United charging for meals
 

Check out the European forum where there's talk of United starting to charge, Oct 01, for meals in Economy class depending on the number of hours of the flight. I know many of you go to Europe, too.
What next, pay toilets? I guess we'd better start saving up our quarters. LOL. Happy Travels!

you must have this wrong....they must be paying you to eat those meals...

I'm actually not too unhappy about this change - those meals are generally only partially edible anyway. I usually bring something to subsist on anyway in case the inflight meal isn't at all edible.

I wouldn't mind paying $5 or whatever it is for a snack box, which have pretty reasonably things in them.

I've flown with United for decades and I want my hot, vegan meal no matter how bad it tastes.
The only snackbox that I buy on United is the one with the small can of tuna, hummus, Stacey's pita chips. I don't eat the cheese or the chocolate as those are two fatal food allergies for me. I will bend and eat fish...just no meat/poultry... for 32 years. I would not want to live off of snack boxes on a little less than 12-hour flight.
I don't want to have to hassle with packing food. Plus, my peanut butter was taken by TSA on an LAX-Bangkok flight. I used to always take peanut butter on European flights,too. Now, to get it through TSA, I have to remember to pack it in little, 1-ounce, glass jars and hope they'll let it in. TSA is not consistent. Happy Travels!

Vegans don't eat tuna - sorry.

As far as I've heard, they're only testing this starting October 1 on the IAD-LHR route. Domestically, I'm not sure what the deal is...

On many flights now out of london to europe, you have the choice of whether to pay for meals. If you opt not to pay for meals, you pay less. Food is available to purchase on the flight, if you want it. For us it is a much better choice given I would rarely eat an airline meal - the quality is so poor generally.

Jaya..I'm quite aware that vegans don't eat fish. However, I never stated that I was a vegan. I stated that I wanted a vegan meal! As I'm allergic to dairy and a couple other items, that rules out a vegetarian meal which has dairy in it. And since I don't eat meat/poultry, then that rules out a regular meal.
In the 80s, I was macrobiotic for years which can include fish. So, when I got off a macro balance, I just kept the fish in along with non-dairy food choices (vegan). I eat what's best for me and my food system has worked quite well for over 3 decades. Happy Travels!

Guen, as you said, pay toilets next. After that, the airlines will probably charge for the air we breathe. This has gotten ridiculous. I understand that fuel has gotten expensive but what was the airlines' excuse when oil was $30 a barrel? They've been losing money for years and it wasn't due to the price of oil. Maybe they should look at their (poor) management.

I agree Laurieco...I guess we'll soon have to bring our own air if we don't want to pay for that. And they wonder why folks dread flying? It's pretty pathetic to say the least. Happy Travels!

Well, guys it's really about trying to keep prices artificially low for leisure travelers especially. If they would have just charged for the actual cost of service rather than just tried to fill seats all of these years, there wouldn't be so much sticker shock which they all seem to be trying to avoid by tacking on all of these moronic fees. I am waiting to see when a fee will be charged for overweight passengers rather than overweight luggage by the way (sorry Bob).

Guenmai,
Your second reply clarified the reason for vegan and makes sense. Sorry for getting sassy - I thought you were another one of those "I'm vegetarian/vegan, but I'll eat chicken, sushi, etc."

I'm probably in a minority, but here's a different perspective: just because we've been accustomed to not paying for all the extras airlines used to offer, doesn't mean it's an outrage that they're now asking us to pay. People who buy tickets to a baseball game, don't expect free hotdogs, nachos, and drinks. And baseball tickets aren't cheap! Yet we do expect it of airlines, not because it's "right" or "decent" of them, but because it's been customary. The cost of oil HAS gone up dramatically - and it's obviously a major expense for airlines. I for one am glad that they're trying to keep ticket prices low rather than continue to offer extras "free of charge" to everyone, whether they want them or not. If I don't eat a meal or use a blanket, why should I have to share the cost with those who do?

I eat it all, and it shows!

Yikes, let's hope this doesn't cross to the Pacific routes. NW charged me $5 for a beer on a recent flight.

According to today's Wall Street Journal, the following applies to certain domestic and international flights, including flights to Europe:

1. In October, snack prices will increase to $6 for shelf-stable items and $9 for fresh items.

2. On 3-class aircraft, business class passengers will continue to receive complimentary beverages but will pay for snack items.

Also, effective September 2nd, United will no longer provide free pretzels or cookies on flights of 2 to 3 hours but will expand the selection of snacks for purchase.

People who buy tickets to a baseball game aren't at the baseball game for right under 12 hours. People need to have food on long flights.

And I find it interesting how whenever things are getting cut...due to whatever they claim...that it usually hits economy class folks the hardest.

First class folks are still eating...and were after meal service was suspended on shorter flights for other classes. I guess we can just ask the First Class folks to throw us their scraps. Happy Travels!

Laurieco...As far as what the airlines' excuse was when oil was $30. a barrel...well it just sounds like years of mismanagement to me, but now it can all be blamed on fuel increases. Happy Travels!

The answer doesn't seem all that complicated to me: don't fly United, unless you believe that the perks you get for being a FF (for those who have status) outweigh the ever-increasing contempt that United displays toward its customers.

Rizzuto...It's not only a United problem. It's an airline problem. Happy Travels!

Guenamai - when we buy an airline ticket, we're paying for transportation - just as when we buy a baseball ticket, we're paying for a baseball game. I'm fine with them serving meals on flights (whatever the length of the flight - and yes, they should serve food on long flights), but why should those who DON'T eat the meals have to pay the same as those who DO? If I don't eat, I'm subsidizing those who do - and I'd prefer not to do that. Usually, I DO eat, by the way - and I'll gladly pay for it if I want it. My point is I'd rather they price the tickets separately from the meals. I'm less interested in an "all-inclusive flight" than the cheapest ticket possible. Personal preference. It's just my preference - I think it's more fair.
As for the mismanagement and all that... no argument from me there!

