How much food can United Airlines fit on one plane?

Here is the run down of what was advertised for today’s 9 hour flight and what we actually got. Let’s be clear - I’m eating and drinking everything that is offered, except the sugary stuff as I’d like to keep my feet.

A few passengers looked fully prepared for an endurance-eating event, so perhaps United knows its passengers.

Anyway - here is the advertised menu on the app. Which is a pretty good and welcomed approach….

Service 1 - after take off

Savory marinated olives or Lettuce mix

Gnocchi or Braised chicken stew or Orecchiette

Silky passionfruit and lime infused custard

Service 2 - mid flight

Apple cinnamon infused pastry

Chicken burrito wrap

Service 3 - pre landing

Grilled chicken and pepper pizza

Four cheese pizza twist

And what we got

Pre-Service 1 - just after take off

Unexpected round of drinks

Service 1 – Better Than Expected

Round of drinks

Chicken had run out - was ok as it wasn’t my first choice anyway

Seems the vegetarian Gnocchi isn’t vegan as it has milk in it. So the vegans will have to starve. Clearly we aren’t going all the way to California

There were no olives, other items were as advertised.

As airplane food goes - it wasn’t bad.

Service 2 - Mid-Flight Confusion

Exactly (I.e. 4hrs 30mins) mid-flight

No sign of the pastry

As they got to our seats, we were then told that ‘they’ didn’t cook all the chicken wraps - but that the chicken wraps were now in the oven cooking. I’m not sure who ‘they’ are as there isn’t a chef back there, clearly an oversight of one of her colleagues.

Unexpected round of drinks - which was appreciated

Hot burrito wraps eventually arrived at 17:00, and proved to be worth the wait. Hot and tasty, and went down a treat, pretty sure it’s the first of not so healthy choices this holiday. Pastries are still AWOL, assumed MIA.

So it’s now 17:15 and we land in 3hrs 35 mins - is there really time for a 3rd service?

Service 3 - Final Approach Pizza Assault

Its 19:00, approx 1hr 30mins to landing.

Incoming is yet another unexpected round of drinks

It was pizza or pizza - we had one of each. Booth were poor

United Airlines - So in summary;

• Either this aircraft is 40% fuel and 60% catering storage, or United Airlines has cracked physics

• Service has been hit and miss - but on the whole - more than fine

• Seriously impressed by the amount of drinks served by United, and the restraint by the other passengers.