerating). It felt like it would have been cooked 2 hours full heat. The presentation was miserable. The bread next to it was also completely hard. I was not very hungry, so I did not complain, but it was absurd. I skipped breakfast.
Then I continued on UA20 IAH-AMS. While the dinner (chicken) was not good, but at least edible, the next absurdity followed with the Salmon Bagel for breakfast: The bagel was not only not fresh, but so hard that probably not even a rabbit could have bitten it. Again, I don't want to exaggerate provocatively, but the bagel was effectively hard as a rock and I seriously asked myself how such a thing could be presented to a customer.
As I have mentioned, I fly AA, AC, LX, LH, AF, KL, LA, AM, DL and many more very frequently and enjoy business class food on the plane most of the time, even if it is not restaurant quality of course. But what I was served on these two flights at United was that absurd that I was just laughing to myself.
My question to you: was I just unlucky (on both flights) or is it effectively "known" by "you" in the States that UA serves by far the worst food of any carrier?
Maybe this is not news to you all, but while I found the hardware to be very convincing (I slept wonderful), the food was absurdly bad. I have never had such grotesque business class food in any airline worldwide.
First I flew on UA846 SCL-IAH. I chose beef, which was simply not edible. It was so hard that you could only cut it with a lot of effort (I am not exaggerating). It felt like it would have been cooked 2 hours full heat. The presentation was miserable. The bread next to it was also completely hard. I was not very hungry, so I did not complain, but it was absurd. I skipped breakfast.
Then I continued on UA20 IAH-AMS. While the dinner (chicken) was not good, but at least edible, the next absurdity followed with the Salmon Bagel for breakfast: The bagel was not only not fresh, but so hard that probably not even a rabbit could have bitten it. Again, I don't want to exaggerate provocatively, but the bagel was effectively hard as a rock and I seriously asked myself how such a thing could be presented to a customer.
As I have mentioned, I fly AA, AC, LX, LH, AF, KL, LA, AM, DL and many more very frequently and enjoy business class food on the plane most of the time, even if it is not restaurant quality of course. But what I was served on these two flights at United was that absurd that I was just laughing to myself.
My question to you: was I just unlucky (on both flights) or is it effectively "known" by "you" in the States that UA serves by far the worst food of any carrier?
Nov 9, 2022, 10:43 am
#1790
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
I had the honor of flying Polaris business class for the first time the day before yesterday and yesterday. I fly very often in business class in all possible airlines of this world, but somehow I have not yet made it to polaris business.
Maybe this is not news to you all, but while I found the hardware to be very convincing (I slept wonderful), the food was absurdly bad. I have never had such grotesque business class food in any airline worldwide.
First I flew on UA846 SCL-IAH. I chose beef, which was simply not edible. It was so hard that you could only cut it with a lot of effort (I am not exaggerating). It felt like it would have been cooked 2 hours full heat. The presentation was miserable. The bread next to it was also completely hard. I was not very hungry, so I did not complain, but it was absurd. I skipped breakfast.
Then I continued on UA20 IAH-AMS. While the dinner (chicken) was not good, but at least edible, the next absurdity followed with the Salmon Bagel for breakfast: The bagel was not only not fresh, but so hard that probably not even a rabbit could have bitten it. Again, I don't want to exaggerate provocatively, but the bagel was effectively hard as a rock and I seriously asked myself how such a thing could be presented to a customer.
As I have mentioned, I fly AA, AC, LX, LH, AF, KL, LA, AM, DL and many more very frequently and enjoy business class food on the plane most of the time, even if it is not restaurant quality of course. But what I was served on these two flights at United was that absurd that I was just laughing to myself.
My question to you: was I just unlucky (on both flights) or is it effectively "known" by "you" in the States that UA serves by far the worst food of any carrier?
Maybe this is not news to you all, but while I found the hardware to be very convincing (I slept wonderful), the food was absurdly bad. I have never had such grotesque business class food in any airline worldwide.
First I flew on UA846 SCL-IAH. I chose beef, which was simply not edible. It was so hard that you could only cut it with a lot of effort (I am not exaggerating). It felt like it would have been cooked 2 hours full heat. The presentation was miserable. The bread next to it was also completely hard. I was not very hungry, so I did not complain, but it was absurd. I skipped breakfast.
Then I continued on UA20 IAH-AMS. While the dinner (chicken) was not good, but at least edible, the next absurdity followed with the Salmon Bagel for breakfast: The bagel was not only not fresh, but so hard that probably not even a rabbit could have bitten it. Again, I don't want to exaggerate provocatively, but the bagel was effectively hard as a rock and I seriously asked myself how such a thing could be presented to a customer.
As I have mentioned, I fly AA, AC, LX, LH, AF, KL, LA, AM, DL and many more very frequently and enjoy business class food on the plane most of the time, even if it is not restaurant quality of course. But what I was served on these two flights at United was that absurd that I was just laughing to myself.
My question to you: was I just unlucky (on both flights) or is it effectively "known" by "you" in the States that UA serves by far the worst food of any carrier?
