I am sad to say that it was in fact an Envoy meal. As recently as March (the last time I flew across the pond), Envoy was being served with plastic utensils with a brushed metal finish. The standard of food service has sadly declined since you last rode in Envoy, I'm afraid. The service and extraordinary seats in Row 1 on the 330 still make J a fine product across the pond, but the food is not what it once was.LOVDPIEDMONT said:
Meal Service Question F Phl Lax -sorry!
- Thread starter SkiUtahSLCDelta
- Start date
Huh? No, but you implied US need not worry as much as some of us think about the in-flight meal. I cited the UA example to show that US lost $8,000 in bookings from a VFF by not offering a decent in-flight meal for a PAID F ticket (albeit discounted).usairways_vote_NO said:
On the other hand, when I flew Envoy to LGW in March, the service was definitely on par with UA's business class. I'm assuming this is due to Star Alliance standards.
ITRADE
Veteran
Isn't there a way to preorder a cafe meal for the flight?SKY HIGH said:speaking of meals.......I cant tell you how many times we RUN OUT OF inflight cafe meals in coach. How disappointing for our customers to expect to BUY ONE and there is not enough. This is happening on ALOT of transcon flights.
First class meals?.......certainly NOT comparable to meals 5 or 10 years ago. But airfares are cheaper today then 25 YEARS AGO. It's interesting how expectations are still there when we charge Low Cost Carrier airfares yet when they fly carriers like Southwest, they're happy with the cheese and crackers coast to coast.
I've heard stories where the FAs have run out and I've heard stories that they had so many meals left over that they could have served dinner to a field artillery company.
Someone somewhere put it very well -- the airlines don't get the difference between "amenities" and "service". They understand even less what it is that different customers want. It's well and good knocking airplane food, but airports are miserable places for food too (UA's terminal at O'Hare being a great example, Berghoff Cafe aside at the far end of C). In any industry there are always people who are prepared to pay for service -- look at the hotel industry with its multiple price points. Airlines need to stop treating travellers as two big lumps (business and leisure) and realize there is a lot of variety within each group. When I'm on business, I don't have time to roam terminals searching for a half decent meal, so having some sort of food service at meal times is a big plus. Doesn't have to be filet mignon, just something. (I'm talking about the back of the bus where I do most of my flying.)hp_fa said:
Now, some airlines may choose to make it Buy-on-board, others may provide it free (CO stands out here). But it won't drive passenger purchasing until marketing gets across the message as to what you'll get when you buy a ticket on the airline. Go to UAL's web site and you have no idea if/when you get E-plus. On uswairways.com you have no idea what their product is. Compare that to jetBlue's marketing where it's very clear what the product is.
Service can be branded and can command a price premium (and decommoditize the market), even in coach (just look at jetBlue). But you'll never get the premium if (a) it isn't delivered relaibly and (B), purchasers don't know about it.
QUOTE (SKY HIGH @ Jul 11 2004, 11:52 PM)
speaking of meals.......I cant tell you how many times we RUN OUT OF inflight cafe meals in coach. How disappointing for our customers to expect to BUY ONE and there is not enough. This is happening on ALOT of transcon flights.
First class meals?.......certainly NOT comparable to meals 5 or 10 years ago. But airfares are cheaper today then 25 YEARS AGO. It's interesting how expectations are still there when we charge Low Cost Carrier airfares yet when they fly carriers like Southwest, they're happy with the cheese and crackers coast to coast.
and Itrade asked ...
Isn't there a way to preorder a cafe meal for the flight?
I've heard stories where the FAs have run out and I've heard stories that they had so many meals left over that they could have served dinner to a field artillery company.
===================
I believe the pre-ordering is only available on Sing (DL) and has not been reliable to date.
On SKY HIGH's point about the Southwest, the thing is, it may only be 3 or four different types of snack (similar on B6 I believe) but at least I know I'll get something, probably at least two bags even on a 1 hr flight. At least there's both quantity (>0) and some variety. I've done most of my recent flying on UA rather than US, but apart from CO, you're lucky to get one measly bag of pretzels even on a 2-3hr meal time journey in coach on US or any of the others.
Note to all inflight product managers -- I'm SICK OF THE PRETZELS!!!! Vary it just a little bit, puh-lease.
speaking of meals.......I cant tell you how many times we RUN OUT OF inflight cafe meals in coach. How disappointing for our customers to expect to BUY ONE and there is not enough. This is happening on ALOT of transcon flights.
First class meals?.......certainly NOT comparable to meals 5 or 10 years ago. But airfares are cheaper today then 25 YEARS AGO. It's interesting how expectations are still there when we charge Low Cost Carrier airfares yet when they fly carriers like Southwest, they're happy with the cheese and crackers coast to coast.
and Itrade asked ...
Isn't there a way to preorder a cafe meal for the flight?
