Monday, July 30, 2018

Singapore 2018 May (16)

帰りの、サンフランシスコ直行 UA2便に搭乗しました。
こんな機内。2-2-2の座席配置、ギャレーの後方です。

もらった座席は... 7B。チェックインの少し前にアップグレードが確定したら、もうここしか通路側がなかった。
そんで、7Aに座ってる姉さんの父親と思しき人がしょっちゅう様子を見に来ます。

「席を替わろうか?」って聞いたら「俺は2Dのほうが好き♪」とかほざいて拒否。シートベルト着用サインが点いてても来るし、えらくウザいからチーフパーサーに相談してみたけど... 満席なのでシート変更は無理でした。でもそのCAとのやりとりは隣席のお姉さんにもバッチリ聞こえたようで、放漫な父親のせいで居心地悪そうでした。消灯後にお父さんが来たら、自分から席を立ってトイレの前の方へ行ってヒソヒソ会話してたよ。

・・・ザマミロ。w

さて、出発時の枕元は、こうなってました。
最初からSATSの水が置いてある...。ということは、ミールの発注はANAと同じSATSを使ってるわけですね。それでいて、なんでユナイテッドの方だけがあんなに不味くなるのかが不思議。シカゴかヒューストンの発注担当が馬鹿舌?

すっかり明るい朝日の中を、出発します。
帰りは17時間弱で少し楽だけど、やっぱり長距離便だよね。
6月のSIN行き往路も、ちょうどこれ書いてる時にアップグレードの知らせが来てラッキー♪

さて、まずビバレッジから。
水は炭酸水を所望。ドラッピエ・ブリュットNVは順当な泡です。

前菜とサラダが到着。
ガーリックブレッドを所望したら、2枚くれたよ。

Chilled Appetizer
Duck lettuce wrap, cucumber, hoisin souse
ホイシンソースというのは、中国語側を見たら「海鮮醤」となっていました。魚醤の一種?
レタス内部に潜んでいるはずの鴨、ほとんど検出できません。なんだか判らないまま食べちゃいました。

サラダはこうなってます。
Salad  Mixed green, cherry tomato, cucumber, radish  served with dressing
なんてことはない、普通にグリーンサラダです。

ドレッシングはまだ劣化前(昔のパックに戻る前)のバージョン。
イタリアのバルサミコ・ドレッシングですが... SFO同様、いずれ以前のドレッシングに戻る悪寒。

さっき書いたように、パンはふたつ。
どっちももうガーリックバターが塗布されているので、バターは不要。
おかげでこのバターのほうはメインディッシュの風味を増すために活用できたのだ。

メイン、届きました。
Entrée  Grilled beef tenderloin  Morel sauce, au gratin potatoes, bell pepper ragu, zucchini
主菜はビーフのテンダーロインにしました。

他の選択肢は:
 Roasted chicken breast Morel sauce, mashed potatoes, bell pepper
 Malay-style baked perch fish fillet Fish curry sauce, steamed rice, shredded eggs
 Indian vegetarian Spinach curry with corn, coriander rice. cauliflower

ソースや食材がかぶりあってるよね。それに5択になっていたのがいつのまにか4択に減っています。劣化です
ほんっとにユナイテッドってデルタの真似っこして新しいものを提供するけど、半年も経たずに劣化していくよね。

ビーフのテンダーロインは、こんな。しっかり火が入っているミディアム仕上げです。
とりわけ騒ぎ立てるほどに不味くもないけど、なんだかコクが足りない気がした。

そこで、余ってるバターを半分ステーキソースへ、残り半分はポテト・オ・グラタンへ載せて。
こうしたら風味が増しました。でもこうやって脂の風味で食べてるのって本当は体に悪いよね。(苦笑)

ここで、デザートやチーズ配給前にコーヒーの注文取りに来るから、コーヒーと Half & Half を。
なんだかコピティアムの雰囲気を引きずっていて、スプーンがマグの中に放り込まれた状態で届きました。

次は5月のシンガポール旅行記の最終回、この機内食の続き&セカンドミール紹介でおしまいです。

11 comments:

  1. obaKoba-sann,

    I agree UA used to propose some benefits and advantages to their exclusive affiliates.
    Still, the truly existing characteristics commonly appear to be unsatisfactory.
    However, the meal and drink service to Polaris passengers in this non-stop long-haul flight UA002 to SFO from SIN didn’t seem in awfully poor quality.

    Apart from their inflight service, UA should allow GS/1K members to get in the Polaris Lounge, shouldn’t they ? (I even don’t know whether or not they invite GS members to the lounge as of now, though)
    Why I think so come from my memory ; You once told me UA had formerly sent lifespan enrollment of RCC to 2MM flyers.
    If it’s correct, they have to restart giving lifetime Polaris Lounges admission qualification for you 2MM flyer, I guess.

    best denki

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Best Denki sensei,

      From my point of view, as a elite member of WorldPerks by North West, United is much better for in-flight meals. After the acquisition by Delta, my WorldPerks account has been converted to Delta SkyPesos, but still accumulating somehow by Japanese credit card, hence the next award flight will be KLM.
      The basic strategy for me is the same here; MileagePlus award miles will be spent for ANA first class (or upgrade to Polaris), or SkyPesos will be used on KLM or Air France. (I strongly prefer KLM so I am quite happy with the next award trip itinerary)

      So, United is not too bad because of Star Alliance partners are good – ANA, SQ, TG, etc. It’s way better than Sky Team, or much narrower OneWorld.

