United Airlines is restoring free meal service in economy class on flights between Honolulu and Guam, an uncontested route that saw the elimination of complimentary meal service many years ago after the United – Continental merger.
United Airlines Restores Complimentary Meal Service In Economy Class On Honolulu – Guam Flights
Guam was so enraged by the elimination of complimentary meals after the United – Continental merger that its Attorney General sent a letter to Interim United Airlines CEO Brett Hart in 2017 demanding a return to meal service.
Our most significant concern is the elimination of free inlflight meal service on the eight hour flight. For over 40 years, the residents of our jurisdictions have had the benefit of free meal service to Honolulu.
> Read More: Guam Demands United Airlines Improve Service
That letter fell upon deaf ears…until now. In a surprise move, United Airlines will bring back complimentary meals on flights between Honolulu (HNL) and Guam (GUM), effective immediately.
Choices will include:
- Breakfast
- Continental breakfast
- Yogurt with granola
- Croissant with butter
- Fresh cut fruit
- Granola bar
- Continental breakfast
- Lunch/Dinner
- Hawaiian quinoa salad with grilled chicken
- Hawaiian roll with butter
- Fresh cut pineapple
- Hawaiian Host macadamia nuts
- Guava egg noodle salad with tofu
- Hawaiian roll with butter
- Fresh cut pineapple
- Hawaiian Host macadamia nuts
- Hawaiian quinoa salad with grilled chicken
I flew Continental from Honolulu to Guam in 2011, and the service was like that of an international flight — with a hot meal service after takeoff, a mid-flight snack, and a pre-arrival snack. Not great food, but it certainly helps to pass the time and is better than nothing or a $10 snack box from the buy-on-board menu.
I’m somewhat surprised to see this move considering United currently faces no competition on the route, but it is in line with United’s self-professed goal to become world’s best airline.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines is restoring meal service in economy class on flights between Guam and Honolulu. The move is a small gesture to a community that depends upon United Airlines for air travel and pays a notable fare premium due to the lack of competition on the route.
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I’m glad to seeing UA upgrade their inflight services.
It defies any logical explanation why flights from HNL cannot serve Loco Moco or white rice and spam with fried eggs. It must be culturally insensitive to the Chamorus not seeing Kelaguen, Kadon Pika or cocunut candy from Inarajan.
It’s a long flight. It should have a free meal.
Around 2005, Continental was one of the few US airlines that served a free sandwich on domestic flights. That was enough of a bribe for me to fly them a few times that year.
Does UA restore complimentary meal service on HNL-GUM route because Hawaiian Airlines is actively preparing to enter the market?
If Hawaiian tried to launch that route, what would stop UA from starting inter island flights? They could force out Hawaiian if they really wanted to
Wow, United is sure getting fancy! What’s next, individual reading lights? Checked bags? United is such an innovator.
Are the economics of this route really that tough? If UA can charge such a premium, why haven’t AA or DL at least come in and tried 3X weekly service. Both would also have plenty of free from HNL to their hubs. Surely half of the pax in each flight are Mil or Gov.
It is more than a key route – it’s a life line. And it’s a fair decision to return some type of food service on this route. I’ve flown this route before and during this pandemic in both united business and economy and I often leave feeling starved; its unreasonable. The breakfast still seems too simple; why are they not able to offer a hot option!? Will UA continue to offer snacks for purchase in the main cabin? Did the announcement mention anything about premium economy also being offered between GUM and HNL? Effectively earlier this past week, a search of fares between the two destinations shows that premium economy IS IN FACT being offered, but I’ve not seen an announcement here on GUM or in any of the blogs. When you check the flight status of UA200/UA201, the premium economy cabin is no longer being offered as economy plus; it’s a separate cabin with the premium plus fare class designators.
The United Club in Guam, which used to be packed every morning with customers waiting for the Honolulu and Tokyo flights, has been closed for almost 2 years and remains closed to this day.
A new UA Club is being built near gate 13. It will over look the tourist capital of the island (Tumon/Upper Tumon) out to the Philippine Sea. The exterior structure looks complete I guess they may be working on the interior now.
Wow never knew this flight used to have a meal, it always seemed like an outlier to me since every other flight that goes to/from GUM has a meal. Thumbs up in my book.
As always though, as soon as a service is provided, people will complain about it.
What about NYC – HNL? I flew EWR – HNL on United, no meals in Economy.
Then I flew JFK – HNL, two full meals in Economy.
United has now added meals on flights between Hawaii and DEN/IAH/ORD/IAD/EWR.
I forgot to say that the JFK – HNL flights were on Hawaiian.
And a full dinner service in FC on red eye flights, followed by a generous full breakfast prior to landing on flts to Den,Iah, Ord, Iad, Ewr. Economy receives a complimentary 2 choice salad option with fruit, butter too, and chocolate covered mac nuts.
Why not meal service on the NYC to HNL flights ? The old Continental flights had meal service. It was a ten hour flight. United took over and it all stopped. Switched to Hawaiian Airlines after that.
It was Smisek (CO) that eliminated the meal service, not PMUA
Kirby restored meal service on all long haul Hawaii flights
United still doesn’t care regardless of one route being given a meal & snacks. They still have a long way to go. Meals go a long way in impressing the average traveler. REALLY!
Good move, United. If you aspire to be the worlds best airline this is one small step.