All Hot Meals Gone Domestically

[USFlyer]

US either needs to do First class right or not do it at all. The transcon meal was basically the only F thing left for business travelers.

At this point, US should program the kiosk to spit out "free drink" coupons for Preferred members who would otherwise have upgraded and just eliminte the cabin itself. I used to buy A-class fares on US. Now, if I happen to be applying the value of one of my unused US tickets, I book A class on codeshare flights, basically flying UA First on a ticket originally issued on a US-operated flight.

For those of you who haven't flown UA in a while, their First class is outstanding. They continue to do a nice job and not let their product suffer. It's worth it to buy a First ticket on UA, especially if they publish a restricted First ticket that's reasonable.

 

[RowUnderDCA]

hey, for up and down and around east of the Mississippi, just call it business class and forget about service. But keep the service on transcons. I too agree, that ffmiles should be able to be used more and more for amenities, comforts and conveniences, discouraging actual award tickets. If you have reasonable fares sell the plane out and use award and sell ff miles for upgrades, drinks, bigger seats, meals and even refundability/flight change rights. You'd get folks buying ffmiles that way and maybe using them maybe not.

Oh and award the ffmiles to employess, spotting every employee 80,000 miles, plus one for every dollar earned in salary, and do away with space available travel, but allow employees only to get award tickets. But that's a totally different topic.

 

[Hope777]

As I have said in the past, lets pull the seats. Give people what they PAY for.

 

[mweiss]

Get over it....all this fretting over a meal.
...
Someone who spends $50K per year on airfare does not lack the resources to obtain a good meal.

Someone who spends $50K per year on airfare probably values the convenience of the onboard meal enough to shift business to the airline with the service. Someone who spends $50K per year on airfare is a sticky customer for any airline...and once they're gone, it'll take much more than just bringing back the service to bring back the customer.

Hey, did WN or B6 lose pax because of meal service?

Depends on what you're asking. If you're asking if there are people who chose not to fly WN or B6 because of meal service, the answer is "yes." If you're asking if there are people who chose WN or B6, but then left them because of the meal service, I'd say "not many." But that's because they knew what they were going to get.

See, it's a bad thing to take something away from someone...far worse than never giving it to them in the first place. Take something away from a customer, and they're likely to take business away from you.

There are larger unspoken issues here...

[post="245429"][/post]​

Such as...?

 

[aredeeyou22]

Geez, it makes me want to scream.... we used to have such a product..... I have finally reached the point where I can no longer be embarrassed.... I believe the phrase is "mind-numbing"...... best wishes to all of the "Preferreds" who will leave us; we, the front line people, always appreciated you! Cheers....

 

[Iflyem]

Perhaps our esteemed management team should take a flight on Delta Song. Then they would see how to solve the meal fiasco.
Song has a small, but tasty menu selection on all domestic flights. The prices are reasonable, and ALL FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS HAVE THEIR CHOICE OF MEAL FROM THE MENU FOR FREE !!! Coach pax pay $5-10 depending if breakfast, lunch or dinner flight....snacks and cocktails are extra, but the assortment is enough to satisfy all but the most finicky of passengers.
To totally discontinue all F/C meals is just too much for our loyal passengers to digest.

 

[PSA1979]

Perhaps our esteemed management team should take a flight on Delta Song. Then they would see how to solve the meal fiasco.
Song has a small, but tasty menu selection on all domestic flights. The prices are reasonable, and ALL FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS HAVE THEIR CHOICE OF MEAL FROM THE MENU FOR FREE !!! Coach pax pay $5-10 depending if breakfast, lunch or dinner flight....snacks and cocktails are extra, but the assortment is enough to satisfy all but the most finicky of passengers.
To totally discontinue all F/C meals is just too much for our loyal passengers to digest.

[post="245584"][/post]​

Iflyem, that's what we are doing now. Offering the Buy on Board to our FC pax. Maybe that is where we got it. Just copying the competition I guess!

 

[Art at ISP]

I Fly Em,

Song does not have first class. It's all coach.

Hope,

With all due respect, your idea is not a good one either. If the company decides they want to be a no frills LCC clone, so be it, but I do believe they will lose more than they could ever save by doing so--most of their high volume customers would be gone.

While the meal thing seems to be relatively unimportant, it sends a message to the business traveler. Those of us who travel every week appreciate a relatively decent meal on a transcon flight--it saves the trouble of having to stop and buy one on the way to the airport. One feels much better and clear headed on a relatively full stomach. While the competition is beefing up their F class service on transcons, U is decimating theirs--who do you think is going to get the business traveler's money?

Also, we business travelers pay substantially more than the once a year whiners who would be happy with the service levels of Greyhound Air. While we are no longer willing to be gouged, we are willing to pay FAIR fares. All of my booked travel of late has been in the middle to high range of the fare scale, but remain reasonable due to competition (see my other thread).

In my humble opinion U has to decide whose business they want--the regular business traveler or the once a year whiner who pays $49 for a ticket and expects the world at his feet...it's more about an identity crisis than the food itself.

I heard that the company line is this move is temporary while they change vendors--my understanding is there are many different vendors depending on station..can anyone clarify?

Thanks to all of you.......

 

[700UW]

Art,

The catering contract is national with LSG I believe does it at the majority of the stations.

They are full of crap, in CLT there is only ONE vendor.

Charlotte Observer Story

Boxed meals irk 1st-class fliers
US Airways stops hot food on domestic flights during vendor switch
TONY MECIA
Staff Writer

The latest complaint about airplane food: No hot meals on US Airways domestic flights, even in first class.

Starting this week, US Airways says it is temporarily halting the meals on transcontinental flights because it is switching food vendors. Instead, first-class passengers will receive a complimentary meal in a box, known as In-Flight Cafe -- the same meal boxes available for purchase in coach.

 

[MarkMyWords]

It is really sad that the only thing this company is consistent at is being inconsistent. Our Customers should know what to expect eacha dn every time they purchase a ticket. From making reservation and check-in to on board ammenities and baggage delivery. The only thing we have been able to do in recent years is strip down the ammenties to bare minimum and drive away our best customers.

Sad.....very very sad.....

 

[ClueByFour]

I'll be flying transcon later today, and will report on the state of the "FC Happy Meal."

 

[USAirBoyA330]

Yeah....tell us how it goes and what Power Puff toy you get in your Happy Meal :blink:

 

[700UW]

Don't laugh, I know UAL use to offer Happy Meals for kids if you let them know in advance.

 

[Corinth2103]

UAL did offer McDonald's Happy Meals for kids as a special "order ahead" treat..but something tells me that the folks in first class at US aren't as excited about receiving them when most other Legacy carriers have switched to BOB meals in main cabin just so they can use the extra money to upgrade the offerings in front. :mf_boff:

Tim

 

[Bear96]

I do believe they will lose more than they could ever save by doing so--most of their high volume customers would be gone.

[post="245592"][/post]​

Maybe they are banking on the fact that if these "loyal" customers haven't left yet after all that has happened, ain't nothin' gonna drive 'em away ...