Meal orders should be taken by fare basis. Within fare basis, status is OK.

I recognize that my approach would not have a difference in a situation where 7/8 pax in the cabin are UGS, but I do think it would help put an end to the unprofessional show of FAs bouncing around the cabin or having to ask for two meal choices.

We should be looking for ways to simplify things, not to make them more complicated... the average reservations rep doesn't fully understand the fare system, let's not expect the FA to do so...

I have been on the SFO-IAH non-stop when 16 1K's didn't clear their first class upgrades. As far as I'm concerned, you got lucky and you should darn well appreciate it!

:rolleyes:

The computer can sort the list and print the order on the manifest.

While it may be shocking to some, some people, such as the OP in this case, actually pay for F.

I would be willing to bet the computer can NOT do that in its current manifest setup and dont really think it makes sense to configure it to do so.

I don't think all the FA's have this memo yet.

I flew SMF-ORD yesterday morning in F (upgraded, not paid) and was in 6A. The FA simply started in row 1 and went row-by-row until he got to us in row 6. Status played no part in meal choices. Luckily for me, what I wanted was still available so it was no big deal in the end, but going by status does not always happen.

It is my experience that taking orders by status is the norm and this row-by-row is the exception, but I have seen this row-by-row system a few times over the past year, so meals by status is not a 100% lock.

For the record, I agree that paid F should get first choice regardless of status.

I find it strange that someone who paid for a full fare F ticket is complaining about a $10 meal. :confused:

If I was that worried about what I eat aboard a plane, I'd probably stop in the airport and bring food on board. Maybe if I asked nice enough the FA would even heat it up in the galley! :eek:

The flip side, of course, is why would UA begrudge a $10 meal of choice to pax paying 3 to 4 times what Y->F upgraders are paying...

Keep in mind also that (a) many pax go straight to the airport from work and don't have a lot of time, and (b) airport food tends to be pretty bad.

VT2K....I am not complaining about the $10 meal....I am complaining about the way I was referred to as "only a 1K"....the ongoing theme has been about the shrinking status of 1K members and how GS has become the new 1k.....cheers...

How does 1K differ from UGS? How does one become UGS?

What's so hard about having a handout with the bc list (you could even copy it from the coc...) or (heaven forbid) actually have people memorize a string of characters!

Have you ever used .bomb?

What makes you think internal UA computer systems are any better? ;)

My take is that anyone on paid F should get served ahead of an upgrader. I don't think they need a crazy algorithm - just make sure the people who really paid for their F seat get served first. Then do the rest of the cabin by status, and finally the nonrevs.