• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » United Airlines » United Airlines Adds Hot Chocolate Onboard
United Airlines

United Airlines Adds Hot Chocolate Onboard

Matthew Klint Posted onNovember 24, 2021November 14, 2023 24 Comments

a cup of hot chocolate with a spoon and a blue background

With all the bad news swirling around us, how about a nice cup of hot chocolate? Hot chocolate from Ghirardelli will soon be available onboard in all cabins on United Airlines.

United Adds Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate Onboard

Long a staple in United Clubs, United Airlines will be adding powdered hot chocolate onboard from Ghirardelli starting next month.

Hot chocolate will be available during the month of December no matter what cabin you are seated in. If you want it, be sure to ask early as United will only board limited quantities. Last year, narrowbody aircraft were provisioned with five packets in economy class and five packets in first class while widebody aircraft were provisioned with 10 in economy class and 10 in premium cabins (including premium economy “Premium Plus” and business class “Polaris”). United has not yet specified 2021 provisioning.

Much has changed in terms of in-flight service over the last year. Last year, flight attendants did not make the drink for you. Instead, they offered a cup of hot water and a separate blue plastic cup with the hot chocolate packet and a spoon or stir stick. This tastes much better with milk, but United no longer stocks fresh milk onboard, now using shelf-stable mini-packets of milk instead.

CONCLUSION

Hot chocolate is good substitute for coffee later in the day if I am looking for a warm drink and I’ve enjoyed Ghirardelli over the years in United Clubs. I recommend you bring your own “real” cup or mug to enjoy it in economy class, but maybe I’m just being a bit too picky. Ceramic mugs return to premium cabins on December 1st as well.

Do you like hot chocolate? Will you order some on United in December?


image: Ghirardelli

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Introduction: A Return To Asia
Next Article An Idiotic Refund Request On American Airlines

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

  • a woman looking at a man

    He Flirted On A United Flight…Then Let Her Walk Away

    May 23, 2025
  • Jon Gooda United Airlines Newark

    United Airlines Promises Smoother Summer Travel At Newark After Weeks of Delays

    May 23, 2025
  • a woman walking in an airplane with a luggage

    United Airlines Eliminates Instant Upgrades, Excursionist Perk, MileagePlus Upgrade Award Chart

    May 22, 2025

24 Comments

  1. CHRIS Reply
    November 23, 2020 at 5:39 pm

    Will the FAs have to serve it to you or will they just throw it at you as you board while sneering?

    • John Reply
      November 23, 2020 at 9:00 pm

      With an attitude like yours you might wanna hope they give you the packet and not spill the hot water on your head

      • CHRIS Reply
        November 24, 2020 at 4:18 pm

        I’ll gladly tell you that I’ve avoided setting foot aboard a United aircraft for almost 11 years now. Their employees are indifferent and their service laughable. I’ll take 3 connections and all day on DL before I’d even consider United. After October 1st all thats left at AA and UA are the senior mamas and they couldn’t care less how you feel about flying their airline. Spirit is more enjoyable than United at this point and AA is not far behind either. Delta is going to win this war.

        • Matty Reply
          November 27, 2021 at 10:35 am

          “Man with 11 year grudge tells the world an irrelevant opinion about service levels on an airline over a decade ago” come on man, why even comment if you’re just going to be bitter? Let it go…

      • Arthur Reply
        November 24, 2021 at 11:12 am

        I can’t believe someone would ask an onboard Firefighter/EMT (per the comment on the PDB thread) to serve them hot chocolate.

  2. M Casey Reply
    November 23, 2020 at 6:17 pm

    I was saddened to see before Covid the IAH UC had removed the Ghirardelli’s packets and replaced with a bowl with a spoon. This covid thing might bring back those packets – which I claim have made it into my carryon on several occasions.

    • Valerie Reply
      November 23, 2020 at 11:33 pm

      I’ll definitely ask for a packet on my flight from NY to London in Dec and take my Spode English ceramic travel mug can’t wait

      • Barbara Reply
        November 24, 2020 at 5:31 pm

        It’s just unfortunate that United is scrimping so badly to only make available a handful for all flights. It’s a shelf stable product, what’s the problem with catering properly? And the FAs will have to bear the brunt of passenger complaints.

  3. Andy K Reply
    November 23, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    Do you travel with a ceramic cup these days?

  4. Dee Reply
    November 23, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    I am a United F/A and I LOVE serving Hot Chocolate.

    • debit Reply
      November 23, 2020 at 10:41 pm

      Are we still talking about a drink?

      • Acura Reply
        November 24, 2021 at 10:17 pm

        lmfao

  5. Paolo Reply
    November 23, 2020 at 10:34 pm

    27 grams of sugar ( ie just under 1 ounce) in every serve. Totally scandalous, and doubly so when served in combination with a snack or sweet treat…

    • Acura Reply
      November 24, 2021 at 10:14 pm

      America.

  6. GrammarPolice Reply
    November 24, 2020 at 6:47 am

    Ghirardelli*

    (it’s not possessive; like “walmart’s”)

  7. Kale R Fithian Reply
    November 24, 2020 at 6:28 pm

    Coming soon to a travel blog soon. “Fistfight breaks out over two passengers who both think they should get last hot chocolate (With Video!)

  8. St James Reply
    November 25, 2020 at 2:22 am

    Curious it’s not nearly as prevalent over in the states.
    Hot chocolate is a staple in Australia especially if you don’t want coffee. Yes we have high standards for coffee, but sometimes we want something else. And a mocha just says you want a hot choccie but don’t want to admit it!
    Also, the proper way is to maximise milk, preferably hot and frothed if possible.

  9. Santastico Reply
    November 24, 2021 at 9:05 am

    And that hot water…. No thank you. I never drink anything that touches the water available on planes. No coffee, no tea, no hot chocolate.

    • Acura Reply
      November 24, 2021 at 10:16 pm

      Same but I do use the hot towels, ugh. Nasty.

  10. Brian T. Reply
    November 24, 2021 at 12:20 pm

    I love Hot Chocolate! “You Sexy Thing” is a great song!

  11. DC not in DC Reply
    November 24, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    If the FA use bottled water my wife and I would love this.

    • Acura Reply
      November 24, 2021 at 10:16 pm

      so a cold or room temp chocolate?

  12. emercycrite Reply
    November 28, 2021 at 4:03 am

    Groundbreaking.

  13. Pingback: Thanksgiving Travel 2021: Breastfeeding A Cat, And Thanksgiving Turkey Carry On - View from the Wing

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • a woman looking at a man
    He Flirted On A United Flight…Then Let Her Walk Away May 23, 2025
  • Jon Gooda United Airlines Newark
    United Airlines Promises Smoother Summer Travel At Newark After Weeks of Delays May 23, 2025
  • Delta Sky Club ATL F Review
    Review: Delta Sky Club Atlanta (ATL) – Concourse F May 23, 2025
  • a woman walking in an airplane with a luggage
    United Airlines Eliminates Instant Upgrades, Excursionist Perk, MileagePlus Upgrade Award Chart May 22, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.