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’l, all cabins) {Archive}
Jan 18, 2022, 11:05 am
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,930
Jan 18, 2022, 11:07 am
#182
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
It's always a moving of the goalposts.
Of course Southwest always manages a full drink service between BUR-SFO, but...
(waiting for latest excuse)
The bottom line is this: UA continues to use the pandemic as an excuse to provide reduced service onboard. It has become comical on UA's regional partners.
Of course Southwest always manages a full drink service between BUR-SFO, but...
(waiting for latest excuse)
The bottom line is this: UA continues to use the pandemic as an excuse to provide reduced service onboard. It has become comical on UA's regional partners.
In fairness mainline UA has been okay. UX isn’t doing the job.
Edit: just noticed UA mainline ding above - that is really sad if the downgrade of service permeates mainline
Last edited by uastarflyer; Jan 18, 2022 at 11:22 am
Jan 18, 2022, 11:24 am
#183
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SNA (home), LAX, BOM/PNQ, LHR
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Marriott Gold Elite, IHG Platinum, HHonors Silver
Posts: 965
Funny incident just a few min ago. Many of you were saying the individual I talked to who’s EWR’s purser supervisor about the inflight service changes shouldn’t be working flights if he’s a higher up supervisor or something.
Just ran into him in the jetway as I was boarding my plane to LA. Except this time he was wearing ground staff gear along with a badge and a “We are EWR” lanyard. Now of course cabin crew wear that too but it was very clear he wasn’t flying anywhere. I asked him when’s his next flight? He said not for a few weeks that one flight to Delhi he worked was a one-off just to assess India service. What was he doing on my plane? Nothing more than routine checking up on our forward cabin staff. Did not travel with us to LA
Just ran into him in the jetway as I was boarding my plane to LA. Except this time he was wearing ground staff gear along with a badge and a “We are EWR” lanyard. Now of course cabin crew wear that too but it was very clear he wasn’t flying anywhere. I asked him when’s his next flight? He said not for a few weeks that one flight to Delhi he worked was a one-off just to assess India service. What was he doing on my plane? Nothing more than routine checking up on our forward cabin staff. Did not travel with us to LA
Jan 18, 2022, 11:31 am
#184
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
UX is still handing out industrial strength wipes on boarding. WN this weekend had no wipes, and on its PA made it clear they were disclosing the mask mandate under government duress.
This newly minted 1MM will preferentially book UA but not at all pleased with the reductions in service.
This newly minted 1MM will preferentially book UA but not at all pleased with the reductions in service.
Jan 18, 2022, 12:42 pm
#185
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Jan 18, 2022, 3:10 pm
#186
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Hot Towels, Do You Miss Them?
I just remembered that hot towels were a thing pre-covid after flipping through the pictures from my last pre-covid flight on United. I totally forget they were done before all meal service including domestic first. Do you miss them? I don't think I've heard anyone complain about them being cut all. The only noise I believe were on the food, warmed nuts and PDB but don't remember anything regarding hot towels.
Jan 18, 2022, 3:14 pm
#187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
I just remembered that hot towels were a thing pre-covid after flipping through the pictures from my last pre-covid flight on United. I totally forget they were done before all meal service including domestic first. Do you miss them? I don't think I've heard anyone complain about them being cut all. The only noise I believe were on the food, warmed nuts and PDB but don't remember anything regarding hot towels.
Sadly I think no chance of them coming back in the new normal.
Wouldn't hesitate a second if they were offered again.
Jan 18, 2022, 3:26 pm
#188
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wayne, NJ USA
Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member
Posts: 2,175
I just remembered that hot towels were a thing pre-covid after flipping through the pictures from my last pre-covid flight on United. I totally forget they were done before all meal service including domestic first. Do you miss them? I don't think I've heard anyone complain about them being cut all. The only noise I believe were on the food, warmed nuts and PDB but don't remember anything regarding hot towels.
Jan 18, 2022, 3:36 pm
#189
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
If they do comeback, it will most likely be the thin disposable gauze kind used by carriers like Swiss vs the real terry cloth like before.
