General discussion of UA's inflight service (Domestic / International, all cabins)

Jul 27, 22, 5:35 am - Wikipost

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Last edit by: phkc070408
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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?

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Jan 14, 22, 1:16 pm

#151

HNLbasedFlyer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: HNL

Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold

Posts: 5,567

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewLAX

SkyWest is just horrible these days. Another fire UA needs to put out.

And not just a UA problem - to be fair they also fly Delta, Alaska, and American.

I don’t think the majors have the will to put out the fire right now. What can they really do? Fire them and just stop service?

Jan 14, 22, 1:27 pm

#152

MatthewLAX

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2007

Location: Los Angeles / Basel

Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 26,340

Quote:

Originally Posted by HNLbasedFlyer

Indeed, this is a major problem and the solution is not to fire them - that's an empty threat.

But UA should continue to insist that when wearing UA uniforms, SkyWest FAs follow UA protocol. It's not about whether anyone needs a drink on a one hour flight. Rather, it is that this is part of the bargained for exchange, even if secondary to safe and on-time transport. By failing to offer service, SkyWest reflects horribly on UA because most passengers don't know the difference. They only see the United Airlines livery on the aircraft exterior.

Jan 14, 22, 1:36 pm

#153

Join Date: Jun 1999

Location: NYC/LA

Programs: AA Plat Pro, IHG Spire Amb/Kimpton IC, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 5,689

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTahCha

AA is ahead of UA in terms of food on transcon flights. 2 entree choices (chicken or ravioli), salad, and surprise dessert all on one tray - as evidenced in this thread. There is a small cheese plate or hummus plate snack before landing.

The LAX United Club does have better offerings than Admiral's Club.

As a comparison, AA as of early November reverted premium transcon service in Business nearly back to what it was pre-COVID:

- four entree choices (with option to pre-order)
- appetizer and salad served before entree
- choice of three desserts (sundae, fruit/cheese or some form of cake or tart) served after the entree

I think the only difference now compared to pre-COVID is no PDB and the nuts were not warm

Last edited by dw; Jan 14, 22 at 1:44 pm

Jan 14, 22, 4:13 pm

#154

dshafiee

Join Date: Nov 2000

Location: DFW from PDX - UA 1K 2MM,Lifetime HHonnors Diamond, Bonvoy AMB/LT Tit, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC

Posts: 512

I used to go out of my way to get SkyWest over Mesa or Republic. Not anymore. DFW/IAH Mainline/Mesa service in F. SkyWest nothing. 4 times on them and never changes.

Jan 14, 22, 4:15 pm

#155

zeer0

Join Date: Jan 2017

Location: SFO/SJC/OAK

Programs: OZ Diamond (*G), AAdvantage Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold

Posts: 1,418

Those Denver meals have got to be a new low for United catering - quite an achievement when you think of all the other contenders over the past 2 years.

Jan 14, 22, 5:47 pm

#156

DELee

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: TOA

Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K

Posts: 14,258

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeer0

Those Denver meals have got to be a new low for United catering - quite an achievement when you think of all the other contenders over the past 2 years.

I can see the descriptive language now: "DEN Catering has reached a new nadir in our deliveries and sourcing to United's flights."

David

Jan 14, 22, 8:34 pm

#157

Infinite1K

Join Date: Apr 2010

Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Diamond

Posts: 488

Quote:

Originally Posted by dw

Also printed menu, warm cookie and milk before landing, and snack basket with a variety of choices. And hot towel.

You can also pre-order meals online.

Jan 14, 22, 9:31 pm

#158

Unitedloyalflyer

Join Date: Jun 2021

Location: Houston, TX

Programs: UA silver, Bonvoy gold

Posts: 777

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infinite1K

Also printed menu, warm cookie and milk before landing, and snack basket with a variety of choices. And hot towel.

You can also pre-order meals online.

It's not all gold over there, however.

UA is providing J service to PP on those routes. AA gives that cabin ECONOMY service (if they sell PE at all)

Plus, the non flagship routes still serve cold sandwiches. We are serving hot sandwiches for the 2-4 hour routes

Jan 14, 22, 10:28 pm

#159

Repooc17

Join Date: Aug 2017

Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, DL Platinum, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium + LT Silver, Hertz PC

Posts: 6,177

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unitedloyalflyer

It's not all gold over there, however.

UA is providing J service to PP on those routes. AA gives that cabin ECONOMY service (if they sell PE at all)

AA utilizes A321T on JFK-LAX/SFO routes. Only First, Business, and Economy (MCE + regular), no PE, so not sure what you are talking about.

Talking about economy, at least AA provides an edible meal (sandwich/chips - dinner, bagel/yogurt - breakfast) in coach. UA? A choice of a tiny bag of snack for 5-6 hours.

Jan 14, 22, 10:50 pm

#160

Unitedloyalflyer

Join Date: Jun 2021

Location: Houston, TX

Programs: UA silver, Bonvoy gold

Posts: 777

Quote:

Originally Posted by Repooc17

MIA-LAX. 777-200. They have a PE cabin, yet don't sell it

DFW-Hawaii, they sell PE, but give economy service

UA sells PP on the transcons and Hawaii and give J meals

Jan 15, 22, 12:08 am

#161

IAH-OIL-TRASH

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Honolulu Harbor

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 12,574

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unitedloyalflyer

…UA sells PP on the transcons and Hawaii and give J meals

Well, on the long-haul Hawaii UA does (ie the non-CPU routes to/from Hawaii).

Jan 15, 22, 1:40 pm

#162

dilanesp

Join Date: Feb 2015

Programs: united

Posts: 1,636

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewLAX

There is an actual contract, a literal bargained for exchange, and it says NOTHING about a drink being included.

Some passengers might have an expectation, others might not care, but it is definitely not part of the bargained for exchange. If anyone doubts this, call United and say you will buy a ticket but only if they write drink service into the contract, and see what happens.

Jan 15, 22, 2:36 pm

#163

HNLbasedFlyer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: HNL

Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold

Posts: 5,567

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilanesp

I think UA mainline FA’s are making a good faith effort to serve PDB’s. It doesn’t necessarily have to be part of the contract.

With that said - not much AS, DL, AA, and UA can do about Southwest short of replacing them which won’t happen.

Jan 15, 22, 4:22 pm

#164

LifetimeGS

Join Date: Feb 2020

Programs: United 4MM GS, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 205

This is not a cogent argument, There are lots of things that are not in the actual contract of carriage, including getting you there on time, assigned seats, and service levels that are nonetheless part of a set of passenger expectations which United has shown a vested interest in meeting; hence compensation when a flight is late, catering fails, premium lie-flat seats don't work as they should..... none of these are in 'the contract'