Anticipated 1 June enhancements - UA bringing back hot meals to domestic first class
May 27, 2022, 9:57 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,916
On my flight on 5/19, there was a printed menu with 3 entrees (almost the usual, beef, fish, chili instead of pasta). These were served with a salad. The meal started with drinks and nuts (no appetizer), then the main. Dessert was served separately. No foil. I have pictures somewhere that I will upload when I get home.
From the first post:
"Polaris customers will once again receive a pre-meal snack and cocktail along with table linen service. That will be followed by a plated entrée and dessert."
Is the snack an appetizer? Or just the nuts? And will the dessert cart return? With after-dinner drinks?
From the first post:
"Polaris customers will once again receive a pre-meal snack and cocktail along with table linen service. That will be followed by a plated entrée and dessert."
Is the snack an appetizer? Or just the nuts? And will the dessert cart return? With after-dinner drinks?
May 28, 2022, 7:08 am
#49
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,263
May 28, 2022, 7:45 am
#50
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,990
Put me in the camp that thinks premium quality service is never coming back. The majors are barely getting by, and costs are surging out of control, so I think that, "underdeliver and overcharge", will be around for a very long time.
May 28, 2022, 8:32 am
#51
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,263
Sure, but if other airlines are able to do it now (for several months) and not go bankrupt, I don't see why UA can't do the same.
May 28, 2022, 8:47 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,881
It can't be any "other" domestic because it's not domestic from any standpoint (neither country has annexed the other to the best of my knowledge). I do, however, realize that United is geographically-challenged and may use that term even when it doesn't apply. Canada is sometimes treated as an international destination (such as lounge access) and sometimes not. Hence my question as to the transborder situation.
May 28, 2022, 1:14 pm
#53
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
Not defending UA for their inflight service choices, but to pick one thing and says the others are doing better while not looking at the entire breath of operations where the others are falling short is a flawed approach. To expect one carrier to be equal or best at everything is not a realistic expectation.
For example many rave about SQ's inflight service but their ground / agent service is considered very poor -- and the horror stories about award ticketing abound. Those are SQ's choices. LH inflight is viewed positively but their seats are terrible.
UA deserves criticism for their inflight but the "others do this" is a flawed argument without acknowledging the tradeoffs.
May 28, 2022, 10:35 pm
#54
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,459
UA is resuming flights to YYC on June 3 for the summer season. Operated by 737 at least initially. Why would I have asked that question here if I was on an AC codeshare?
May 29, 2022, 12:07 pm
#57
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN/OGG
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 1,482
May 29, 2022, 1:35 pm
#58
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,459
May 30, 2022, 6:46 am
#59
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,263
A consideration in this discussion that is commonly left out is it is never just one part of the operation but the total operation and costs that are managed. While UA is scrimping of desert cart and other food items, others are scrimping in other part so of there operations -- such as phone agent availability, .... UA just opened a long needed new EWR UC and generally doing better (not great, better) than some others on schedules and new routes, ....
Not defending UA for their inflight service choices, but to pick one thing and says the others are doing better while not looking at the entire breath of operations where the others are falling short is a flawed approach. To expect one carrier to be equal or best at everything is not a realistic expectation.
For example many rave about SQ's inflight service but their ground / agent service is considered very poor -- and the horror stories about award ticketing abound. Those are SQ's choices. LH inflight is viewed positively but their seats are terrible.
UA deserves criticism for their inflight but the "others do this" is a flawed argument without acknowledging the tradeoffs.
Not defending UA for their inflight service choices, but to pick one thing and says the others are doing better while not looking at the entire breath of operations where the others are falling short is a flawed approach. To expect one carrier to be equal or best at everything is not a realistic expectation.
For example many rave about SQ's inflight service but their ground / agent service is considered very poor -- and the horror stories about award ticketing abound. Those are SQ's choices. LH inflight is viewed positively but their seats are terrible.
UA deserves criticism for their inflight but the "others do this" is a flawed argument without acknowledging the tradeoffs.
I find most other areas about the same comparing between the major domestic operators. (Sure, my experience is limited outside UA) I find the seats and customer service to be about the same. "Horror stories" are usually rare depending on specific situation. In-flight dining is somewhat common across all flights. I generally do not expect to see such vast differences, such as in the area of in-flight dining.
May 31, 2022, 9:10 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,916
Domestic first class menus are changing, starting tomorrow (June 1st).
New choices:
No change in premium transcontinental or Hawaii menus.
New choices:
- Za'atar chicken served over rice
- Impossible meatballs served over bulgur with broccolini
No change in premium transcontinental or Hawaii menus.