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
Will the FAs have to serve it to you or will they just throw it at you as you board while sneering?
With an attitude like yours you might wanna hope they give you the packet and not spill the hot water on your head
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.
“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…
I can’t believe someone would ask an onboard Firefighter/EMT (per the comment on the PDB thread) to serve them hot chocolate.
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.
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
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.
Do you travel with a ceramic cup these days?
I am a United F/A and I LOVE serving Hot Chocolate.
Are we still talking about a drink?
lmfao
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…
America.
Ghirardelli*
(it’s not possessive; like “walmart’s”)
Coming soon to a travel blog soon. “Fistfight breaks out over two passengers who both think they should get last hot chocolate (With Video!)
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.
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.
Same but I do use the hot towels, ugh. Nasty.
I love Hot Chocolate! “You Sexy Thing” is a great song!
If the FA use bottled water my wife and I would love this.
so a cold or room temp chocolate?