After receiving passenger pushback over a recent decision to eliminate free alcohol minis on intercontinental flights in Premium Plus (premium economy class), United Airlines will restore complimentary drinks starting next month.
Alcohol Minis Will Again Be Complimentary On United Airlines In Premium Economy Class
It was revealed last month that spirits, often called liquor minis, were no longer complimentary in Premium Plus class on longhaul flights. Instead, only beer and wine were included. In fact, the website was updated to make this clear. Ironically, liquor minis remained free on premium transcontinental and longer Hawaiian flights in Premium Plus. But with consumer confusion and anger over the incongruity, United will be updating its liquor policy.
In a memo to flight attendants reviewed by Live and Let’s Fly, United shared that spirits would again be complimentary on longhaul flights in its premium economy class.
Starting June 1, liquor minis will be reintroduced and served complimentary. Offer one alcoholic beverage at a time.
The move comes as United also restores a heartier pre-arrival meal to these cabins, reversing a pandemic-era cutback as planes once again fly full. With this move, Premium Plus will now return to its pre-pandemic service flow.
It’s a smart move, especially as Delta Air Lines has chosen to continue its premium economy (Premium Select) cutbacks and serve economy class meals rather than a more upgraded meal. While the soft product may be far less important than the seat to most passengers, it is an important component of building long-term loyalty. Both American and Delta offer complimentary spirits to their premium economy passengers.
> Read More: Premium Economy Cutbacks At United Airlines Demonstrate Tension Between Push For Quality And Cost Controls
Even as planes are going out full and ticket prices rising despite the poor quality of onboard catering, United is finally recognizing that in-flight food and beverages do matter and consumers still have choice. With profitable times ahead, why not invest a bit more in the soft product to capture passengers on the margin for whom food and drink matter? It just represents good business.
CONCLUSION
After a brief cutback to just beer and wine, United Airlines will restore complimentary liquor minis on longhaul flights in Premium Plus, starting on June 1, 2022. This move harmonizes beverages offerings in premium economy across domestic and international longhaul flights.
Just need a dedicated flight attendant as well as a dedicated lav, and UA would have an industry leading PE product
the FA Union taking another L 😀
We now have to wait for a certain 5-star rated partner of UA to follow suit. Hopefully nobody is holding their breath.
Good. I flew PP back to the UK in late 21 and the lack of proper complimentary bar just changes the vibe of the service to me to make it feel a bit non premium product, when UA want to use it to generate premium revenue.
We’ll see. EWR LHR June 4th. I’ll report back.
Now if only they would restore Polaris service on board and in the lounges, they might get some more business from me. Done with paying for J on United until they fix Polaris soft product. AA and DL have restored business class service while UA remains a joke. Very short sighted. Flying Asiana in J to ICN on Friday, money that would have typically gone to UA.
They plan to restore Polaris service June 1 to all international routes.
@matthew is this true? June 1 Polaris restored?
I’ve seen no memo. But I will ask United.
Having experienced Asiana in all three classes of service a few years ago (back when they used to offer F), I am puzzled as to why anyone would choose to fly with any of their competitors, let alone a competitor from the US. It would make sense if there was a monetary saving involved, but that doesn’t seem to have been the case in this particular instance. Or is it a case of their service having suffered as a result of a number of financially challenging years?
That would be an absolute dream, I flew on a polaris flight back when they first announced the new seat and catering changes, amd the services were great despite being on the old 2, 1, 2 seats, having those menus, the grilled cheese and soup, and wine flight was great.
Flying to frankfurt this summer on polaris and am hoping the soft product is beefed up by the new changes.
I have seen on some other sites reports that united is bringing back the full pre pandemic Polaris catering on June 1.
Does anyone know if this is true? Assuming nothing is official as Matthew hasn’t reported anything.
It is true that along with a couple of other catering initiatives that have already been announced like the Spritz cocktails to Italy.
The last thing I need on a flight is some irritating drunk next to me, or worse a drunk who gets the flight diverted. If people can’t survive a flight without alcohol then they need to check in to rehab.
Healthwise, this is not good.
I wish United would offer complimentary alcohol in Economy Plus like Delta and American do. I just won’t buy it out of principle because of that.
Seems to me, alcohol and flying don’t always mix well. Maybe an extra security guard on board might come in handy.