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}
Dec 17, 2022, 7:35 am
#1966
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Posts: 56,470
Dec 17, 2022, 8:30 am
#1967
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
Yup, they simply said no. Can't do it. Butter was catered on trays as I had some with my dried, rock hard, cold bread with my main.
I was going to argue with them that there must be unused trays with butter on them but they had such an attitude I didn't bother.
Never had this request denied before, but to me it epitomizes how far United service has fallen.
And yes, the butter itself is trivial, it's the attitude/service that is annoying - remember this (Polaris) is supposed to be a Premium service.
I later asked for the flight attendant's name and the purser refused. She gave me her name but said she couldn't give me his name as it was a security risk.
Tired of this made up on the spot BS >> was going to ask how it was a security risk to give me his name, but it wasn't a security risk to give me her name.
Thought better of it and cut my losses and let it drop, admonishing myself for the stupidity of asking for extra butter - what was I thinking?
I was going to argue with them that there must be unused trays with butter on them but they had such an attitude I didn't bother.
Never had this request denied before, but to me it epitomizes how far United service has fallen.
And yes, the butter itself is trivial, it's the attitude/service that is annoying - remember this (Polaris) is supposed to be a Premium service.
I later asked for the flight attendant's name and the purser refused. She gave me her name but said she couldn't give me his name as it was a security risk.
Tired of this made up on the spot BS >> was going to ask how it was a security risk to give me his name, but it wasn't a security risk to give me her name.
Thought better of it and cut my losses and let it drop, admonishing myself for the stupidity of asking for extra butter - what was I thinking?
Dec 17, 2022, 9:15 am
#1968
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Dec 17, 2022, 10:00 am
#1969
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Yup, they simply said no. Can't do it. Butter was catered on trays as I had some with my dried, rock hard, cold bread with my main.
I was going to argue with them that there must be unused trays with butter on them but they had such an attitude I didn't bother.
Never had this request denied before, but to me it epitomizes how far United service has fallen.
And yes, the butter itself is trivial, it's the attitude/service that is annoying - remember this (Polaris) is supposed to be a Premium service.
I later asked for the flight attendant's name and the purser refused. She gave me her name but said she couldn't give me his name as it was a security risk.
Tired of this made up on the spot BS >> was going to ask how it was a security risk to give me his name, but it wasn't a security risk to give me her name.
Thought better of it and cut my losses and let it drop, admonishing myself for the stupidity of asking for extra butter - what was I thinking?
I was going to argue with them that there must be unused trays with butter on them but they had such an attitude I didn't bother.
Never had this request denied before, but to me it epitomizes how far United service has fallen.
And yes, the butter itself is trivial, it's the attitude/service that is annoying - remember this (Polaris) is supposed to be a Premium service.
I later asked for the flight attendant's name and the purser refused. She gave me her name but said she couldn't give me his name as it was a security risk.
Tired of this made up on the spot BS >> was going to ask how it was a security risk to give me his name, but it wasn't a security risk to give me her name.
Thought better of it and cut my losses and let it drop, admonishing myself for the stupidity of asking for extra butter - what was I thinking?
David
Dec 17, 2022, 11:11 am
#1970
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,613
Why couldn’t the FA have informed the passenger that they weren’t provisioned with single servings of butter instead of a curt “no?” If a FA is being polite, does that cost UA money?
Dec 17, 2022, 1:57 pm
#1971
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
again, I could have questioned whether they had any unused trays that had a butter available, but it wasn’t worth the argument. And I certainly didn’t feel like they had any inclination to go out of their way for me…
Dec 17, 2022, 3:08 pm
#1972
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,613
let me clarify… I can’t remember the exact wording, but it was along the lines of. “No, we don’t have extra”. He then walked back to the galley for my cheese plate without waiting for a reply. There was no “I’m sorry we don’t have extras”, no “let me check”.
again, I could have questioned whether they had any unused trays that had a butter available, but it wasn’t worth the argument. And I certainly didn’t feel like they had any inclination to go out of their way for me…
again, I could have questioned whether they had any unused trays that had a butter available, but it wasn’t worth the argument. And I certainly didn’t feel like they had any inclination to go out of their way for me…
Dec 18, 2022, 8:51 am
#1973
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Join Date: Aug 2017
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Posts: 10,515
Outbound on Delta, return on United, comp upgraded both ways but similarity ended there. Had a delightful Korean bowl on Delta, and almost threw up on United's frittata after one bite. The fruit and the packaged yogurt on the tray was the only thing decent. The bread was rock hard.
I asked the FA if he could reheat the frittata, as it was lukewarm to cold, he said he needed to serve others. As bad as United's catering, I'd at least eat it; the frittata served on the particular United flight was downright horrid.
