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}
Nov 7, 2022, 10:43 am
#1771
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: 42,201
I'm assuming it's a chemical laced, dairy-based cream cheese "product" with freeze dried chives, but based on the spelling, perhaps something wiped onto the chef's sleeve - but tomato fondue?? Apparently the dime store marketing MBA hired to write the menu couldn't spare 30 seconds to check Wikipedia where they would discover the definition of 'fondue' is "the feminine passive past participle of the French verb fondre 'to melt' used as a noun.[size=8333px] [/size]It is first attested in French in 1735, in Vincent La Chapelle's Cuisinier moderne,[7] and in English in 1878" - since I don't see a pot of bubbling cheese infused with white wine, I will assume this is a new creation out of the United kitchen, probably from the same inventor of Japanese Sobu 
Investing another 30 seconds of time would yield a more appropriate description of 'relish', which may or may not pair nicely with the "smear" of cream cheese product.
Now we just need to figure out who ate the other half of the bagel......
Investing another 30 seconds of time would yield a more appropriate description of 'relish', which may or may not pair nicely with the "smear" of cream cheese product.
Now we just need to figure out who ate the other half of the bagel......
Nov 7, 2022, 10:50 am
#1772
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,460
Supply chain bagel issues?
Nov 7, 2022, 2:27 pm
#1773
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,341
(totally agree with you - pathetic)
At least no “potato vitolette” is involved.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 7, 2022 at 2:53 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Nov 7, 2022, 5:10 pm
#1774
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,043
Nov 7, 2022, 9:43 pm
#1775
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
The problem, which makes United appear unprofessional and silly, is the constant stream of mistakes and strange dish names that would suggest a combination of sloppiness and thinking customers are too stupid to know the difference.
However, the typical customer paying for Polaris would certainly know the difference between soba and sobu, or that fondue is melted cheese and wine used for dipping bread and other ingredients, and not a relish or slaw of shredded vegetables and fruit, or that these fancy potatoes are in fact just a potato and not a dish made from potato and other ingredients.
Also a smear is usually something from your nose while a shmear is the Yiddish colloquial term for a portion of cream cheese or other creamed topping on a bagel (which itself by definition has two sides not one).
The whole thing is just sloppy, insulting and further degrades the product.
However, the typical customer paying for Polaris would certainly know the difference between soba and sobu, or that fondue is melted cheese and wine used for dipping bread and other ingredients, and not a relish or slaw of shredded vegetables and fruit, or that these fancy potatoes are in fact just a potato and not a dish made from potato and other ingredients.
Also a smear is usually something from your nose while a shmear is the Yiddish colloquial term for a portion of cream cheese or other creamed topping on a bagel (which itself by definition has two sides not one).
The whole thing is just sloppy, insulting and further degrades the product.
(Thought exactly the same when I read "smear"!!)
Nov 8, 2022, 3:49 am
#1776
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
When I hear “smear” all I can think of is Pap.
Nov 8, 2022, 10:24 am
#1778
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,446
I can't believe this is their Premier class food. I just saw what Alaska serves in domestic first and it appears miles beyond Polaris international.
I still enjoy United's hard product and believe I'll just nibble on a few things to make sure I'm not starving, drink a little booze, and prepare for the amazing food I will have in whatever destination I'm flying to.
Who knows, maybe they'll step up their game as airfare stays high and they get another quarter or two of profits under their belts.
I still enjoy United's hard product and believe I'll just nibble on a few things to make sure I'm not starving, drink a little booze, and prepare for the amazing food I will have in whatever destination I'm flying to.
Who knows, maybe they'll step up their game as airfare stays high and they get another quarter or two of profits under their belts.
Nov 8, 2022, 4:56 pm
#1779
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: 42,201
It’s time for a pop quiz!!
