V-Flyer

Hi all,

Just a quick question re meal service on A346 in UC. Do they take orders front to back, back to front or something completely different? Been hearing a lot about changes to UC services so just trying to find the best seats, there are 4 of us travelling together.
Does anyone have any knowledge or advice?

Cheers

It's usually from the front back, but sometimes the Flying Club Gold or higher members will be asked first.

On my last 3 VS flights the orders were taken front to back. The 2 crew taking the orders then disappeared for a few minutes then came back and went to speak to some passengers - obviously giving the bad news.

I know some airlines do take status passengers orders first but the moving around the cabin really makes it obvious and takes far more time - and makes it more likely that you miss a passenger entirely.

I noticed that some people were immediately asked for a second choice but that others weren't. Whether that was because they were Gold or because of what they ordered (first choice being popular for example) I don't know.

Sometimes you can tell the relief on the staffers taking the orders if you order the less popular choice!

As a silver I wasn't asked for a second choice though - perhaps I'd just ordered the less popular meal!

Standard procedure is to take orders from front to back, regardless of status (only once have I seen them go to status pax first).

But once they take the orders back to the galley they'll be sorted so when it actually comes to allocating the meals, if there isn't enough of one particular choice UNIQ/Au/Ag members will get priority, then everyone else.

However given that there are now virtually no surplus meals it may become more common for Au - and particularly Ag - members not to get their first choice if it's particularly popular.

Front to back on my SFO flight two weeks ago

I also wonder if paid UC vs "upgraded from PE" makes a difference? I've noticed on two recent round-trip flights that my first choice was not available twice (when miles-upgraded from PE) but available twice (when paid Z fare). A small sample, admittedly!

AFAIK the crew have no idea whether passengers paid with cash or upgraded - they don't have access to your fare code so that should have no impact on service.

All they know is your name and Flying Club status (they often leave handwritten lists taped up next to the galley for all to see which has always struck me as a bit indiscreet).