United Catering Chaos at San Francisco: First Class Meals Replaced by Snack

4 godzin temu

SAN FRANCISCO- United Airlines (UA) is facing major catering disruptions on flights departing from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) following a recent switch to a new third-party catering vendor.

The transition, implemented last Thursday, May 15, 2025, has triggered a wave of operational issues, especially affecting First Class service.

United Catering Chaos at San Francisco

Instead of full hot meals, some United Airlines passengers on transcontinental and international routes from SFO are receiving snack boxes and bottled water, PYOK reported.

Crew members have raised concerns about the impact on service quality and passenger satisfaction during flights exceeding five hours.

The decision by United Airlines to replace its catering supplier at San Francisco International Airport has resulted in unanticipated complications. Rather than a smooth rollout, flight attendants report that flights are departing without the standard catering load, particularly in premium cabins.

Some First Class travelers have been offered only snack boxes and bottled water, even on long-haul routes.

One photo shared by a crew member showed snack packs being transported in plastic trash bags, a clear deviation from standard procedure. In several cases, carts from previous flights—still containing used supplies—remained onboard because the new vendor failed to provide replacements in time.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) confirmed in an internal memo that the catering transition began recently and that “additional catering or service modifications” may persist in the coming weeks.

The union noted that while United Airlines’ management had presented contingency plans, the on-ground execution has not met expectations.

Broader Impacts Across Cabin

While domestic routes have seen the greatest disruption, international flights departing SFO are also affected. Business and Polaris Class cabins—typically known for elevated service—have experienced scaled-back meal offerings.

Some long-haul flights to destinations like London and Singapore (LHR, SIN) have launched with snack boxes in place of multi-course meals.

Passengers on identified impacted flights have been issued $15 airport food vouchers as a temporary measure. However, flight attendants say the substitute doesn’t match the expectations of premium travelers, especially those paying for upgraded cabin experiences.

United Airlines had recently announced a $150 million investment in its food and beverage offerings, boasting a 12% rise in customer satisfaction in Q1 2025. Ironically, the disruptions at SFO come just months before United is set to debut its “Elevated” cabin experience—featuring Polaris suites and a luxury caviar amuse-bouche service—on flagship routes from SFO.

Long-Term Outlook

Flight attendants emphasize that while catering logistics are inherently complex, certain airports consistently underperform in execution. San Francisco, according to some crew members, has long faced challenges related to catering reliability and food quality.

United’s catering vendor switch is presumably linked to its broader F&B overhaul, intended to raise service standards fleetwide. Although the current implementation has been problematic, the airline is likely betting on long-term gains from the new partnership.

The airline has not issued a formal public apology but is reportedly monitoring the situation closely to stabilize operations and restore service quality, especially for premium travelers expecting consistency and comfort.

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