You Trip Report

	DATE	FLIGHT NUMBER	SEAT	AIRCRAFT
01 May 21	UA 297	1L	777-200
CLASS	VIEWS	LANGUAGE	AUTHOR
Business Class	79910	English	jetsetpanda

Prologue:

This is a flight that is very familiar to me ever since I started taking it last year. However today's flight is a good example of "Murphy's Law" in action - when something can go wrong it will go wrong.

On this particular flight there were a series of mishaps starting with the missing headphones on my seat followed by the tray table being inoperative and finally getting a piece of sticker on my salad.

However the crew was very attentive and professional.

This lounge has been reported in detail previously so I will just include 2 pictures of the disappointing catering. I was planning to visit the Lufthansa lounge by taking the shuttle from the UA terminal to Terminal B where the lounge was located. Well it turns out that the shuttle is inoperative and I had to re-clear security twice if I wanted to visit it so I canceled that. In addition I was reading some reviews of the LH lounge and it seemed that they were only serving crisps and another packaged snack so it was not worth the effort to go.

No salami with mozzarella this time. Lots of vending machine junk packaged snacks.

It was a chaotic scene at the gate and the plane arrived a bit late.

Boarding.

My seat 1L. There were pillows blanket bottle of water amenity kit but no headphones. I had to request these from the crew after take off.

Where's the headphone? If they forgot to place the headphones could they have forgotten to clean the seat as well? :P

Gel pillow and very soft small pillow.

Reading light.

Compartment and lamp.

Seat controls.

Nice space.

Amenity kit with the patriotic theme in full force.

Taxiing.

AA's future partner.

Take off.

Bye NY.

Remeber Murphy's law? I pushed pulled and kicked and the tray would not come out. :P

Dinner time and the tray table was broken and couldn't deploy. The food was set on the side of the chair and I had to eat in a twisted position.

Chicken or pasta? I decided to try the raviolis in a creamy tomato sauce with spinach this time.

There was a piece of orange sticker stuck on the cheese. I spit it out and when I told the FA she apologized and picked it up with her fingers (she was wearing gloves). :P ???? Is she going to put it in a plastic bag as evidence like in a crime scene?

Miam miam! Cheese raviolis.

Mango sorbet for dessert.

Cruising.

Snack baskets set up in the galley.

Cabin.

Landing in SFO.

========== Newark Liberty Intl Arpt (EWR) - ==========

Security/Immigration efficiency: 9/10

Access and parking: 9/10

Services and activities: 9/10

General cleanliness: 10/10

========== United Club Gate C74 ==========

Staff Service: 9/10

Entertainment: /10

Business Center: /10

Food: 3/10

Lounge Design: 6/10

Spa and Bathroom: 0/10

Wifi: 10/10

========== United Airlines - Airline ==========

Cabine comfort: 9/10

Crew: 10/10

Entertainment: 9/10

On-time performance: 10/10

Appetizer: 0/10

Starter: 6/10

Main Meal: 8/10

Main Meal-2: 0/10

Cheese: 0/10

Desserts: 9/10

Alcohols: 0/10

Mid-flight snack: 10/10

Breakfast or light meal before arrival: 0/10

========== San Francisco Intl Arpt (SFO) - ==========

Security/Immigration efficiency: 9/10

Access and parking: 10/10

Services and activities: 9/10

General cleanliness: 10/10

Summary:

Starting with the inconvenience of not being able to visit the LH lounge followed by the "occurences" aboard this flight turned out to be quite disappointing. The saving grace was the nice and attentive crew who did their best under the circumstances.

For example when I was asking for a caramel cookie after the meal one of the flight attendants searched everywhere to get me one and even offered me some coffee or tea to go along with it. That was a very proactive and nice gesture.

I sent a feedback form to UA about all these issues that I encountered.

18 Comments

Bibopaul — May 08,2021

Thanks for this YTR, an enjoyable read.
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 09,2021

Thanks for your comment Paul.
Thomas — May 08,2021

Salut my dear *G friend, thanks for your inbound trip. Aside from having a long haul configuration within the country, UA does not impress me at all, the meal is rather poor.

I sent a feedback form to UA about all these issues that I encountered => Any reply ?

Take care buddy.
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 09,2021

Hi Thomas,

Yes catering is not impressive to be honest, at least compared to AA which offers 4 choices in a printed menu.

I just got a reply after and they will deposit 3750 miles in my UA account. Not bad considering that this trip was an award using TK miles. ;)
Casper — May 08,2021

Amigo, another great review by my Californian flyer. Do you have an idea when the Polaris lounge will resume their service?
Great pictures along the way.
Gracias,
Casper
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 09,2021

Unfortunately I have no idea when the Polaris lounges will open again my dear Casper. If you look at LAX the *A lounge has not opened yet and there are tons of *A flights there. Hopefully soon!
AAFlyer — May 08,2021

Thanks Adan. Avoid UA and take a real airline, I'm a tad biased! You know..
Chicken or pasta, so F boring. Yet a stunning TR.
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 09,2021

LOL. Thanks for the advice. I don't disagree with you at all. I might consider Jetblue Mint if the price is right. ;)
Vendredi13 — May 08,2021

Woof ! JetSetPanda !

Phew ! If even Adan gives up visiting the lounges ! it's becoming really sad !
You did right with this business flight for your return. And luckily your FA crew was proactive. Did you try to get another seat during your dinner ? It could have been more convenient !

Thanks my friend, for sharing ! See you later !
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 09,2021

Oauf mon cher,

Lounges are not something that we look forward to these days. Unfortunately there was no empty seat because it was completely full. Otherwise I'm sure the FA would have proposed it. ;)

See you.
Emile — May 09,2021

Thanks for this new report JetSet, whenever I see your nickname, I know it's gonna be a great report ! This one did not disappoint. You live up to your reputation.
Have a good sunday my dear Panda.
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 09,2021

Thank you for your kind words Emile. Sharing is good as long as people enjoy it. ;)
Capoune — May 10,2021

Hi Adan!

Nice seat onboard this 772, but nothing more!! A bad series but in the end you arrive at your destination, lol
Let us know for UA's response!

Thank you for sharing.
Take care
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 11,2021

Hi Seb,

It was one thing after the other with this flight. As you said thankfully I arrived safely. UA compensated me with 3.750 miles deposited into my account. Pretty decent for a free ticket. The distance between EWR-SFO is about 2.560 miles.

See you around.
samlecorsaire — May 11,2021

Hi Adan
Thanks you for this TR and for the stunning spotting arriving in SFO.
Sorry for the poor catering and for the sticker
Why don’t you try Delta???? A real airline lol
See you my panda
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 12,2021

Salut Sam,

SFO is stunning upon arrival whether it is day or night. ;)

At least there is a choice between chicken or pasta. :P it could be worse. As for the sticker things happen and it helped in my case because it contributed to a bad flight which UA compensated me with miles at the end.

I rarely fly Delta because I'm hooked to Star Alliance unfortunately. The influence of frequent flyer programs can be addictive.

See you soon for another trip at the end of the month and this time it is not on UA. ;)
Alex — May 10,2021

Thank you for sharing with us this nice trip report Jetsetpanda!

Alex
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 11,2021

Thanks for your visit and comment Alex. It was my pleasure.