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}
May 12, 2022, 5:30 pm
#871
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
Vice President, Customer Strategy & Innovation and Catering
Lots of scope. And a Finance education. Equals chop chop chop for strategy, innovation and catering. Talk about Peter principle on steroids
May 12, 2022, 5:55 pm
#872
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 87
Wow - whoever she is -- she needs to 'get in touch' and get the catering fixed ASAP or remove the word 'innovation' from her title ASAP.
May 12, 2022, 6:41 pm
#873
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: UA Gold,1MM, Hilton Honors Silver, Marriott Gold, BA Blue
Posts: 150
May 12, 2022, 7:55 pm
#874
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago, Kailua-Kona, Cairns
Programs: UA 1K >2MM, IC Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 740
DEN/KOA UA Serves Slop for a Meal
I appreciate that all the airlines are having challenges with their operations post-Covid. But I don't see them offering fare cuts for the substandard service they're giving us.
Below is a photo of the "meal" being served on the DEN/KOA flight this past Monday, May 9th.
All the meals were obviously wrapped by hand in plastic wrap, with the meal open to tampering and other contamination. The meals also tasted hideous - this one was some kind of noodles with chicken. Blech!
Did UA switch from their own staff to Gate Gourmet in Denver during the pandemic?
I'd lodge a complaint with the 1K desk, but they rarely respond these days.
Note the plastic is open on the "salad" side. This is how it was served. . .
Below is a photo of the "meal" being served on the DEN/KOA flight this past Monday, May 9th.
All the meals were obviously wrapped by hand in plastic wrap, with the meal open to tampering and other contamination. The meals also tasted hideous - this one was some kind of noodles with chicken. Blech!
Did UA switch from their own staff to Gate Gourmet in Denver during the pandemic?
I'd lodge a complaint with the 1K desk, but they rarely respond these days.
Note the plastic is open on the "salad" side. This is how it was served. . .
May 12, 2022, 8:03 pm
#875
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
Is this a meal in Y or F?
May 12, 2022, 8:17 pm
#876
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
If OP thinks there's a link between meal quality and fare, OP doesn't know airline business. There's no rule stating meal quality must go up or down with fare. I'd hate to be an FA who has to alter each passenger's meal to fit the fare they paid 
You paid for a seat DEN-KOA. UA promised a meal - you got one. My expectations would have been low and planned accordingly.
Other airlines might provide better meals.
You paid for a seat DEN-KOA. UA promised a meal - you got one. My expectations would have been low and planned accordingly.
Other airlines might provide better meals.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; May 12, 2022 at 8:25 pm
May 12, 2022, 8:21 pm
#877
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,318
May 12, 2022, 8:29 pm
#878
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
I'm done with expecting anything good out of UA's "find the cheapest caterer who can provide the bare minimum" mindset right now. I always expect a less than mediocre meal. I haven't been surprised in a 18 months or so....I almost wish UA would just go to the burger for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - I'd rather be bored by better-than-average (on UA's food spectrum) than an endless stream of bleccchhh. I really am altering my eating to avoid as much in-flight food as I can. Most current entrees can be just flushed IMHO.
They can't screw up the yogurt, unless they fail to cater it as they did last week on one of my flights. The butter is OK.
I just expect UA to get me where I'm going and make sure there's booze on the plane.
Unless droves of passengers flee specifically because of the food, UA has no incentive to change.
They can't screw up the yogurt, unless they fail to cater it as they did last week on one of my flights. The butter is OK.
I just expect UA to get me where I'm going and make sure there's booze on the plane.
Unless droves of passengers flee specifically because of the food, UA has no incentive to change.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; May 12, 2022 at 8:38 pm
May 12, 2022, 8:37 pm
#879
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,318
This is why I left AA/US -- and will likely leave UA -- I have over 2MM miles with AA/US -- and watched him "Kirby" that merger and was so unhappy I literally abandoned them both -- it seems UA is on the same path....
May 12, 2022, 8:42 pm
#880
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
Over the past two years I've still spent a ton of money with UA -- but nowhere near what it used to be -- I've been flying airlines more like Gulf Air -- this tiny little ME airline -- and getting amazing food and wines -- at a really good price for J -- has made me realize it doesn't have to be so bad -- UA is willingly doing this - I mean come on when AA offers a far better soft product you know it's clear they don't care any more -- it plays well with Wall St. -- but only for a while.
This is why I left AA/US -- and will likely leave UA -- I have over 2MM miles with AA/US -- and watched him "Kirby" that merger and was so unhappy I literally abandoned them both -- it seems UA is on the same path....
This is why I left AA/US -- and will likely leave UA -- I have over 2MM miles with AA/US -- and watched him "Kirby" that merger and was so unhappy I literally abandoned them both -- it seems UA is on the same path....
May 12, 2022, 8:48 pm
#881
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,318
My "problem" is living in Honolulu. Going with another carrier is very inconvenient from a schedule/network standpoint. The "best" of the big 3 (Delta) would be the worst for me out of HNL in terms of network and convenience. It's the flyers that have alternate (and not inconvenient) choices that need to spank UA by leaving.
May 12, 2022, 9:45 pm
#882
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,930
I appreciate that all the airlines are having challenges with their operations post-Covid. But I don't see them offering fare cuts for the substandard service they're giving us.
Below is a photo of the "meal" being served on the DEN/KOA flight this past Monday, May 9th.
All the meals were obviously wrapped by hand in plastic wrap, with the meal open to tampering and other contamination. The meals also tasted hideous - this one was some kind of noodles with chicken. Blech!
Did UA switch from their own staff to Gate Gourmet in Denver during the pandemic?
I'd lodge a complaint with the 1K desk, but they rarely respond these days.
Note the plastic is open on the "salad" side. This is how it was served. . .
Below is a photo of the "meal" being served on the DEN/KOA flight this past Monday, May 9th.
All the meals were obviously wrapped by hand in plastic wrap, with the meal open to tampering and other contamination. The meals also tasted hideous - this one was some kind of noodles with chicken. Blech!
Did UA switch from their own staff to Gate Gourmet in Denver during the pandemic?
I'd lodge a complaint with the 1K desk, but they rarely respond these days.
Note the plastic is open on the "salad" side. This is how it was served. . .
May 13, 2022, 5:54 am
#883
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,203
Changing topics. Usually, I fly DCA/ORD. For the past couple of flights it has been IAD/ORD on a B752. I was last to board yesterday evening's flight due to a late incoming, seated in 7E. A FA found space for my backpack up front, much appreciated. I was able to move upstream quickly and grab my pack. When exiting, I noticed that a FA was blocking Y from deplaning until F had deplaned. Is this a one of? (On the way out, I was 9C that the blocking did not occur). Just curious.
May 13, 2022, 8:25 am
#884
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Changing topics. Usually, I fly DCA/ORD. For the past couple of flights it has been IAD/ORD on a B752. I was last to board yesterday evening's flight due to a late incoming, seated in 7E. A FA found space for my backpack up front, much appreciated. I was able to move upstream quickly and grab my pack. When exiting, I noticed that a FA was blocking Y from deplaning until F had deplaned. Is this a one of? (On the way out, I was 9C that the blocking did not occur). Just curious.
David
May 13, 2022, 9:06 am
#885
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
My "problem" is living in Honolulu. Going with another carrier is very inconvenient from a schedule/network standpoint. The "best" of the big 3 (Delta) would be the worst for me out of HNL in terms of network and convenience. It's the flyers that have alternate (and not inconvenient) choices that need to spank UA by leaving.