no more fruit and cheese plates ORD/DCA-IAD
Jun 8, 2010, 1:26 pm
#1
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no more fruit and cheese plates ORD/DCA-IAD
It looks like there is an "enhancement" to UA F catering going into effect tomorrow. The snack (AKA fruit and cheese plate) on ORDDCA (and ORDIAD) is being replaced with "refreshments" which from the website appear to be "potato chips, premium mixed nuts, snack mix, Biscoff® cookies or Ghirardelli® premium chocolates". 
As a frequent traveler to DC, I am extremely disappointed with this change. There is a lot of premium traffic between Chicago and DC (myself included) and I expect a little more than that. American offers a full meal during meal times (with salad and dessert) on this route.
As a frequent traveler to DC, I am extremely disappointed with this change. There is a lot of premium traffic between Chicago and DC (myself included) and I expect a little more than that. American offers a full meal during meal times (with salad and dessert) on this route.
Jun 8, 2010, 1:37 pm
#2
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I've never been able to figure out which ORD-WAS flights would have more than a bag of snack mix in F anyway.
In the days of e500s, if I didn't "waste" two on the route, I always saw F get a meal. If I spent my instruments, we got snack mix, even on mealtime flights. (I did get breakfast a couple of times, but just as often, got something inedible in a plastic bag at most on those breakfast-time flights.)
I had IAD-ORD-DCA this past weekend, and got 1 Biscoff on the breakfast-time outbound, and 2 snack mixes on the admittedly-past-dinner-time return.
In the days of e500s, if I didn't "waste" two on the route, I always saw F get a meal. If I spent my instruments, we got snack mix, even on mealtime flights. (I did get breakfast a couple of times, but just as often, got something inedible in a plastic bag at most on those breakfast-time flights.)
I had IAD-ORD-DCA this past weekend, and got 1 Biscoff on the breakfast-time outbound, and 2 snack mixes on the admittedly-past-dinner-time return.
Jun 8, 2010, 2:08 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2006
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As a frequent traveler to DC, I am extremely disappointed with this change. There is a lot of premium traffic between Chicago and DC (myself included) and I expect a little more than that. American offers a full meal during meal times (with salad and dessert) on this route.
This has been frustrating to watch the meal "enhancements" on this route over the last several years. Had thought they were keeping "up" with competition but then I was switched to AA when my UA flight cancelled several weeks ago. Same basic time and - as you point out - we were served a full meal (in a larger F cabin).
Jun 8, 2010, 2:08 pm
#4
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Replacing the fruit & cheese plates with the snack basket. Very disappointed to hear that UA is doing this!
Jun 8, 2010, 2:17 pm
#5
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Amen, another foolish move, along with the routing restrictions on ORD-IAD.
Jun 8, 2010, 2:27 pm
#6
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This is a joke. Who are these idiots in catering that make these decisions?!?
A few posts up says it best: AA serves a full meal on this route.
Want to hear even more UA catering ridiculousness?
ORD-LGA gets the fruit plate because it's < 750 miles. ORD-JAX gets a hot breakfast because it's 866 miles. Even ORD-MCO, the Disney World express, gets a hot breakfast in F because it's 1005 miles.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but there has to be tons more premium traffic on the ORD-LGA (and ORD-DCA) route than ORD-JAX?
The logic used by UA to make catering decisions is just laughable.
A few posts up says it best: AA serves a full meal on this route.
Want to hear even more UA catering ridiculousness?
ORD-LGA gets the fruit plate because it's < 750 miles. ORD-JAX gets a hot breakfast because it's 866 miles. Even ORD-MCO, the Disney World express, gets a hot breakfast in F because it's 1005 miles.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but there has to be tons more premium traffic on the ORD-LGA (and ORD-DCA) route than ORD-JAX?
The logic used by UA to make catering decisions is just laughable.
Jun 8, 2010, 2:53 pm
#8
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Other interesting changes pointed out in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ice-first.html
Might be best to merge these two threads
Might be best to merge these two threads
Jun 8, 2010, 3:14 pm
#9
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Well, bummer. This is my regular commute every week, twice a week. It used to be a meal, now a cheese plate and I guess soon, a glass of OJ and a bag of nuts. I guess they know that this alone will not push me to another airline and therefore they can skimp on it and keep my business. I am at 80K so far this year. Maybe soon it will be time to try out the others though?
Jun 8, 2010, 3:18 pm
#10
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Well thank goodness for UDU!!! I'd be pissed as h*ll if I was wasting upgrade instruments on crap like that.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Jun 8, 2010, 3:29 pm
#11
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Well, bummer. This is my regular commute every week, twice a week. It used to be a meal, now a cheese plate and I guess soon, a glass of OJ and a bag of nuts. I guess they know that this alone will not push me to another airline and therefore they can skimp on it and keep my business. I am at 80K so far this year. Maybe soon it will be time to try out the others though?
Jun 8, 2010, 6:47 pm
#12
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I'm still baffled that UA doesn't even try to be competitive.
Even on domestic AA flights in F, when there is beverage-only service (i.e. 8p and later departures), they at least warm up a cookie. Nice touch.
UA does nothing.
I have done it a few times, but I encourage you to write about the crappy fruit/cheese plate in F during mealtimes on high profile routes. UA really needs a wake-up call on this one.
Jun 8, 2010, 7:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
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I've never been able to figure out which ORD-WAS flights would have more than a bag of snack mix in F anyway.
In the days of e500s, if I didn't "waste" two on the route, I always saw F get a meal. If I spent my instruments, we got snack mix, even on mealtime flights. (I did get breakfast a couple of times, but just as often, got something inedible in a plastic bag at most on those breakfast-time flights.)
In the days of e500s, if I didn't "waste" two on the route, I always saw F get a meal. If I spent my instruments, we got snack mix, even on mealtime flights. (I did get breakfast a couple of times, but just as often, got something inedible in a plastic bag at most on those breakfast-time flights.)
ORD-IAD never served breakfast. The 1 PM, 4PM, and 6PM flights served meals and then snacks after the first round of enhancements. Other frequencies never served anything.
It wasn't that hard to figure out.
Jun 8, 2010, 8:06 pm
#14
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Those of you who travel these routes in F should definitely fill out www.ualsurvey.com after each flight to express your disappointment (or delight) in the catering.
Jun 9, 2010, 4:39 am
#15
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IMOP the fruit and cheese plate was overkill for the WAS to ORD flight. The plate isn't really that good. I think United is right to provide better quality snacks. I have no problems with this change.