Mai Tais Return to United's Hawai`i Flights
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver, National Executive Elite
Posts: 141
Mai Tais Return to United's Hawai`i Flights
Took UA 84 from SFO to HNL yesterday. Seated in the front. When I asked for a mai tai (to see what would happen) the FA fell all over herself to apologize. Called it a bad decision and said they would be back in March "because so many people complained". During the flight she apologized at least two more times and also apologized for the "fake" Baileys" from Starbucks they now pass off on us. This flight crew was great, as have been most of the HNL-based crews of late. They really seem to care. This crew even knew my name when I went to the galley, and not by reading it off the manifest. As we got to the gate the FA brought my seat mate a full bottle of red wine. She said he was the only one who was drinking it and since it had just been opened she thought he would like to take it with him. All of us sitting around him were very impressed.

#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: AS MVP, HH Diamond
Posts: 3,247
UA 74 1/30 HNL-SFO only 1 bottle of sparkling wine boarded
FA was discussing her fake maitai to the pax behind me and made her one. I asked for one also. Not great, but a nice effort.
UA 83 1/31 LAX-HNL Multiple bottles of sparkling wine.

#3
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold and Silver Wings, AS MVPG75K, HH Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,284


#4
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,619
I'm happy to confirm Mrs. Fredd and I enjoyed a couple of Mai Tais yesterday SFO-HNL - picture here on our travel blog. A great purser, friendly crew, and Channel 9 on, so we even didn't mind again losing the Halfway-to-Hawaii contest. 



#5
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Boston
Programs: UA 1K, SPG
Posts: 1,577
I'm happy to confirm Mrs. Fredd and I enjoyed a couple of Mai Tais yesterday SFO-HNL - picture here on our travel blog. A great purser, friendly crew, and Channel 9 on, so we even didn't mind again losing the Halfway-to-Hawaii contest. 

Got a flight next week (still waitlisted, but I'll clear). You totally made my weekend!

#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Great news! From the picture it looks like it's made with dark rum... are they still using Myers?

#7
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: HNL
Programs: DL Charter DM 2.5MMer, former NW Gold/Platinum ('91-'04), HH Diamond
Posts: 232
Perhaps the British side of English?

Last edited by SeoulGold; Feb 20, 09 at 5:19 pm

#8
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold and Silver Wings, AS MVPG75K, HH Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,284

Oh, as mentioned in our blog the sparkling wine is back too.

#9
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: AS MVP, HH Diamond
Posts: 3,247
When I had an FA make the 'fake Mai Tai' last month she commented that she had to use another dark liquer because they don't cater a dark rum anymore. Hmm.

#10
I'm happy to confirm Mrs. Fredd and I enjoyed a couple of Mai Tais yesterday SFO-HNL - picture here on our travel blog. A great purser, friendly crew, and Channel 9 on, so we even didn't mind again losing the Halfway-to-Hawaii contest. 

***I'm not a drinker but highly valued flying SFO or LAX to HNL or OGG for the Trader Vic's meals... always made it fun. Everything about going to Hawai'i should be fun, darnit. Even if it's on business (which it was) everyone back at the office *thinks* you're goofing off, so you might as well live it.
I [friggin' burned good miles] upgraded to F on flying HNL a couple months ago and... yeah. Should have hit Burger King in the airport for a carry on bag. Nothing worth a darn foodwise.
So, grumblings aside, Fredd, other than the booze, what was on the menu for chow?
TDM

#11
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold and Silver Wings, AS MVPG75K, HH Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,284
The purser also offered us the option of a fresh salad from Y if we didn't like either choice. Mrs. Fredd expressed a mild preference for the chicken and I said I'd take anything. He served both of us the pasta and said it was a much better choice than the chicken. It was palatable - okay but nothing more.
It was fortunate his bartending skills helped to compensate for the mediocre meal.


#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, UA Platinum, others
Posts: 1,256
The choice was between a macademia-nut crusted chicken and a cheese tortellini with a white sauce decorated with a thin line of red sauce.
The purser also offered us the option of a fresh salad from Y if we didn't like either choice. Mrs. Fredd expressed a mild preference for the chicken and I said I'd take anything. He served both of us the pasta and said it was a much better choice than the chicken. It was palatable - okay but nothing more.
It was fortunate his bartending skills helped to compensate for the mediocre meal.
The purser also offered us the option of a fresh salad from Y if we didn't like either choice. Mrs. Fredd expressed a mild preference for the chicken and I said I'd take anything. He served both of us the pasta and said it was a much better choice than the chicken. It was palatable - okay but nothing more.
It was fortunate his bartending skills helped to compensate for the mediocre meal.


#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 25,072
I'm happy to confirm Mrs. Fredd and I enjoyed a couple of Mai Tais yesterday SFO-HNL - picture here on our travel blog. A great purser, friendly crew, and Channel 9 on, so we even didn't mind again losing the Halfway-to-Hawaii contest. 

Glad UA has brought them back.

#14
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Houston
Programs: TK*Gold; WN A-list; AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UA 1.56MM (fmr UA1K)
Posts: 5,760
Thanks goodness they're back...I'll have one on sfo-hnl in May


#15
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,619
The stuffed shells are pretty good. The ravioli, not so much... I usually get a special meal these days to break it up...
