IFLYUA

I can't say I'm really surprised by the change in F service on so many routes. Internally, I had been hearing rumors for months about changes in the F class product on short range flights. Now that domestic F is basically a free for all with UDU, UA doesn't seem willing to provide full meals when most seats in F are now filled with free upgrades.

-IFLYUA

MatthewLAX

Let's put the changes in context.

Yes, there is a cutback on ORD-IAD/DCA/BWI/PHL/EWR/LGA routes, but the hot paninis, snack baskets prior to landing on midcons/transcons, and full dinner service on short hauls (DEN-West Coast, ORD-New England) are improvements.

If I had to choose between status quo or the new changes, I'd take the changes.

ChicagoUnited

Thank you.

There goes the quality of my commute, starting today... just what we need in this life, more crappy junk food we shouldn't eat.

trekwars2000

The flight is less than 600 miles. Perhaps this compaint should be in the thread that is below entitled "What's the Stupidest, Least Substantive UA-Related Thing You Can Complain About?"...

Perhaps I should stage a protest to United's LAS-DEN route since it is 50 miles longer and doesn't even have a snack tray... wow...

CMK10

The timing on this is rather bizzare as AA is rolling out their two-class CR7s on July 1. These fly ORD-DCA and will have meals on them as well.

ORD-DCA is 612 miles.

mh3265a

You think the cheese isn't "laboratory created"? Wake up man! The fruit ain't that natural either. Welcome to the real world!

MatthewLAX

Delta has meals on the ORD-LGA shuttle route as well.

I predict meals will return the NYC market, at least.

JonathanIT

Seems like a consequence of UDU. They're giving away full F cabins now so a degradation of F product seems like a natural result.

warreng24

Here's the trade-off (the way I think UA see's it).

DL flies E-Jet's operated by Shuttle America (aka a high end RJ operated by an Express carrier) on ORD-LGA-ORD.

AA flies (some routes) with CR7's (aka a RJ) on ORD-DCA-ORD.

Both of which have meals in F.

However, both operate as RJ's.... UA will operate ORD-LGA and ORD-DCA with mainline aircraft.

I think that UA figures we'd rather have mainline F with a snack basket than RJ F with a full meal.

jfhscott

I dunno.

Even prior to UDU, most F cabins were full. And, oddly, I was typically willing to drop 2 e-500's for the 612 miles - I have always felt the nicer things about F are seating near the front, easy boarding, deboarding, comfort while on the tarmac, all of which are fixed whether the flight is 612 miles or a transcon.

Some deemed this a waste, and I imagine that many UG's prior to UDU were 1P's and 2P's who got trumped on other routes and needed to burn earned e-500's. Indeed, the only flight where I consistently have seen (and still see post UDU) empty seats in F is the midday ORD-DCA on the 757 with 24 F Seats.

I cannot attribute this to UDU - rather the fruit plate, with the ceremony which far exceeded the product, was just stupid (what, crisp linens for unripe fruit and something reminscent of velveeta???). UA's catering bucks would be better served handing out saran wrapped sandwiches at lunch or dinner, and decent muffins at breakfast, or even making their snack boxes complemntary in F, and I think most business travelers would be as or more content.

iflyuaaa

I didn't know the fruit and cheese plate was on this route when I flew DCA-ORD. Stuffed myself at the hotel buffet, then got on the plane and was surprised to have a nice fruit/cheese breakfast. It was different than the normal glass plate, but in a plastic container with about 6 compartments. It was a very nice touch.

rch4u

You thought the black plastic container (indicative of no catering contract at the station) was a "nice touch" in a premium cabin on a business route?

PDXPremier

+++1....the implication in this thread is that because the fruit/cheese plates on these flights went away, the entire domestic F product has gone downhill...I too think the are more positives than negatives...flights that never had anything more than the gold foil bag now have a choice of snacks from the basket...some longer flights got an additional snack added after meal service...the evening flight from SFO-PDX (550 miles) now says "snack"...gasp! So I agree with MatthewLAX...let's have some context here rather than focusing on one particular change....look at the BIG picture!