      In regards to the Polaris Lounge, Global Services members are eligible, 1Ks are not. There are too many 1K members. United should start eliminating the membership of outside of US who doesn’t have PQD restrictions. That’s very unfair!
      The lifetime membership of RCC as a 2MM Flyer was terminated before the merger (actually, acquisition) to Continental. Therefore I didn’t receive lifetime membership of RCC/United Club by 2MM, but J.P. Morgan Reserve Card kindly supports it. No wonder we have to park several million dollars at Chase Private Banking… sigh.

      My last resort will be 4MM Flyer to be lifetime GS but I expect it takes 6+ years from now… and above GS, there is Chairman’s Circle which is no chance for me to achieve.

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love your blog. BTW, I gave up flying UA for the skillfully tasteless meal + service and switched over to ANA. Is there any way to accumulate Lifetime miles with UA?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear 912,

      Thank you for posting a comment with kind words. Appreciated.

      Well, you did a clever decision, I honestly think. I can’t choose ANA because my home airport is SFO. As per I replied to Dr. Best Denki, I used to be an elite member of WorldPerks, flying with NWA or Continental. (lol)
      But SFO is actually occupied by United and the people in SF Bay Area got brain washed with Friendly Skies, I had to join that zombie club.

      The Lifetime Miles on United MileagePlus is only accumulated by flying by United metal. But if you fly on full fair on Polaris Business such as J or C booking classes, your lifetime mile will be doubled.

      Here is a good news for you. ANA also has Million Miler Program.
      Please refer to the link (in English)

      https://contact-en.ana.co.jp/app/answers/list/c/2021

      If you can read or properly translate Japanese webpages, the detailed info is here. (in Japanese)

      https://www.ana.co.jp/ja/jp/amc/reference/premium/millionmiler-program/

      You will receive gorgeous tag with “Nippon Helicopter” logo mark. (That’s why NH stands for) Other perks and privileges? …I’m afraid to say, it’s quite pitiful.

      Delete
  4. Thank you! I did not know NH stands for Nippon Helicopter! As for the main topic, I'm at 673K Lifetime now and not sure how many "Asian Fusion Chicken Noodle Soup" I can stand before I hit one million or live-for-now and enjoy code-shared Helicopters with decent J meal and Saki.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear 912-san

      Ah, you are at 0.673MM Flyer… then pursuing the million mile flyer benefits on United might be fruitful for you, I guess. You can share the lifetime Premier Gold /Star Alliance Gold status with your “someone special,” usually your spouse-san, which is the best benefit I think.
      United’s Premier Gold benefits are almost nothing. There are too many Gold status passengers and above. However, once you achieved 1MM, Star Gold benefits are fruitful for you such as 3 x 32kg = 96 kg max capped check-in luggage limitations (note: this benefit may vary, depends on the Star Partner carriers) and priority handling, Gold Track for airport security, lounge access, or priority check-in and boarding (note: Premier Gold members are not really prioritized on United flights but Star Gold on other partnered carriers are relatively sufficient)

      And just FYI; Star Alliance maybe introducing higher status, such as Star Platinum or Star Diamond, due to the previous alliance members meeting held in Australia.

      https://www.ausbt.com.au/star-alliance-is-considering-new-status-tiers-above-gold

      Delete
  5. Thanks again. Great insight. I usually fly around 120K a year and my tactics is/was fly UA code share NH till achieve 1K status and switch over to AA or JAL but I will endure UA for the next 3 years to get the Star Gold for my better half and I. それまでNH我慢します~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear 912-san,

      That would be a clever decision, in my humble opinion. Some of my friends flew by United metal to achieve 1MM / lifetime Star Gold then switched to code shared flights.

      Oh, other way to receive fixed-Star-Gold is; request the “status matching” to All Nippon. Your 1K status will be converted to AMC Platinum if they accepted your request, then apply ANA Super Flyers credit card. Until you churn that credit card, your Star-Gold status will be fixed. ANA agents told me there would be some terms and conditions for applying the Super Flyers Card for converted members, but it would be easier for you to achieve AMC Platinum and fix the status, I guess.

      Delete
  6. Converting to ANA might be an option but 20% of my flight is eastbound from SFO/SJC (to EU) hence I need to think deeper. Thanks for another good tip, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, you take flights from SJC as well??
      A small bad news... SJC/EWR connection will be ending soon.

      https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2018/07/26/united-airlines-cuts-newark-san-jose-flight/

      Good luck.

      Delete