My PDB is waiting at my seat.

I think it varies. One could say newer/younger FAs are more eager to do a good job and go above and beyond. Older ones might become complacent. On the other have, there are plenty of lazy young people out there. One would think that those types wouldn't last. More experienced FAs should be able to do a better job.

So it just depends on the person. In my own career, I recall being and eager beaver at first. Now I've learned how to pick my battles


Specific to my FA experience, I've flown ORD-MKE many times and I've encountered a few FA willing to do a water and snack service with UAX. Never mainline

I have had better services on UX between IAD-EWR than Mainline UA most of the time, which is not too hard as there have been no services on mainline.
I get that the flight may be too short, but FA disappeared between take off and walkthrough the cabin to market credit card just before landing.

I think theres a combination of A (though not to quite the extent that some here may believe), B, and also FA:PAX density... An E175 has 1 FA per 37.5 pax, a min crewed 180 seat 739 is 1 FA per 45...assuming all FAs were doing beverage service equally....at least one of those FAs is always going to be in the front cabin so the effective ratio for beverage service is probably closer to 1:56 or if you assume only 2 FAs can actually do a service at any given time 1:84...and a larger surface area to maneuver as well.

There are European regional carriers that beat the pants off UA in terms of short-haul service. They're just much, much more efficient at it. For example, flying ATH-JTR or ATH-HER which are sub-1hr flights, you'll get a plated meal up front and full drink/snack service in back.

I've watched these services to see why UA can't do the same (at least in the back). Part of it is that UA serves its sodas and mixers from cans, rather than larger bottles, and a lot of time is cumulatively spent opening and closing drawers to search for specific items, and then opening each can. UA offers many versions of the same drink (e.g., plain soda water and flavored, multiple different beers) that require additional information gathering. There's the additional time it takes to hand someone a glass and a can, rather than just a glass. There are the questions of ice, stirrer, and garnish. Ice for sodas means a slower pour to prevent overflow. UA offers liquor as well, a further complication. So, from my observations, one of the biggest constraints is that UA has drink carts that are too complex, and require too many actions by the FA to complete each request. But beyond that, European FAs appear to be more efficient in their movements and planning; I'm guessing that's part of their training that UA doesn't work as hard on.

I remember something similar on the ASE/EGE-DEN flights (but maybe it was cookies or scones). Those were the days. We certainly didn't appreciate how good we had it in the two decades prior to COVID. I remember loving flying on UA, receiving exceptional service as a 1K, finding UG space easily, and having reliably edible food on international flights. Oh, the nostalgia.

They can - I wish they would...but there is no competitive pressure to do so.

You would think UA could earn so much acclaim by simply serving a hot croissant or scone on morning flights and warm mixed nuts on later flights, regardless of flight length. Would make those quick hops so much more enjoyable. But until Delta does it, United won't...

In my case, one of the FAs was asleep.

Recent BOS-EWR crew were amazing. Water/OJ and coffee/tea trays down aisle, but were taking "special orders".

I recently booked an award flight with United miles on Hawaiian Airlines, Honolulu to Maui on a B717 with 128 seats. The flight was 20 mins take off to touchdown, and we were above 10K' for maybe 9-10 mins. The FAs served all 128 passengers either guava juice or coffee during those 9-10 mins. It was awesome and made me realize how accustom I've become to no service on UA flights that are less than 90 minutes, even in F.

Conversely, my wife and I will have several NZ domestic segments on .. NZ? and if I'm trading their service guide correctly they offer only coffee (hard don't drink it for both of us) tea (soft don't drink it for me, the Ms. loves) and water (eh...) in Y with the exception of some flights at certain times that also offer Coke Zero (closer to something I want to drink, but we're also not flying at those times).

These are on stage lengths that for UA at least stand a reasonable chance of getting a "full" beverage service in the US (who would have ever thought UA's inflight service would land on the favorable side of a comparison to an international network carrier

Of course the answer is that Ill likely grab my own drink in the airport before departure which is also what I do if I have doubts about UAs ability or willingness to do inflight service

do you really need a drink that badly on such a short flight?

And of course, then the complaints about the seatbelt sign and use of the lavatories after the drinks are served ;)

did you report it?

I fly this route quite often and 'at best' there is water ... maybe there was a UA exec on the flight and they 'tried' ;)

I still remember full beverage cart service on this route - long gone.

Flew MFE to IAH recently on first class. No service except water. The flight is long enough, 90 minute clock time and atleast 60 to 65 minutes flying time, more than enough time to serve something. They mentioned something about turbulence, but there was absolutely no turbulence at all.