I asked the FA if he could reheat the frittata, as it was lukewarm to cold, he said he needed to serve others. As bad as United's catering, I'd at least eat it; the frittata served on the particular United flight was downright horrid.
Dec 18, 2022, 12:03 pm
#1974
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,707
Of course the F/A should have handled it politely. Neither you nor I were there to witness exactly what the interaction was.
Dec 18, 2022, 6:38 pm
#1976
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,707
I took the OP's primary complaint to be that there was no butter available with the cheese plate, not that the F/A had an attitude about it. But maybe I misinterpreted.
My ONLY point was that catering provisioning decisions are not made by F/As. If the service standards are that cheese plates do not have butter pats (which I believe is the case but am happy to be corrected), and there are no extra butter pats provisioned in case someone wants one, that is not the F/A's fault.
Of course if the F/A was rude about it, that is not acceptable - which should be obvious - and I did not mean to suggest otherwise.
Dec 18, 2022, 6:44 pm
#1977
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,613
my original comment was a criticism of the FA’s rudeness, not the lack of butter, which is obviously not the FA’s fault. So we are both on the same page.
Dec 18, 2022, 8:34 pm
#1978
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what actually happened was completely and totally unacceptable and the OP needs to write up this crew with a complaint
Dec 18, 2022, 11:20 pm
#1979
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: SEA/HNL/TPE
Programs: UA Plat & 1MM (40 yr MP), HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 51
Entire Can Refused on UX in F
Here is how other carriers would react, would you like to have another bag of snack?
I wasn't talking that specific example, but in general of UA FAs. I have lost count how many times I have been refused to have the can of seltzer water after the initial pour to the cup. What are we rationing here?
There should be a meal on this route up front, but are you really surprised for a doggie bag for 2 plus years, and now just (1) snack. Asking for a second one is like getting a colonoscopy.
I wasn't talking that specific example, but in general of UA FAs. I have lost count how many times I have been refused to have the can of seltzer water after the initial pour to the cup. What are we rationing here?
There should be a meal on this route up front, but are you really surprised for a doggie bag for 2 plus years, and now just (1) snack. Asking for a second one is like getting a colonoscopy.
Did I comment anything about FA attitude?
More context: asked for the remaining portion of the poured can, and being told they are needed for other passengers. I count such as refusal. I have also been refused the same in F. I have written some of these occurrences on FT. Also when requesting for no ice but getting ice anyway - par for the course.
You may have always gotten your requests, but that does not mean other people share the same experience. Both can be true.
More context: asked for the remaining portion of the poured can, and being told they are needed for other passengers. I count such as refusal. I have also been refused the same in F. I have written some of these occurrences on FT. Also when requesting for no ice but getting ice anyway - par for the course.
You may have always gotten your requests, but that does not mean other people share the same experience. Both can be true.
I didn't mean to imply you did.
Did you think the FA was lying?
If Yes, I would say that is Attitude.
If No, I agree that is technically a "refusal," but what if airline's policy is to not honor second requests until everyone has had their first request? Still the F/As fault for following company policy?
Did you think the FA was lying?
If Yes, I would say that is Attitude.
If No, I agree that is technically a "refusal," but what if airline's policy is to not honor second requests until everyone has had their first request? Still the F/As fault for following company policy?
The entire premise of my earlier posts: stingy. You are the one who had inserted FA attitude into the discussion.
I fly hundreds of flights/year across multiple carriers, yet United is the only one with issues of customers asking for the entire can of beverages. I had this happened to me in the last row of F, btw (not just coach). Even if United has some kind of being cheap policy, that doesn't make my point invalid, does it?
I fly hundreds of flights/year across multiple carriers, yet United is the only one with issues of customers asking for the entire can of beverages. I had this happened to me in the last row of F, btw (not just coach). Even if United has some kind of being cheap policy, that doesn't make my point invalid, does it?
On mainline, when I ask for an unopened whole can, I usually get it. Maybe twice this year they opened it.
Actually I have gotten push back that there is no CranApple juice just Cranberry cocktail or Apple Juice (since this summer).. All were obviously younger FAs. That sure looks like a slice of Apple on the can to me.
CranBerry cocktail made with Apple juice
Dec 19, 2022, 12:07 pm
#1980
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
Outbound on Delta, return on United, comp upgraded both ways but similarity ended there. Had a delightful Korean bowl on Delta, and almost threw up on United's frittata after one bite. The fruit and the packaged yogurt on the tray was the only thing decent. The bread was rock hard.
I asked the FA if he could reheat the frittata, as it was lukewarm to cold, he said he needed to serve others. As bad as United's catering, I'd at least eat it; the frittata served on the particular United flight was downright horrid.
I asked the FA if he could reheat the frittata, as it was lukewarm to cold, he said he needed to serve others. As bad as United's catering, I'd at least eat it; the frittata served on the particular United flight was downright horrid.
UA is simply put cheap.