United Changes Short Flight Beverage Service
Jennifer Billock December 14, 2018
An unidentifiable flight attendant o rrestaurant server offering a refreshing beverage. Focus on the drink.
Even among widespread protests about staffing and service cuts from cabin crew and staff throughout United Airlines’ entire network, more changes are coming to the flights; this next change to the way beverage service is handled will affect all domestic United flights that are less than an hour long.
Starting January 1, there will be yet another change to the way United Airlines runs its flights that may or may not have flight attendants taking to the streets to protest once more. Now, on flights less than an hour, the economy cabin will not be able to choose their own drinks. Instead, flight attendants will pre-pick what they pour and bring filled drinks around on a pick-up tray, allowing passengers to grab their own drinks. Unfortunately for passengers, this means less choice in what they get to drink—although morning travelers will likely still be offered coffee.
The announcement was reported on Twitter by Brian Sumers, an editor at Skift, and according to the airline’s text, it seems the change was requested by flight attendants:
“Beginning January 1, on flights with a scheduled flight time of under :59 minutes, we will begin offering select pre-poured beverages from a pick-up pan instead of a cart in the aisle. We are listening and heard your feedback that the service can be hard to complete on these really short flights. In addition, this change will allow for more time to engage with our customers. The pick-up pan should include an assortment of beverages based on customer demand and time of day. For example on early morning flights many customers like to enjoy our Illy coffee so please include coffee in your beverage choices on early morning departures.”
[Photo: Shutterstock]
This NEW change seems like it might be more work for some FAs. On most 59 or less min flights, on UA, usually they don't serve any drinks at all. Sometimes, they'll come down with water. Very rarely, you get a choice of drink. Most of these flights only have 40 seats so it isn't THAT hard. Outside the US, you pretty much get a full meal on a 59min flight.
Turkish Airlines serves beverage from a cart and a meal (prepackaged) on flights as short as 45 minutes. The name of being inapt has been defined by United as being more engaged with the customer. I hate the three big US airlines with a passion.
In Europe few Airlines served light meal in biz and beverages+sandwiches on less than 50m flight with minimum of cabin crew....question are the US FA lazy? On same airlines FAs help pax to fill the overhead bins too !
The United goal is to become a LCC
Pathetic