I've heard stories where the FAs have run out and I've heard stories that they had so many meals left over that they could have served dinner to a field artillery company.
===================
I believe the pre-ordering is only available on Sing (DL) and has not been reliable to date.
On SKY HIGH's point about the Southwest, the thing is, it may only be 3 or four different types of snack (similar on B6 I believe) but at least I know I'll get something, probably at least two bags even on a 1 hr flight. At least there's both quantity (>0) and some variety. I've done most of my recent flying on UA rather than US, but apart from CO, you're lucky to get one measly bag of pretzels even on a 2-3hr meal time journey in coach on US or any of the others.
Note to all inflight product managers -- I'm SICK OF THE PRETZELS!!!! Vary it just a little bit, puh-lease.
SCEflyer
Now that is the truth and nothing but the truth. I can't remember the last time that I saw someone actually buy a first class seat. I can't speak for international flights but domestic is basically all upgrades. Apparently there is some attraction in first whether it be more room, those yummy sandwiches or status. DM members scramble for those seats like there is no tomorrow. Did you ever hear a grown man cry? Well just tell them no first available and they must be waitlisted or check at the gate. You will never hear such moaning, groaning and whining. What they forget is that upgrades are a perk and there is limited seating and they can only upgrade if available. It is not a guarantee!
So even though there is no food or food that sucks everyone still wants to sit there....but for free!
Now that is the truth and nothing but the truth. I can't remember the last time that I saw someone actually buy a first class seat. I can't speak for international flights but domestic is basically all upgrades. Apparently there is some attraction in first whether it be more room, those yummy sandwiches or status. DM members scramble for those seats like there is no tomorrow. Did you ever hear a grown man cry? Well just tell them no first available and they must be waitlisted or check at the gate. You will never hear such moaning, groaning and whining. What they forget is that upgrades are a perk and there is limited seating and they can only upgrade if available. It is not a guarantee!
So even though there is no food or food that sucks everyone still wants to sit there....but for free!
biztraveller29
Member
- Dec 2, 2003
- 56
- 0
Bobcat, what? Sit in F "for free"?
I find it interesting that some employees are bashing FREQUENT customers for upgrading rather than paying "full fare". How many $200, $3oo, and $400 roundtrips did it take for these customers to achieve status on U so that they would have the OPPORTUNITY to upgrade? How much contribution to U's bottom line did those people have? And now you're blasting these folks for upgrading "for free"?
Give me a break. It's obvious that some people around here don't know and don't care about the people who contribute significant amounts to US' bottom line. Statements like "bring your own food" are ridiculous things to say to U's frequent fliers.
And frankly whether it's $1800 or an upgraded $200 seat, U should be offering more than a sandwich to its "First Class" customers.
I find it interesting that some employees are bashing FREQUENT customers for upgrading rather than paying "full fare". How many $200, $3oo, and $400 roundtrips did it take for these customers to achieve status on U so that they would have the OPPORTUNITY to upgrade? How much contribution to U's bottom line did those people have? And now you're blasting these folks for upgrading "for free"?
Give me a break. It's obvious that some people around here don't know and don't care about the people who contribute significant amounts to US' bottom line. Statements like "bring your own food" are ridiculous things to say to U's frequent fliers.
And frankly whether it's $1800 or an upgraded $200 seat, U should be offering more than a sandwich to its "First Class" customers.
PSA1979
Senior
- Jan 15, 2003
- 360
- 6
biztraveller29 says "And frankly whether it's $1800 or an upgraded $200 seat, U should be offering more than a sandwich to its "First Class" customers. "
Well actually, no one really pays $1800. In the last 8 months, I have seen only 4 full fare f/c passengers. As far as upgrading on a $200 dollar seat, if you were still paying $2000 or maybe $900 for that seat, then upgrading, yes U should get more than a cold sandwhich. But, it seems to me that because the business traveller is not willing to pay the hefty fares of days gone by then they should get no food or a cold sandwhich. Just because one person actually paid the $1800 doesn't mean we can afford to feed the rest for a measly $200. You do get what you pay for!!
Maybe we should change the frequent flier program to how much you pay. Let's say you get a free upgrade if you buy 5 $200 round trips or 1 $1000 round trip. That sounds like a much fairer program. Then we could put back real food in first class, because it would take you 5 times as long to sit up there!
Well actually, no one really pays $1800. In the last 8 months, I have seen only 4 full fare f/c passengers. As far as upgrading on a $200 dollar seat, if you were still paying $2000 or maybe $900 for that seat, then upgrading, yes U should get more than a cold sandwhich. But, it seems to me that because the business traveller is not willing to pay the hefty fares of days gone by then they should get no food or a cold sandwhich. Just because one person actually paid the $1800 doesn't mean we can afford to feed the rest for a measly $200. You do get what you pay for!!
