• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Meal of the Week • United Airlines  >  My First International Business Class Meal: SFO-LHR on UA930
Meal of the WeekUnited Airlines

My First International Business Class Meal: SFO-LHR on UA930

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 28, 2016December 28, 2016 4 Comments

For this week’s Matthew’s Meal of the Week, I remember my first international flight.

In September 2006 I travelled to Europe for the first time, a United 747-400 from San Francisco to London. I had just turned 20 and it was my first time leaving North America. I spent a month driving through Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands. It turned out to be one of the best trips of my life.

> Read More: A Love Affair with United Airlines

Already a die-hard United loyalist, a friend graciously applied an upgrade to UA930, my SFO-LHR flight. It cleared just days before the flight — you have no idea how happy I was! I even snagged the last seat upstairs and ended up sitting next to an ExxonMobil executive.

The flight was just weeks after the liquid bomb scare so security was very tight, with secondary security checks upon boarding. The FAs were very matronly and clearly not amused by my photography. Eventually one asked why I was taking pictures and I explained  that it was my first international flight. That seemed to calm them down, though they went from thinking I was a potential threat to just crazy.

Anyway, the flight departed SFO around midday and featured a lunch service followed by breakfast prior to landing.

Mixed nuts to start, served warm, with 7up (can’t believe I used to drink that sweet nasty stuff)–United Airlines 747 SFO-LHR

The appetizer plate contained an assortment of crudités, cheese, and meats. Very tasty. A side salad and warm focaccia bread rounded out the first course.

tim-and-matt-europe-2006-035

This being my first international flight, I had no idea how bad airline steaks generally were and ordered one.

I remember being so thrilled to have a steak on a plane that I ate every bite, despite it being way too overdone. I also recall the potatoes and asparagus accompanying the meat were very enjoyable.

tim-and-matt-europe-2006-053

A choice of crackers and cheese or ice cream for dessert, though I was (grudgingly) given both. The cheese was unmemorable but the ice cream satisfying.

tim-and-matt-europe-2006-058

This plane featured United’s old barcalounger recliner seats and with a midday departure, I did not sleep much during the flight.

Somewhere over Ireland a hot breakfast was served; a cheese omelet covered in salsa, Canadian bacon, sausage, a croissant, and side of fruit.

tim-and-matt-europe-2006-060

While my first international flight experience was not as great as I would have hoped for, I still had a very pleasant flight with good food. It would be the first of dozens (and dozens) of long haul flights on United in the years to come.

By in large, meal service did not change at all until recently, with the introduction of Polaris.

> Read More: Sneak Peek at United Polaris

Previous Article Lufthansa vs. Turkish Within Europe
Next Article It’s That Time of Year Again…

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Fake United Airlines Flight

    The “Fake” United Airlines Flight No Agent Could Book…

    June 28, 2022
  • Lemon And Lime Garnishes Return To United Airlines

    June 27, 2022
  • United Airlines Abortion Dobbs

    United Airlines Strikes A Neutral Tone On Landmark Supreme Court Abortion Decision

    June 24, 2022

4 Comments

  1. Greg Reply
    December 28, 2016 at 7:17 pm

    Great to see a vintage report.

    But also so crystal clear how sub par pmUA’s biz class soft product was before the merger. That app and salad on a 10 hour plus flight is less than what you could serve yourself in a basic United Club today.

    Despite all the whining on FT from the tulip loyalists, UA biz improved post merger on all accounts.

  2. MeanMeosh Reply
    December 28, 2016 at 9:20 pm

    Ironically enough, the best airplane steak I’ve ever had was on UA, in F from PTY to IAH. A perfect medium rare.

    BTW, love this new weekly feature. If you’re ever interested in a guest foodie post, you know where to find me. 🙂

  3. Ganesha Rajanaidu Reply
    December 29, 2016 at 12:26 am

    The hard and soft products for UA especially in the photos and description provided in this article is subpar and should positioned as such. Check out the AV, it looks like something you’d expect in the 1970s and from the photos of food, doubt you want to touch it.

    • Matthew Reply
      December 29, 2016 at 12:49 am

      True, my pictures make everything look pretty subpar, but keep in mind this was a decade ago. United has come a long way in terms of both soft and hard product.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Offensive Slob Puts Her Feet Up On Emirates Flight June 28, 2022
  • Delta Oversold Gift Card
    $10,000 Visa Gift Card To Take A Later Delta Air Lines Flight?! June 28, 2022
  • Iberia Express A321 Business Class Review
    Review: Iberia Express A321 Business Class June 28, 2022
  • Fake United Airlines Flight
    The “Fake” United Airlines Flight No Agent Could Book… June 28, 2022

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Delta Korean Air First Class Mistake Fare
    Delta Considers $2,700 A Mistake Fare… June 18, 2022
  • Delta Pilots Open Letter
    Delta Air Lines Pilots Offer Direct Appeal To Customers June 18, 2022
  • United Airlines Honolulu Diversion
    Update: United Airlines 787-9 Diverts To Honolulu Due To Disruptive Passenger June 16, 2022
  • Flaunting Woman Struts Up and Down The Aisle On My Austrian Flight June 9, 2022

Archives

June 2022
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  
« May    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Posting....