United cutting first class meal service on flights less than 900 miles? (now "snack")
Jan 22, 2024 | 12:06 pm
#301
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Hyatt GLOB, Marriott Lifetime PLT, UA 1K 1MM.
Posts: 1,751
Ugh. I fly EWR-ORD a lot and it was an exception market. I noticed recently I haven't gotten a meal there and couldn't figure out why, but now I know. This is really irritating.
Jan 22, 2024 | 12:08 pm
#302
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 10,042
EWR-ORD hasn't been an exception market since COVID (when United did away with them enitrely), unfortunately.
Jan 22, 2024 | 1:55 pm
#303
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA Plat/1.5MM, AA PltPro, B6 M4 25for25, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 7,230
And since club offerings are catered by a different company than the one provides onboard food, somehow this is also unlikely.
Jan 22, 2024 | 2:03 pm
#304
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SEA or BGR, Lower Earth Orbit
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 17,294
I think a Captain Picard forehead palm gif would be appropriate here....
Jan 22, 2024 | 9:51 pm
#305
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DEC
Programs: UA: 1P; Bonvoy: Gold; IHG: Plat; HH: Silver; DL, AA: Gen. Member
Posts: 778
Jan 22, 2024 | 10:38 pm
#306
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: KARB
Programs: DL 2MM
Posts: 26,646
I don't pay a huge amount of attention to such things, but have to say I was quite shocked when served a (downright awful) cold "box meal" on Delta for LAX-MCI r/t in F recently. 1363 miles and it was a mainline flight during prime daytime flight hours! Was expecting much better from DL, and I suppose this is part of why UA feels it can do this.
Last edited by xliioper; Jan 23, 2024 at 3:58 am
May 3, 2024 | 1:40 pm
#307
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold Royal Air Maroc OW Emerald Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 22,493
Is there now a minimum flight mileage distance for snack basket? I flew 640 mile DFW-DEN mainline a couple of days ago (11:15am departure) and there was no snack basket (offered). After drink service, the FA disappeared. About 30 minutes later, he strolled by and I asked him if he had a snack basket or any snacks? He said that he'd see what he could find in the back, and brought me back a can of Pringles.
May 3, 2024 | 1:45 pm
#308
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.6MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; DL GLD, HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,874
Is there now a minimum flight mileage distance for snack basket? I flew 640 mile DFW-DEN mainline a couple of days ago (11:15am departure) and there was no snack basket (offered). After drink service, the FA disappeared. About 30 minutes later, he strolled by and I asked him if he had a snack basket or any snacks? He said that he'd see what he could find in the back, and brought me back a can of Pringles.
May 3, 2024 | 2:04 pm
#309
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus. Eurobonus Millionaire
Posts: 38,516
I regularly get to choose from the snack basket 
n YYZ-EWR
n YYZ-EWR
May 3, 2024 | 2:10 pm
#310
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: AA EXP, UA Gold/MM, DL Plat/2MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil
Posts: 4,672
That snack basket is pathetic. Apart from the 0.63-oz bag of almonds, just tiny (<1 oz) offerings full of carbs (crap). Had it recently on DEN-ORD. Why bother labeling it as a "snack" flight?
May 3, 2024 | 10:15 pm
#311
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: san francisco.
Programs: Marriott Plt, OW Blue!
Posts: 2,082
Maybe 20 years ago I flew LBA - LHR ( leeds/Bradford - London Heathrow) c-class on a morning flight.
200 miles, maybe -1-1/4 hrs tops.
I was served a full cooked breakfast, tea coffee.
Its pathetic that we are told that service of this kind is not possible on short haul flights.
200 miles, maybe -1-1/4 hrs tops.
I was served a full cooked breakfast, tea coffee.
Its pathetic that we are told that service of this kind is not possible on short haul flights.
May 3, 2024 | 10:21 pm
#312
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 3,770
Maybe 20 years ago I flew LBA - LHR ( leeds/Bradford - London Heathrow) c-class on a morning flight.
200 miles, maybe -1-1/4 hrs tops.
I was served a full cooked breakfast, tea coffee.
Its pathetic that we are told that service of this kind is not possible on short haul flights.
200 miles, maybe -1-1/4 hrs tops.
I was served a full cooked breakfast, tea coffee.
Its pathetic that we are told that service of this kind is not possible on short haul flights.
The key words are 20 years ago. I share your frustration but things change, we need to adjust and move on or join the dinosaurs.
Last edited by uanj; May 3, 2024 at 10:57 pm Reason: sp
May 3, 2024 | 10:41 pm
#313
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 72,710
And how do the the inflation adjust fares compare? Even with the recent increases, 20-25 year old adjust fares were higher.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 3, 2024 at 10:54 pm Reason: fares
May 3, 2024 | 11:03 pm
#314
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA LT 1K/DL Plat/Hilton LT ♦/Hyatt Carbonado/Wyndham ♦/Marriott PE .
Posts: 5,669
Absolutely correct. A dollar in 2000 is worth $1.81 today, and costs have more than doubled since then, so airfare, in absolute terms, is cheap. I understand the cuts in service and reductions in competent staffing, but happen to believe that many frequent flyers would be willing to pay more for a high quality airline experience. During the Polaris rollout, I had the feeling that paying for J was actually a good value. I no longer feel that way.
May 3, 2024 | 11:10 pm
#315
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 2MM
Posts: 7,752
And 20 years ago when I flew CGN-FRA, a distance of 86 miles, we got a full cold lunch with two pours of whatever drink we were taking, including wine.
The key words are 20 years ago. I share your frustration but things change, we need to adjust and move on or join the dinosaurs.
The key words are 20 years ago. I share your frustration but things change, we need to adjust and move on or join the dinosaurs.
On my recent AVP-EWR flight (~90 miles), someone in F asked for -and received- a TITO's pre-departure. He poured it into his OJ.
During the ~25 minute flight the FA came around with snacks (incl. cheese plate) and offered drinks in F.
(GoJet/UX)