Maybe we should change the frequent flier program to how much you pay. Let's say you get a free upgrade if you buy 5 $200 round trips or 1 $1000 round trip. That sounds like a much fairer program. Then we could put back real food in first class, because it would take you 5 times as long to sit up there!
Then get rid of the FC cabins and call yourselves Northeast airlines.PSA1979 said:
Honestly, you can't have it both ways either.
I choose airlines based on getting the most for my money. Currently, the honor goes to NW. Their FC isn't anything to rave about, but the offering is better than US and I pay the same amount as I would on US. I slightly prefer US's power ports, but not enough to overcome the degradation in service.
If I could afford to fly CO, I'd probably choose them instead, because their domestic FC appears to offer the most. But they charge too much, so...
Just flew out to SFO on UA - went out in F/C and back in coach. Here's how it went:
F/C, 767-300, full service including linens ( nice grey ones ) glassware, choice of three entress, salads with nice topping, and cookies, two each, and coffee with liquers for dessert. WONDERFUL presentation..simple but elegant..not overly fancy. Kind and courteous service from a very senior flight attendant. IFE ok, not terrific, not like US A330's. passport sytem is far superior.
Y/C, 777 to ORD , nice, immaculately clean a/c, very friendly crew. Bev and biscotti snack,crew then offered "for purchase" meals, many people purchsed them. Followed by coffee and water service. about an hour out of ORD, beverage and pretzel,goldfish and sesame sticks snack bag.. VERY nice service for a 3 1/2 hour flight. ORD-BOS, A-320, beverage,snack, coffee, beverage. Another very nice crew.. all male, very efficent and kind.
Well, all in all, an A+ rating for UA...not the usual mediocre service ive had in the past.....Very impressed and a bit embarrassed to work for US..... Does anybody in CCY ever fly on the competition?
F/C, 767-300, full service including linens ( nice grey ones ) glassware, choice of three entress, salads with nice topping, and cookies, two each, and coffee with liquers for dessert. WONDERFUL presentation..simple but elegant..not overly fancy. Kind and courteous service from a very senior flight attendant. IFE ok, not terrific, not like US A330's. passport sytem is far superior.
Y/C, 777 to ORD , nice, immaculately clean a/c, very friendly crew. Bev and biscotti snack,crew then offered "for purchase" meals, many people purchsed them. Followed by coffee and water service. about an hour out of ORD, beverage and pretzel,goldfish and sesame sticks snack bag.. VERY nice service for a 3 1/2 hour flight. ORD-BOS, A-320, beverage,snack, coffee, beverage. Another very nice crew.. all male, very efficent and kind.
Well, all in all, an A+ rating for UA...not the usual mediocre service ive had in the past.....Very impressed and a bit embarrassed to work for US..... Does anybody in CCY ever fly on the competition?
USFlyer
Just to set the record straight for any of our passengers that may read the posts on this forum..."A" class fares are NOT technically FC fares they are ACTUALLY coach fares upgradeable to first IF available. These fares are not always in any given market and are put in and taken out at any time. The "A" fares are usually under $1000.00 RT and the non refundable "A" fares around $500-$600.
When a passenger purchases an "A" fare ticket they should be explained as to what this fare is. The problems arise from the misconception that they are buying a FC ticket when they are NOT. When someone calls to change an "A" class ticket and "A" class is no longer in the market and are quoted a much much higher fare for a COACH "Y" or "B" class ticket and are given a coach seat they in most cases are quite upset and can not comprehend why they are paying, sometimes double, for a coach seat when they had a FC seat at a much lower rate.
Know what you're buying and the rules of the ticket that you are purchasing. Hopefully the agents are explaining the rules but if not, please ask and if you are buying online read all rules and restrictions. This will save a lot of time and headaches if you need to make changes to your ticket.
Just to set the record straight for any of our passengers that may read the posts on this forum..."A" class fares are NOT technically FC fares they are ACTUALLY coach fares upgradeable to first IF available. These fares are not always in any given market and are put in and taken out at any time. The "A" fares are usually under $1000.00 RT and the non refundable "A" fares around $500-$600.
When a passenger purchases an "A" fare ticket they should be explained as to what this fare is. The problems arise from the misconception that they are buying a FC ticket when they are NOT. When someone calls to change an "A" class ticket and "A" class is no longer in the market and are quoted a much much higher fare for a COACH "Y" or "B" class ticket and are given a coach seat they in most cases are quite upset and can not comprehend why they are paying, sometimes double, for a coach seat when they had a FC seat at a much lower rate.
Know what you're buying and the rules of the ticket that you are purchasing. Hopefully the agents are explaining the rules but if not, please ask and if you are buying online read all rules and restrictions. This will save a lot of time and headaches if you need to make changes to your ticket.
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