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United cutting first class meal service on flights less than 900 miles? (now "snack")

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United cutting first class meal service on flights less than 900 miles? (now "snack")

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Old Nov 19, 2024 | 8:28 pm
  #406  
JAXPax
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Originally Posted by hikouki
Really makes you appreciate Lufthansa + Friends when they serve you your business class meal tray.

I was aboard OS from VIE-BER and everyone in business class got served a meal, bread service, followed by coffee service on a 50 minute flight! The purser did it all by herself for the full A320neo business cabin!!! After the trays were collected, they had time to go around offering pralines from a basket!
I used to work for Midwest Express once upon a time. We used to serve 84 people a hot breakfast (no choice, usually a quiche or something) with two flight attendants (three sometimes) on Omaha to Milwaukee which was about 50 minutes in the air.

I have a good friend who is a flight attendant at Spirit... laughs when I talk about a crew on other airlines saying "due to short duration there will be no service." As he commonly gives a full A321neo with 230 passengers a buy on board service on LAS-LAX or LAS-PHX.... True not everyone is getting something but a Friday night they'll probably sell 100-120 drinks.
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Old Nov 19, 2024 | 10:14 pm
  #407  
twohundredfifty
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Originally Posted by hikouki
Really makes you appreciate Lufthansa + Friends when they serve you your business class meal tray.

I was aboard OS from VIE-BER and everyone in business class got served a meal, bread service, followed by coffee service on a 50 minute flight! The purser did it all by herself for the full A320neo business cabin!!! After the trays were collected, they had time to go around offering pralines from a basket!
My wife (no interest in frequent flier stuff at all) does still recall biz passengers on LH between MUC and NUE (20-30 minute flight which has since been replaced by a bus) being served a meal box and a drink. Probably was 5 people but still.
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Old Nov 19, 2024 | 10:43 pm
  #408  
uanj
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Originally Posted by hikouki
Really makes you appreciate Lufthansa + Friends when they serve you your business class meal tray.

I was aboard OS from VIE-BER and everyone in business class got served a meal, bread service, followed by coffee service on a 50 minute flight! The purser did it all by herself for the full A320neo business cabin!!! After the trays were collected, they had time to go around offering pralines from a basket!
UA definitely loses the food battle, but they do win on seats.

Originally Posted by twohundredfifty
My wife (no interest in frequent flier stuff at all) does still recall biz passengers on LH between MUC and NUE (20-30 minute flight which has since been replaced by a bus) being served a meal box and a drink. Probably was 5 people but still.
I remember flying CGN-FRA because our car service was fully booked my day of travel and LH served a decent mid-afternoon snack of cheese, fruits, bread and cold cuts with two rounds of wine service. It was like 20 minutes from takeoff to touchdown. But folks, let's be realistic, those days are gone.

Anyway, the US domestic market is a different beast compared to intra-Europe. I like it when the FAs pass around the basket saying please take two items if you would like. That makes things clear and you don't risk getting your wrist slapped.
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Old Nov 20, 2024 | 12:32 am
  #409  
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Originally Posted by COTraveler123
You are exactly the type of customer United prefers =). They can charge more and give less! Might as well fly Spirit or Frontier then! Some people actually spend more and want a premium product. United though isn't much different than Spirirt in F and its Big Front Seat on many routes.
They don't actually fly where I go, which is mostly international into the US and the a few hops on "business routes" while in the country. But if you think that paying for a bigger seat should include all kinds of faux luxury you might better watch movies about jet set than travel yourself
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Old Nov 20, 2024 | 3:27 am
  #410  
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Originally Posted by hch
I book F because I want a seat that I can actually comfortably sit in and depending on the time of day and my jetlag can either work or nap. But then again I've always been the opinion that in-flight food is better to be avoided if you have a chance, especially so on US domestic flights. But hey, more upgrade space or buyup space for me if more people thing like you. In that twisted sense I'm all for these changes by UA
Exactly. No airline food has appeal to me. Ive done TPAC without eating, then enjoy food on the ground, and Im still 3 inches to short for my weight.
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Old Mar 12, 2025 | 11:56 am
  #411  
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Didnt United used to have a published meals list w/times, fares, distances etc?
I thought there was something laid out in stone - e.g., if the flight is over 3 hours (or is a certain mileage), and operates between 11 AM and 6 PM, then hot lunch would be available, etc.

I cant find anything now
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Old Mar 12, 2025 | 12:26 pm
  #412  
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Are you referring to this: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/tra...-business.html
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Old Mar 12, 2025 | 4:45 pm
  #413  
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Originally Posted by caseminole
I thought there was something laid out in stone - e.g., if the flight is over 3 hours (or is a certain mileage), and operates between 11 AM and 6 PM, then hot lunch would be available, etc.

I cant find anything now
menu also available within flight status, and if you have a booked itinerary, there as well. If you are just trying to see for an idea of what you might get, could always look up flight status for route you are looking at and seeing what the menu is. For Y, it will show free snacks/drinks as well as BOB items, and for F the options for snacks/meals/drinks
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Old Mar 12, 2025 | 5:31 pm
  #414  
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Originally Posted by caseminole
I thought there was something laid out in stone - e.g., if the flight is over 3 hours (or is a certain mileage), and operates between 11 AM and 6 PM, then hot lunch would be available, etc.

I cant find anything now
Used to be way back with exceptions like ORD-LGA always getting a meal on mainline though only ~2 hrs, but the race to the bottom is manifesting and prevailing.
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Old Mar 12, 2025 | 5:52 pm
  #415  
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Originally Posted by wh333
Actually, yes

I couldnt find it under "Onboard Services" tab, only this...

Onboard Services Food and Drink

Which is less informative than what you linked.
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Old Jun 29, 2025 | 9:01 am
  #416  
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Denver to San Diego
Simple question for you all. So we are flying Denver to San Diego on a Airbus A321neo in first class, it says snack for the meal, but have also seen where people are getting a sandwich on the flight. Just waondering who has gotten what on this flight from Denver to San Diego in first class for their meal\snack?

Thanks
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Old Jun 29, 2025 | 9:04 am
  #417  
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At 300-900 miles, the policy says snacks and drinks.

At >500 miles, there are sandwiches for purchase in economy.
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Old Jun 29, 2025 | 9:07 am
  #418  
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Originally Posted by Lostonetoo
Simple question for you all. So we are flying Denver to San Diego on a Airbus A321neo in first class, it says snack for the meal, but have also seen where people are getting a sandwich on the flight. Just waondering who has gotten what on this flight from Denver to San Diego in first class for their meal\snack?

Thanks
As SAN-DEN is just under 900 miles, the service will be snack.
As SAN-DEN is below 1,190 there will be no Buy on Board either
Snack boxes will be available,
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Old Jun 29, 2025 | 9:09 am
  #419  
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Snack is a basket of packaged snacks, like popcorn and pretzels. No sandwiches, unless you ask for something from economy.
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Old Jun 29, 2025 | 9:17 am
  #420  
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Originally Posted by Lostonetoo
... but have also seen where people are getting a sandwich on the flight. ....
What was the timeframe for this sighting? There were changes in 2023.
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