Got to enjoy this wonderful culinary creation flying in F on DEN-SEA yesterday.

The streamlined breakfast is so unfilling that I wanted an extra bakery item, and I specifically asked the F/A. I was told that there was only one baked good loaded per passenger, so I asked her to bring me an extra if there were leftovers.

Although the F cabin was full, many passengers declined breakfast, so there were certainly extra muffins or bagels (the crossaints ran out early on), but I was never given an extra. I felt too greedy to ask again.

Seems like the bread basket has also been streamlined out of existence, which makes it impossible to get second helpings, without explicitly asking and making a fool of yourself.

Is this streamlined breakfast also on ORD to west coast runs, which would mean the only hot breakfast is on a transcon?

Okay, these are idiotic concerns, because my normal breakfast is less filling than a streamlined breakfast....but oh well.. FTers love to talk nonsense.

On a flight from PDX to LAX a few weeks ago, I "enjoyed" a streamlined version of what had already been a fairly streamlined breakfast. All that was served in F was banana and a yogurt. That's it, not even a danish. Several weeks prior, UA had also served cold cereal but I guess that too now exceeds the costs allocated for a meal in F . The FA, who was wonderful by the way, was quite embarrassed. Incidentally, they didn't load any spoons either.

Last night, the bar tender in JFK told me that UA is planning to cut out finger sandwiches in the international first class lounge! I guess passengers could contemplate their $12000+ fares while nibbling on nuts and pretzels.

None of this leaves me overwhelmed with confidence that UA boasts astute leadership at the helm.

Indeed it is, with the addition of a warm egg/ham/cheese burrito like thing. One month ago it was a burrito. This week it was a hot pocket style item, all the ends sealed in a cardboard like bread.

Since UA usually cycles it's menus every quarter or so, I'm hoping this selection will leave the friendly skies by May.

If they actually pull this stunt, that would really reduce the international first class lounge down to the RCC level--just a nice place to get some free drinks and nuts....

I'm really hoping they don't cut back on those sandwiches until after my LAX-ORD-LHR in XF in a couple of weeks....

Try AA....Extra everything in F and HOT meals. Sorry UA just sucks period!!

With all confusion regarding SWU and other changes which UA did this year, hearing that AA treats its passengers better then UA, I am beginning to get temptation to defect to AA...

Perhaps true, but to be fair to UA, it is my understanding that the pretzel and nut supply in the lounge for paid International First pax will be unlimited.

You're not alone. I've already started shifting most of my non flying miles to AA and may fly AA later this year after I requalify for 1P. Maybe do a Plat challenge.

Also see: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/010202.html ... other threads, too, available by searching "streamlined breakfast"... none, by the way, very positive.

[This message has been edited by 1K-SFO (edited 03-29-2002).]

I can safely say this is an understatement.

I think you should be OK; each station is funded differently and I am guessing that the bar tender was referring to JFK explicitly. I am under the impression that JFK has never been a high priority with UA. Sometimes I think that UA only provides service like the JFK to LAX/SFO transcons because AA does. There have been dramatic personnel cuts there recently, even after the tremendous hemorrhaging of jobs post 9/11. In PDX, my point of origin, UA cut the RCC staff by one person throughout the day and even reduced the number of free newspapers considerably.

In the SFO first class lounge last Sunday, UA provided some very nice munchies at about noon but it was snarfed up by passengers in the fairly crowded lounge within about 15 minutes. It seemed odd to me that none of the food was replenished by 1:30 when I departed the lounge for my flight to TPE.

Regarding others comments made about switching to other carriers such as AA, I know quite a number of 1K flyers (some million milers) who have already done so and they seem very pleased with the overall level of service provided. I would seriously consider testing the waters myself if AA served PDX somewhat better than it currently does.

Due mostly to my dissatisfaction with the new SWU rules, I've flown about three times as much on American so far this year as I have on United. My only miles on UA metal this year were in F from FRA-IAD and then on a babyjet from IAD to LGA, so bear what I'm about to say with a grain of salt:

United's not so bad; or at least, not much worse than the competition. Comparing recent flights in F from ORD to LHR on AA versus FRA to IAD on UA, I'd say that my flight on United was superior in almost every respect.

Having said that, I'm still unhappy about the new SWU rules, so I'm still more interested in earning EXP this year than 1K and will probably continue to fly AA more than UA.

Well, American coach is aweful compared to United's Economy product. I flew them to a wedding a while back and all I can say is I *definitely* appreciate United so much more.

STL - LAS ... only given a GLASS of diet pepsi, no cookies/peanuts/pretzels. The seats felt like a piece of metal with a cloth over them.

At least on United, we get AUDIO on every flight, Economy Plus, free movies, and the full can of soda...

American, no thanks. They offered me Platinum flat out and I said no. I may reconsider in the event I have to take AA again, but I see no reason to.. United suits me just fine... I can complain about many other things than this airline...

the glory days are gone folks... ya need to wake up!

2 morning breakfast flights from SMF - ORD in the last week.

The hated, egg muffin is gone, thankfully...

Replaced by a tortilla wrap with egg and cheese :-(The cardboard description is accurate.

My wife flew SMF - ORD this week and received nothing hot -- just the frozen greenish banana, cereal, a milligram of granola topping, and they did receive a choice of muffin or bagel.

Now, since I upgrade and don't pay for FC, and I understand UA's financial position, I can understand the need for cutbacks.

But how do you justify charging $1500 for a one way FC ticket, a premium of several hundred dollars over Full Fare Coach, for service of this type?

It's unfortunate that TWA hasn't been brought up to AA's level of service, but there is a reason they went bankrupt. Your experience on STL-LAS.

But your experience on AA-run flights couldn't have been that bad. This is what you said on the AA board.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum71/HTML/008424.html