Fine...Althom...We just see things differently. When I buy an airplane ticket I see it as a ticket with a meal...and I don't want to have to worry about having to pay for a meal or not.
I can imagine the mess if passengers have to order or not order meals separately. I can't remember how many times my special meal hasn't gotten on the plane and there I sat with no food even after reconfirming. A lot of, "non special-meal" folks will probably end up without meals due to mix ups. Happy Travels!

I think that it is a good thing that we don't have to pay for airline food.

Hi, Guen!

It's true that the airline industry in general is troubled by the world economy and especially high fuel costs. None of the airlines are great, or even good, all of the time. However, United stands out in my mind as being consistently contemptuous of its customers. I don't know of any airline, even charter flights, that will charge for a meal on a flight from the US to Europe. I don't know of any airline anywhere that will charge a <i>business class</i> customer for an in-flight meal. I don't know of any Star Alliance airline that uses an internal software program (StarNet) to prevent their Frequent Flyer program members from having access to award seats that are available on partner airlines. United does all of these.

I accept and acknowledge that many people are loyal to United, and I won't try to dissuade those people from their choice. But it will take an unusual set of circumstances for me to set foot in on their aircraft.

&quot;charge a business class customer for an in-flight meal&quot;

This is the part that really chaps my a**. I've gone out of my way, sometimes spending extra $$ to be loyal to United to get status and the perks that go with it--including upgrades to business. And what of the folks that are paying business class fares?? I hope I've missed something.

There is no charging for meals in business. The memo that leaked earlier in the week was not very well written and ambiguous about meals for those seated in business on US domestic flights using three-class planes. There was never anything in the internal memo about charging for meals in international business. United's press release issued last night clarifies, I think, for now:

http://tinyurl.com/67xkc9

ms_go you are just confusing us with the facts. It is a lot more difficult to get spun up that way.

ms_go-
ah. that release is much clearer. I read the original memo as saying that they were testing selling the buy-on-board meal in business on the IAD-LHR route. Looking back at it again, it can also be read that the BOB meals are complimentary. Very weirdly written!

thanks for the link.

Check the recent NY Times article entitled &quot;At Least the Airsickness Bags Are Free&quot; at http://tinyurl.com/6dmka7
You'll find a whole litany of add-on &quot;services&quot; there.
Paying for meals? Well, I've bought my own food in advance for a flight, only to discover that a meal was provided after all. And, I've been prepared to buy an onboard meal but they ran out of them before they got to my seat.

To me, the idea of charging for a meal in economy is the least offensive fee. The food is typically terrible anyway.

I think they should charge fees for carry on bags instead of for checked baggage. It's the people with too many or too big carry ons that hold up flights.

Kathie, I think you're missing the other side of the equation: cutting down on the number of employees. United wants to encourage people to use carry-ons instead of checked baggage, so that UA can employ fewer baggage handlers. If that means that it takes longer to load flights, they'll just tell people to show up at the gate earlier and start loading the planes earlier.

Similar thing with meals. United mentions in the memo that serving fewer meals will allow them to use fewer flight attendants -- in fact, they'll use the minimum number of FAs permitted by federal regulations.

Probably the only thing less fun than flying on United is working for United.

No doubt you're right, rizz. Sigh, I'm more or less &quot;married&quot; to United for the time being.

... well, I presently fly Asia-North America every month for work, and approximately four/five times a year, I fly UA business class trans-pacs, and must confess, I've almost always been rather content. (Helps having my cherished, special seats, and various crews who know me.)

(Mind you, I'll always be an SIA loyalist and proud SQ PPS - my Singapore Air-forever wife would expect nothing less - but I've enjoyed 1K status with UA . Systemwide upgrades and CR-1s I utilize to fly first from SFO to Paradise and those warm Hawaiian waters. And, those miles racked up on UA are put to good use, flying first for free with mrs. m on SQ and TG.

I've had the honour of flying with some truly fine former Singapore Girls on certain UA NRT-SIN and HKG-SIN flights. And, a lovely Thai woman, who works NRT-BKK.

And, must say, I've had numerous delightful encounters with other UA FAs. And, if they can be cordial to me, someone whose somewhat debased pre-mrs. lifestyle consisted of the occasional joyous times with various Asian women in various Asian hotels, well, suspect they could be kind to you. (Provided you're kind to them.)

(But now, can't resist, and please don't tell mrs. m: about a fortnight back, I flew TG677 First, Narita to Bangkok, and man, Thai Airways has yet another super-skinny, full-on stunner working the front of the plane. Gotta give it up to TG every now and then. (And that Royal Orchid Spa is as good as ever.)

As always, savour your airborne times ... (and late-night, in-room massage treatments) ...

macintosh (robert)


... fly the friendly skies ...

macintosh makes an excellent point: United's in-flight service within Asia is usually excellent. And, they do make collecting miles for free relatively easy with their credit card(s) program. Which makes them a very reasonable choice when lots of your travel is to/from/between places (such as HI, SEA) where UA has little or no competition from non-US carriers.

I find the flight from NRT to BKK to be quite pleasant, with a mostly Thai crew on UA. The ORD to NRT crew isn't so friendly or happy!!

I really can't complain about UA's biz class service to and from Asia and within Asia. I've almost always had excellent service (I can think of only one flight in many years with a rude flight attendant in Biz).

But, of course, with the US, it's often a different matter. I try to fly first as often as possible, and all of those comp upgrades are much appreciated.

As rizz points out their credit cards make getting miles easy (I have both a personal and a business cc collecting United miles).