One particular note, I have the sense they've somehow cut the meat catering budget out of South America as low as they possibly can. The beef has been terrible everywhere. I usually (99% of time) will tough it out, as I am very averse to wasting food, but this is too much for me. Worst was going ex-LIM, where I had to completely give up after sawing one bite off. Even ex-GRU where I was hoping for better, it was difficult to convince myself I should eat it, and that without having eaten dinner beforehand.
I've had a much better time ex-US & -Europe (relatively speaking — this is still UA). Looks like they've also splashed a bit more money in to the Australia budget, but I've not flow there this year.
Nov 9, 2022, 10:46 am
#1791
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: UA GS and 1MM; SPG/Marr Plat; Hilton Gold
Posts: 141
I had the honor of flying Polaris business class for the first time the day before yesterday and yesterday. I fly very often in business class in all possible airlines of this world, but somehow I have not yet made it to polaris business.
Maybe this is not news to you all, but while I found the hardware to be very convincing (I slept wonderful), the food was absurdly bad. I have never had such grotesque business class food in any airline worldwide.
First I flew on UA846 SCL-IAH. I chose beef, which was simply not edible. It was so hard that you could only cut it with a lot of effort (I am not exaggerating). It felt like it would have been cooked 2 hours full heat. The presentation was miserable. The bread next to it was also completely hard. I was not very hungry, so I did not complain, but it was absurd. I skipped breakfast.
Then I continued on UA20 IAH-AMS. While the dinner (chicken) was not good, but at least edible, the next absurdity followed with the Salmon Bagel for breakfast: The bagel was not only not fresh, but so hard that probably not even a rabbit could have bitten it. Again, I don't want to exaggerate provocatively, but the bagel was effectively hard as a rock and I seriously asked myself how such a thing could be presented to a customer.
As I have mentioned, I fly AA, AC, LX, LH, AF, KL, LA, AM, DL and many more very frequently and enjoy business class food on the plane most of the time, even if it is not restaurant quality of course. But what I was served on these two flights at United was that absurd that I was just laughing to myself.
My question to you: was I just unlucky (on both flights) or is it effectively "known" by "you" in the States that UA serves by far the worst food of any carrier?
Maybe this is not news to you all, but while I found the hardware to be very convincing (I slept wonderful), the food was absurdly bad. I have never had such grotesque business class food in any airline worldwide.
First I flew on UA846 SCL-IAH. I chose beef, which was simply not edible. It was so hard that you could only cut it with a lot of effort (I am not exaggerating). It felt like it would have been cooked 2 hours full heat. The presentation was miserable. The bread next to it was also completely hard. I was not very hungry, so I did not complain, but it was absurd. I skipped breakfast.
Then I continued on UA20 IAH-AMS. While the dinner (chicken) was not good, but at least edible, the next absurdity followed with the Salmon Bagel for breakfast: The bagel was not only not fresh, but so hard that probably not even a rabbit could have bitten it. Again, I don't want to exaggerate provocatively, but the bagel was effectively hard as a rock and I seriously asked myself how such a thing could be presented to a customer.
As I have mentioned, I fly AA, AC, LX, LH, AF, KL, LA, AM, DL and many more very frequently and enjoy business class food on the plane most of the time, even if it is not restaurant quality of course. But what I was served on these two flights at United was that absurd that I was just laughing to myself.
My question to you: was I just unlucky (on both flights) or is it effectively "known" by "you" in the States that UA serves by far the worst food of any carrier?
Nov 9, 2022, 10:58 am
#1792
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
Well, UA's food has improved from a warm bowl of mushy cardboard with a hair in it to what's pictured in the past few posts. Seems like UA has played this perfectly - downgraded the food to the absolute worst that anyone has seen, and then "upgrade" it to something slightly better than the worst everyone has ever seen. I'm not falling for it - UA's food in Polaris still has to be the worst of any airline's premium cabin. UA gets me where I need to go - I'll give it that. Just wish I didn't have to plan my eating to avoid most of UA's current in-flight slop. I am truly amazed at the complete collapse of food quality in just 2 1/2 years after a slower 10 year decline.
Nov 9, 2022, 1:00 pm
#1793
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,712
Just received 5000 bonus miles for my detailed write up to United about how bad Polaris was for GRU to ORD last week. 5000 miles is nothing. I would rather get the 30 minutes I used typing the email back. It seemed like an automated response that was lacking any true emotion. Some sort of a refund or trip credit for a substantial amount would seem fair or if they are going to use miles as a way to give something back maybe 20K miles but 5K thats pretty bad. I'm so done with United until they get their stuff together. However, I was thinking of blowing my remaining miles on a J ticket for HND to SIN over summer since I believe that would either get me SQ or NH, either of which would be great and so much better than United. So actually I hope they read my reply back and just give me 15K more miles as that will allow me to purchase the above mentioned ticket. This GRU to ORD flight was the biggest joke of a premium product I have ever experienced.
