Obento "for first class only" ?
Jan 20, 2004 | 8:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: bringing sexy back
Posts: 7,751
Obento "for first class only" ?
I called to pre-order Obento for SFO-NRT, and the agent told me Obento is only available in F, not C.
Has something changed, or is this a hang up and call again situation?
Edit: Called back, tried again, answered own question. Yes, the first agent was mistaken, and I was able to order the Obento in C.
[This message has been edited by pynchonesque (edited Jan 20, 2004).]
Has something changed, or is this a hang up and call again situation?
Edit: Called back, tried again, answered own question. Yes, the first agent was mistaken, and I was able to order the Obento in C.
[This message has been edited by pynchonesque (edited Jan 20, 2004).]
Jan 20, 2004 | 9:07 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: LAX
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Please let us know how many bottles of champagne you drink...
Jan 20, 2004 | 10:52 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Monkeyville
Programs: Island DOs, very sticky toffee pud w vanilla ice cream n multi-coloured velvet pillows enthusiast
Posts: 4,647
OT, does United serve plum wine on board their Asian flights?
Jan 20, 2004 | 11:35 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
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Posts: 6,742
I had the same thing for a flight this Saturday..
I told the agent to re-check... It appears that there might be (any UA folks want to jump in) a designator for F Obento and C Obento, right?
I told the agent to re-check... It appears that there might be (any UA folks want to jump in) a designator for F Obento and C Obento, right?
Jan 20, 2004 | 1:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SFO California
Programs: UA *Gold (1 MM)
Posts: 431
I was told last year by a reservations agent that I would not be able to order this meal on my SFO-NRT flight because obento "is only available on flights from Japan." I thanked the agent, hung up, and called back to get the correct answer 
Jan 20, 2004 | 3:33 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Here, there, and everywhere
Posts: 540
This doesn't sound right to me - -- I just worked sfo-kix and we had obento boxes for C class passengers. I'd say try again. Sorry for the misinformation.
-IFLYUA
-IFLYUA
Jan 20, 2004 | 8:03 pm
#7
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Is the obento first much different than the obento in business. My wife and I are flying in first from JFK-NRT at the end of February and I was considering ordering the obento, I didnt know if it was a good choice in first but I always try to get them in business. Any suggestion? Thanks.
Jan 20, 2004 | 8:24 pm
#8
In Memoriam
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I had Obento in both directions in Business class LAX-NRT & NRT-LAX just a few days ago. I also had the Obento on my trip to BKK (on the LAX-NRT & NRT-LAX legs) this past November.
When I called 1K res to preorder, the res agent said the Obento is not on her list of special meals. Call back & tell the res agent that it is one of the menu items on the Biz class menu & it says it can be preordered.
When I called 1K res to preorder, the res agent said the Obento is not on her list of special meals. Call back & tell the res agent that it is one of the menu items on the Biz class menu & it says it can be preordered.
Jan 20, 2004 | 8:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I do not think it is worth ordering Obento in the F. From what I understand it is a same meal for C Obento. At least there is a difference between F western meal and C western meal.
Jan 20, 2004 | 10:56 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Mountain View California UAL 1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 282
Obento Japanese meals Obento meals are available in all USA-JAPAN-USA markets, in United First and United Business class on lunch and dinner flights. Obento meals are also available in the NRT-HKG-NRT market in United First on lunch and dinner flights.
from: http://www.united.com/page/middlepag...4,1066,00.html
from: http://www.united.com/page/middlepag...4,1066,00.html
Jan 21, 2004 | 12:49 am
#11
In memoriam
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Location: Chicago, IL (ORD), Phoenix AZ (PHX)
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I just got off UA881 (LAX-NRT) and obentos were loaded. The menu still suggests to preorder. It was necessary on this flight as I heard 2 people being turned down on the upper deck.
Jan 21, 2004 | 7:17 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K MM; IC RA
Posts: 759
This might get us a litte bit off-topic, but how often are other 1K flyers being asked for their meal request ahead of others? I used to always be able to get a bento since they came to me first, but now it seems lately that they are just going down the aisle without regard to status... 
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Jan 21, 2004 | 12:13 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado/Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA
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I am a menu-collector so I always snag F menus on my way out the door - from my extensive research 
it looks like the F and C Obento meals are identical. However, I think in F one could have a more "customized" meal with an extra Western-style appetizer and dessert/cheese without having to accommodate the rest of the cabin.
Sometimes on full flights in C it seems as if the dessert/cheese may "run out." If you order the Obento you are not "officially" entitled to dessert/cheese but I have always been accommodated. Nothing against that little sweet-paste tidbit that counts as dessert in the Obento, but it just isn't enough to satisfy my Western-style sweet-tooth. One more reason to bring back the Godivas!
it looks like the F and C Obento meals are identical. However, I think in F one could have a more "customized" meal with an extra Western-style appetizer and dessert/cheese without having to accommodate the rest of the cabin. Sometimes on full flights in C it seems as if the dessert/cheese may "run out." If you order the Obento you are not "officially" entitled to dessert/cheese but I have always been accommodated. Nothing against that little sweet-paste tidbit that counts as dessert in the Obento, but it just isn't enough to satisfy my Western-style sweet-tooth. One more reason to bring back the Godivas!
Jan 21, 2004 | 3:16 pm
#14
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by xpacific:
This might get us a litte bit off-topic, but how often are other 1K flyers being asked for their meal request ahead of others? I used to always be able to get a bento since they came to me first, but now it seems lately that they are just going down the aisle without regard to status...</font>
This might get us a litte bit off-topic, but how often are other 1K flyers being asked for their meal request ahead of others? I used to always be able to get a bento since they came to me first, but now it seems lately that they are just going down the aisle without regard to status...
</font>
NRT-SIN asked in seat order
SIN-NRT asked 3rd or 4th from last
(sent note to CS about FA attitude)
NRT-SFO asked first
Jan 21, 2004 | 5:53 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,722
According to Liz, as posted in this thread, the proper way to take meal orders is: "Front to back (or back to front if you feel like switching things up) asking first and second choice (if needed). Do NOT skip around. Go to the galley and prioritize it out according to status."
I have only seen this done twice, but it does seem to make more sense then zipping around the cabin. Does it seem like FAs are doing this or are they ignoring this new procedure?
I have only seen this done twice, but it does seem to make more sense then zipping around the cabin. Does it seem like FAs are doing this or are they ignoring this new procedure?