Referencing the photos below, the inflight service shown is:
A) Polaris ORD LHR
B) PS EWR/JFK LAX/SFO
C) domestic F IAH-SEA
D) American Airlines A319 service YYZ DFW
I know it’s a tough question so I’ll offer some hints:
1. PDB proactively offered during boarding from the entire drink menu
2. hot towel provided before the meal
3. beverage and a rather large bucket of nuts served separately from the meal
4. a pat of butter was included
5. a choice of warm roll served table side from a basket
6. enough proactive drink refill offers to dissolve a kidney stone
(Correct answer revealed below the photos)
and now the answer: American Airlines on an A319 YYZ DFW.
and now the problem - the fact that United cannot offer this consistently, or at all, in ANY of its premium cabins on any of its routes is just a testament to how much current management just doesn’t give a crap about its brand image, product quality or the value delivered for a premium cabin ticket.
I don’t know what’s scarier, the difference between American and United’s inflight service, or Kirby continuing to bray at the moon that United offers one of the best, if not the best, premium inflight products in the world.
It’s this type of experience that is making it so much easier to embrace free agency with lifetime mid tier status in two global alliances and not weep for losing the 1K I’ve held for some 20 years.
Referencing the photos below, the inflight service shown is:
A) Polaris ORD LHR
B) PS EWR/JFK LAX/SFO
C) domestic F IAH-SEA
D) American Airlines A319 service YYZ DFW
I know it’s a tough question so I’ll offer some hints:
1. PDB proactively offered during boarding from the entire drink menu
2. hot towel provided before the meal
3. beverage and a rather large bucket of nuts served separately from the meal
4. a pat of butter was included
5. a choice of warm roll served table side from a basket
6. enough proactive drink refill offers to dissolve a kidney stone
(Correct answer revealed below the photos)
and now the answer: American Airlines on an A319 YYZ DFW.
and now the problem - the fact that United cannot offer this consistently, or at all, in ANY of its premium cabins on any of its routes is just a testament to how much current management just doesn’t give a crap about its brand image, product quality or the value delivered for a premium cabin ticket.
I don’t know what’s scarier, the difference between American and United’s inflight service, or Kirby continuing to bray at the moon that United offers one of the best, if not the best, premium inflight products in the world.
It’s this type of experience that is making it so much easier to embrace free agency with lifetime mid tier status in two global alliances and not weep for losing the 1K I’ve held for some 20 years.
Nov 8, 2022, 5:46 pm
#1780
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,771
Beef Cheeks and Chicken thighs, nothing spells Kwality like ever cheaper cuts of meat.
Nov 8, 2022, 6:00 pm
#1781
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
AA - just by referencing the hot towel photo
Oh you answered it in your post.
I have been flying AS a bunch lately (currently on one of its flights cross country) - the inflight service is just far above UA, no comparison - just had prosciutto over chicken - yummy!
Now waiting for ice cream or sorbet which definitely won't be either rock hard or melted. UA gave up on sorbet/ice cream a while back.
Oh you answered it in your post.
I have been flying AS a bunch lately (currently on one of its flights cross country) - the inflight service is just far above UA, no comparison - just had prosciutto over chicken - yummy!
Now waiting for ice cream or sorbet which definitely won't be either rock hard or melted. UA gave up on sorbet/ice cream a while back.
Last edited by Repooc17; Nov 8, 2022 at 6:06 pm
Nov 8, 2022, 6:40 pm
#1782
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
Nov 8, 2022, 6:53 pm
#1783
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,460
Nov 8, 2022, 7:15 pm
#1784
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
PDB of OJ or champagne.
Mind-blowingly paltry breakfast menu with two bread-based options. Kirby kut the bagel in half, adding HODs to the executive bonus pool.
Champagne was Gosset.
Still in-flight so haven’t gotten to second meal yet but it looks like the premium transcon options.
Mind-blowingly paltry breakfast menu with two bread-based options. Kirby kut the bagel in half, adding HODs to the executive bonus pool.
Champagne was Gosset.
Still in-flight so haven’t gotten to second meal yet but it looks like the premium transcon options.
Nov 8, 2022, 8:23 pm
#1785
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: 6,315