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    • August 20, 2008

    UPDATE: United DROPS Free Snacks, Free Business and Coach Meals

    Filed under: Customer Service, United — Rick Seaney @ 10:11 am

    Yesterday, I told you that United is dropping its complimentary meals for coach passengers flying to Europe from Dulles (this begins Oct. 1).

    But there’s more.

    • No more free SNACKS or pretzels in coach (though they will have snacks for purchase).
    • No more free MEALS for business class passengers on most domestic flights — those with 3 cabins; food available for purchase
    • Food for purchase prices are going UP; what now costs between $5 and $7 will now rise to between $6 and $9

    I contacted United, and a spokesperson got back to me to say, “We will review customer feedback” to determine whether to continue and/or expand these new snack/meal policies. And yes, as noted in the United internal memo that we obtained, the reason for these changes is simply to save more money…in these tough economic times.

    What do you think — is this the way to go about it?
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    4 Comments »

    1. No meals for business class? How innovative. Or are you talking about Economy Plus?

      I am a CO plat and was in the process of considering a status match to UA, bringing them ~120 flight segments/year in business, with potential for another 60 if their routing offers better options than CO and I am not forced to hop on other airlines for particular trips.

      Excellent timing on this news. Thanks, UA, for making the decision easy.

      Comment by mwarden — August 20, 2008 @ 4:25 pm

    2. Hang on, I’m confused. UA says they are going to “review customer feedback” to determine whether they should be screwed over more? Am I reading this correctly? They think that customers will tell them that they should cut more food. Do you think they even surveyed them before pulling this off?

      I’m perplexed how UA thinks they will save money doing this. I’m sure those with the $$ will love paying a $2000 fare for a business class seat across the country that doesn’t include any food period.

      I expect the only positive feedback UA will get is from carriers such as BA and LH, for the increased yields they will see on their flights to IAD from this.

      Comment by Elliot Campbell — August 20, 2008 @ 10:54 pm

    3. I wonder, will passengers who have booked their UA’s flights prior to that announcement be given the right to cancel for free on the grounds that they paid for another type of service (free meals included) in coach and United sort of cheated on them?

      Comment by andyash — August 21, 2008 @ 3:38 am

    4. Airline food has been unappetizing & even disgusting for some time now. Anyone who can’t live without pretzels can certainly stuff bags of them into a carryon or briefcase.
      Meals & snacks mostly constitute a diversion from the monotony of cramped, uncomfortable flying and unpleasant TSA experiences. Patti

      Comment by Patricia Jacobsen — August 21, 2008 @ 7:27 am

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