Expanded BOB Availability
Jul 18, 2004 | 4:20 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Seattle, WA (ex Tokyo, JP)
Programs: A3*G, DL Platinum
Posts: 872
Originally Posted by kluau88
For those wondering, I've been told that BOB is now all cash since the CC machines (pocket pc's) that were initially being used were growing legs if you know what I mean.
I think the primary reason they aren't taking CCs is that they didn't come up with a good backup way to receive the data, and when the CC machines were failing as much as they did, they decided to rollback.
I believe this is also what's delaying the prepay-on-the-web that has been promised by UA's vendors in the BOB space.
hamburgler
Jul 18, 2004 | 12:52 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: , The postings of mine are my opinions solely and do not reflect the opinions of United Airlines or any affiliates or subsidiaries of UAL Corp..
Posts: 707
Thanks for the info KVCT ( how are thing in Ridgefield, by the way!) I haven't even heard the new markets.
One thing that strikes me odd is that we ALREADY have BOB on ORD-SFO. So it's been here since day 1! So some accuracy is incorrect in that memo.
I am surprised that we would also do it to SNA.
One thing that strikes me odd is that we ALREADY have BOB on ORD-SFO. So it's been here since day 1! So some accuracy is incorrect in that memo.
I am surprised that we would also do it to SNA.
Jul 18, 2004 | 1:10 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2000
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,181
Originally Posted by hamburgler
Hm. My understanding was that BOB is cash only currently as the pocket pc machines were failing to work properly... on DEN-SEA in May they were having a ridiculous time getting the machine to start working; when they turned it on it spit out about a six-foot long batch of thermal receipt paper to get started.
I think the primary reason they aren't taking CCs is that they didn't come up with a good backup way to receive the data, and when the CC machines were failing as much as they did, they decided to rollback.
I believe this is also what's delaying the prepay-on-the-web that has been promised by UA's vendors in the BOB space.
hamburgler
I think the primary reason they aren't taking CCs is that they didn't come up with a good backup way to receive the data, and when the CC machines were failing as much as they did, they decided to rollback.
I believe this is also what's delaying the prepay-on-the-web that has been promised by UA's vendors in the BOB space.
hamburgler
:-:
Jul 18, 2004 | 1:13 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2000
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,181
Originally Posted by ILUV767
What about ala Carte selections?
Jul 18, 2004 | 4:29 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: lapsed UA 1K (now a lowly 2P), HGP Platinum
Posts: 9,607
I've yet to be on a Buy-On-Board flight, but I see that my LAX-ORD milk runs are about to be graced with BOB's presence.
So, I guess the question is: Is this a good thing or a bad thing? What are the meals like? How much do they cost?
So, I guess the question is: Is this a good thing or a bad thing? What are the meals like? How much do they cost?
Jul 18, 2004 | 4:34 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: Bar Alliance Gold
Posts: 16,280
Reports say it is better then what UA was offering. Breakfast runs $7 and Lunch $10.
I had an Eli's breakfast SEA-DEN in F back when they first started testing, and I was impressed.
I had an Eli's breakfast SEA-DEN in F back when they first started testing, and I was impressed.
Jul 19, 2004 | 8:11 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold
Posts: 3,640
I'm not a happy camper, because I bought lots of BOB on SEA-DEN flights. DEN-SEA can be up to 3 hours long, so I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to be able to buy some food. On many DEN-SEA flights, they would sell out of BOB. Bad, bad, bad. But I guess the profit margins are too slim on the alacarte selections to make the economics work for Gate Gourmet.
Jul 19, 2004 | 10:05 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: The road less traveled
Programs: UA Gold MM, AA EXP, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HHonors Diamond, Natl EE, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 5,189
Tangent: DEN-SEA must be a low-rev or low-competition route for United or something. I've found that, for a flight of its length, the F service leaves a lot to be desired. Are they even serving full meals in F these days on that route?
SEA-DEN and LAX-DEN are both shorter routes but benefit from fuller service.
SEA-DEN and LAX-DEN are both shorter routes but benefit from fuller service.
Jul 19, 2004 | 11:35 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,730
Originally Posted by robb
I've yet to be on a Buy-On-Board flight, but I see that my LAX-ORD milk runs are about to be graced with BOB's presence.
So, I guess the question is: Is this a good thing or a bad thing? What are the meals like? How much do they cost?
So, I guess the question is: Is this a good thing or a bad thing? What are the meals like? How much do they cost?
Jul 20, 2004 | 8:50 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boulder, CO, USA
Programs: UA 1K MM; SPG Platinum; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 329
Please feed me!
I've been very fortunate this year to almost always get an upgrade but failed to last Thursday night on an ORD-DEN flight. I mistakenly assumed that some kind of food would be offered in coach, at least BOB. The flight boarded at 5:00, departed at 5:30, and arrived in Denver three hours later at 8:30 p.m. CDT. (There were storms in Denver; the flight was in a holding pattern, so it was longer than normal). What's with this? A three hour flight smack in the middle of dinner time and no food? Geesh!
Jul 21, 2004 | 11:55 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Portland, Or USA
Posts: 1,830
I miss BOB!
I was frequently flying through DEN from PDX. I was impressed with the quality of the BOB items. A bit overpriced, but hey, convenient. Kind of like buying beer at 7-11. However, at some point, they sporadically stopped boarding the full meals and just had the entrees ala carte. I also found the service to be unpredictable. Sometimes BOB was there, sometimes BOB musta missed the flight. Sometimes a full meal BOB, sometimes an ala carte BOB. When will this airline learn that consistency sells! If I got on the 5:01 DEN-PDX and KNEW what to expect, I would have bought BOB. But 3 hours on an empty stomach is too much to gamble on!
Jul 21, 2004 | 12:52 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 1,316
Originally Posted by BoulderFlyer
I've been very fortunate this year to almost always get an upgrade but failed to last Thursday night on an ORD-DEN flight. I mistakenly assumed that some kind of food would be offered in coach, at least BOB. The flight boarded at 5:00, departed at 5:30, and arrived in Denver three hours later at 8:30 p.m. CDT. (There were storms in Denver; the flight was in a holding pattern, so it was longer than normal). What's with this? A three hour flight smack in the middle of dinner time and no food? Geesh!
Jul 21, 2004 | 12:57 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM1K,AA EXP
Posts: 1,192
Re:BOB
I don't fly domestic very often, so I've only used BOB twice. The first time was in the try-out phase when credit cards were accepted and the lunch price was $7.00. I was very favorably impressed. Yesterday, I had BOB on a similar ORD-SFO flight. No credit card machine, $10.00. My salad was smaller and not as interesting as previously. The roll and cookie are unnecessary. A la carte was not available.
I hope this is not the beginning of a trend.
I hope this is not the beginning of a trend.
Sep 7, 2004 | 3:57 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2004
Location: ORD A.K.A home(35%),SNA(60%),DEN(5%)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 210
Just a quick update.. It is now September and on ORD-SNA this morning still no "BOB". The same old breakfast burrito, banana and mints.