Nov 9, 2022, 1:02 pm
#1794
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Just received 5000 bonus miles for my detailed write up to United about how bad Polaris was for GRU to ORD last week. 5000 miles is nothing. I would rather get the 30 minutes I used typing the email back. It seemed like an automated response that was lacking and true emotion. Some sort of a refund or trip credit for a substantial amount would seem fair or if they are going to use miles as a way to give something back maybe 20K miles but 5K thats pretty bad. I'm so done with United until they get their stuff together. However, I was thinking of blowing my remaining miles on a J ticket for HND to SIN over summer since I believe that would either get me SQ or NH, either of which would be great and so much better than United. So actually I hope they read my reply back and just give me 15K more miles as that will allow me to purchase the above mentioned ticket. This GRU to ORD flight was the biggest joke of a premium product I have ever experiened.
Nov 9, 2022, 1:04 pm
#1795
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,712
I would fly them with a trip credit though but to Phoenix or Denver. I am 100% done with them for Transcon or International.
Nov 9, 2022, 1:57 pm
#1796
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
And on the Y front, just flew the recently relaunched YYZ-SFO flight, which I'm happy to have back (though the previous early evening departure westbound was much preferable to the crack of dawn departure...but I digress...). Crew was great, and was a good flight, but completely mis-catered. No hot breakfast items, just the snack boxes (flight is clearly marked 'fresh food for purchase'). and not even the basic biscoff/pretzel/stroopwafel with the beverage service - which we did have on the redeye on the way out. I'm pretty sure UA doesn't cater at all in YYZ, since most of the flights are short-haul (EWR/IAD/ORD) - I suspect the inbound from DEN last night was supposed to be double-catered, but for some reason, wasn't. FA offered me a recline snack box - not sure exactly why, as I'm not 1K, and wasn't that hungry, so wouldn't have bought anyway, but I would hate to be someone expecting to be able to get a hot breakfast and be told all they have were the box 'o carbs.
Nov 10, 2022, 2:33 am
#1797
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX-SEN, KL-Gold, BA-Gold, LA-Comodoro
Posts: 94
Thank you all for your answers. I was effectively unaware that this is such a "known" fact that the catering at UA is that bad. For me as an "outsider" European, this is very surprising, because I always had the feeling that the three big players in the U.S. look at everything from each other and copy each other. However, while I am mostly satisfied with both the service and the catering at AA and DL, it has been an absolute joke at UA.
What you have to give UA credit for, on the other hand: The food in the Polaris lounge in Houston was (I had Pulpo and a Chicken, can't remember the name) was downright exquisite....
Furthermore, I sat on Seat 1L on both SCL-IAH (767-300) and IAH-AMS (777-200) flights and found the hard product to be extremely good (both better than DL and AA). It's a pity that they mess up with the catering in such a way.
What you have to give UA credit for, on the other hand: The food in the Polaris lounge in Houston was (I had Pulpo and a Chicken, can't remember the name) was downright exquisite....
Furthermore, I sat on Seat 1L on both SCL-IAH (767-300) and IAH-AMS (777-200) flights and found the hard product to be extremely good (both better than DL and AA). It's a pity that they mess up with the catering in such a way.
Nov 10, 2022, 12:36 pm
#1798
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: 42,222
As heard from the galley....
FA1: Crap, we need to serve breakfast to those people, I'm only half way through my People Magazine, and it's the good part with Meghan Markle
FA2: Who cares, just toss the heating containers on a tray a give it to them, it's not like any of these customers care what we serve them
FA1: Crap, we need to serve breakfast to those people, I'm only half way through my People Magazine, and it's the good part with Meghan Markle
FA2: Who cares, just toss the heating containers on a tray a give it to them, it's not like any of these customers care what we serve them
Nov 10, 2022, 12:52 pm
#1799
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
Guys give up, just fly E+ and eat and spend your money on the ground!
Nov 10, 2022, 1:08 pm
#1800
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,506
Thank you all for your answers. I was effectively unaware that this is such a "known" fact that the catering at UA is that bad. For me as an "outsider" European, this is very surprising, because I always had the feeling that the three big players in the U.S. look at everything from each other and copy each other. However, while I am mostly satisfied with both the service and the catering at AA and DL, it has been an absolute joke at UA.
What you have to give UA credit for, on the other hand: The food in the Polaris lounge in Houston was (I had Pulpo and a Chicken, can't remember the name) was downright exquisite....
Furthermore, I sat on Seat 1L on both SCL-IAH (767-300) and IAH-AMS (777-200) flights and found the hard product to be extremely good (both better than DL and AA). It's a pity that they mess up with the catering in such a way.
What you have to give UA credit for, on the other hand: The food in the Polaris lounge in Houston was (I had Pulpo and a Chicken, can't remember the name) was downright exquisite....
Furthermore, I sat on Seat 1L on both SCL-IAH (767-300) and IAH-AMS (777-200) flights and found the hard product to be extremely good (both better than DL and AA). It's a pity that they mess up with the catering in such a way.
Also agree that 1L (and 9L on the two-cabin J aircraft) makes the awful catering and generally apathetic service tolerable.