INTRODUCTION
It was my first time flying with United Airlines in over 20 years; the last time I flew with them was back in 1998 as a teenager on a trip from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
My expectations were low, especially after experiencing Delta’s impressive new economy class inflight service.
Before my flight, I decided to visit the United Club to check out the food and drink options.
The lounge had some interesting features like a bar area with staff taking drink orders, a hot cocoa bar, tea and coffee stations, and water stations scattered throughout.
Despite its basic 90’s vibe, the lounge’s food offering was simple yet adequate.
The only hot food available was soup, but the fresh salad bar, cut vegetables, hummus, cheese, and desserts like cookies and brownies were enough to satisfy my hunger.
ON THE GROUND
United Flight 940 from Newark to London departed at 10 pm, marking my seventh flight that week. I was lucky to have a spare seat next to me.
Boarding was smooth, and I was greeted by a friendly crew as I took my seat in economy class.
Before takeoff, the purser made an announcement asking passengers to open their tray tables if they wanted to dine—a first for me but a thoughtful touch given the evening departure..
I appreciated the detailed message on the inflight entertainment screen explaining the inflight service, setting clear expectations for the six-hour flight to London.
INFLIGHT
The flight encountered turbulence shortly after departure from Newark, keeping the crew strapped into their seats for an extra 30 minutes.
Fifty-five minutes after takeoff, the meal service began, starting with premium economy passengers and followed by economy class.
An hour into the flight, I received my meal: a choice between chicken or pasta, and I chose the chicken.
The meal was typical for economy class: chicken in a four-cheese sauce with orzo, a barley salad, and a lemon sorbet for dessert.
While the chicken dish was unremarkable, the barley salad was tasty, though it could have benefited from some dressing.
Shortly after serving ice cream for dessert, the crew swiftly completed the service and turned off the lights.
The efficient team managed to wrap up the entire meal service in economy and premium economy within 35 minutes.
For select services, where complimentary meals are not offered, passengers can refer to the onboard menu to purchase items.
One hour before landing the second service began. The crew were quick to complete the service, as it was quite a simple service to complete.
There wasn’t a choice; everyone received a tray consisting of a continental breakfast offering of Chobani yoghurt, a croissant and some Smucker’s Jam.
Hot/Cold beverages were offered, and I selected an orange juice.
CONCLUSION
Compared to Delta’s newly launched economy class service, United’s economy class experience still has room for improvement.
However, the professional, friendly, and attentive cabin crew exceeded my expectations.
While the meals were slightly below average, the overall experience was better than anticipated.
United Airlines could benefit from enhancing their meal offerings to match the overall service quality.