Jan 18, 2022, 7:41 pm
#190
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,930
Hey MatthewLAX have you heard anything so far from your insiders of United considering bringing back any specific elements in many of these markets where there’s a direct US airline competitor? Or should I expect the same 3 options and a bad brownie on my BOM-EWR tonight? My chat with the EWR purser supervisor proved to be helpful in getting a rough trajectory, but still a limited view of what direction the service is going in for the long haul.
I saw some AA meal pics on DEL-JFK and boy while it didn’t look like grade A quality meals, it was sure better than what UA is offering in this market for sure. And it looked like One would at least be full after eating a meal.
I saw some AA meal pics on DEL-JFK and boy while it didn’t look like grade A quality meals, it was sure better than what UA is offering in this market for sure. And it looked like One would at least be full after eating a meal.
Warmed Mixed Nuts Return To United Airlines, With More Service To Come
(link to my blog)
There will be some additional service elements introduced on unspecified routes. I independently confirmed the trial you mentioned, with dessert items served from galley. Not sure about appetizers. But it will still be a hybrid.
I just remembered that hot towels were a thing pre-covid after flipping through the pictures from my last pre-covid flight on United. I totally forget they were done before all meal service including domestic first. Do you miss them? I don't think I've heard anyone complain about them being cut all. The only noise I believe were on the food, warmed nuts and PDB but don't remember anything regarding hot towels.
Jan 18, 2022, 11:27 pm
#191
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,527
Jan 19, 2022, 6:04 am
#192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
I wrote a story about a new trial taking place next month --
Warmed Mixed Nuts Return To United Airlines, With More Service To Come
(link to my blog)
There will be some additional service elements introduced on unspecified routes. I independently confirmed the trial you mentioned, with dessert items served from galley. Not sure about appetizers. But it will still be a hybrid.
I miss them!
Warmed Mixed Nuts Return To United Airlines, With More Service To Come
(link to my blog)
There will be some additional service elements introduced on unspecified routes. I independently confirmed the trial you mentioned, with dessert items served from galley. Not sure about appetizers. But it will still be a hybrid.
I miss them!
Desert was still on the tray.
Jan 19, 2022, 10:00 am
#193
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
Funny incident just a few min ago. Many of you were saying the individual I talked to who’s EWR’s purser supervisor about the inflight service changes shouldn’t be working flights if he’s a higher up supervisor or something.
Just ran into him in the jetway as I was boarding my plane to LA. Except this time he was wearing ground staff gear along with a badge and a “We are EWR” lanyard. Now of course cabin crew wear that too but it was very clear he wasn’t flying anywhere. I asked him when’s his next flight? He said not for a few weeks that one flight to Delhi he worked was a one-off just to assess India service. What was he doing on my plane? Nothing more than routine checking up on our forward cabin staff. Did not travel with us to LA
Just ran into him in the jetway as I was boarding my plane to LA. Except this time he was wearing ground staff gear along with a badge and a “We are EWR” lanyard. Now of course cabin crew wear that too but it was very clear he wasn’t flying anywhere. I asked him when’s his next flight? He said not for a few weeks that one flight to Delhi he worked was a one-off just to assess India service. What was he doing on my plane? Nothing more than routine checking up on our forward cabin staff. Did not travel with us to LA
In the past, there were supervisors or FA trainers performing assessments as part of service familiarization/harmonization. They are "working", but not a part of the flight crew. In fact, unlike Southwest, they are not allowed to help out their colleagues.
Jan 20, 2022, 12:15 am
#194
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SNA (home), LAX, BOM/PNQ, LHR
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Marriott Gold Elite, IHG Platinum, HHonors Silver
Posts: 965
I believe the point was that only qualified flight attendants are allowed to "work" on the plane/flight as a flight attendant, and not all purser supervisors are qualified flight attendants.
In the past, there were supervisors or FA trainers performing assessments as part of service familiarization/harmonization. They are "working", but not a part of the flight crew. In fact, unlike Southwest, they are not allowed to help out their colleagues.
In the past, there were supervisors or FA trainers performing assessments as part of service familiarization/harmonization. They are "working", but not a part of the flight crew. In fact, unlike Southwest, they are not allowed to help out their colleagues.