Like a dripping faucet, United is slowly but surely bringing back elements of its pre-pandemic meal service. This month, passengers can expect the return of garlic bread, a crowd-pleaser, on select United Airlines flights in Polaris Business Class.
Garlic Bread Back On United Airlines!
One of my favorite features of international business or first class (considering I do not eat bread at home, especially in the USA), is garlic bread. It’s almost like caviar and Champagne as in the sort of category of indulgences that I only take part in when flying.
For years, United Airlines offered garlic bread in a bread basket onboard its longer flights in business class, with a choice between three or more types of bread rolls.
During the pandemic, bread was reduced to a pre-packaged roll. Over time, the bread rolls were bulk-boarded so they could be heated, but there was no choice beyond bread or no bread.
This month, United is bringing back garlic bread to Polaris business class flights departing the United States. The bread basket is not returning (yet), but each passenger will be served both a pretzel roll and a slice of garlic bread with lunch or dinner.
On the one hand, this should not be news at all – the full bread basket, with garlic bread, should have returned over a year ago. But it did not and now it is back..and I’m happy to see it.
This month United will also add appetizers to more Asian routes (China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan). Slowly but surely United is bringing back its pre-pandemic meal service.
As I’ve said before: United should focus on the basics. We don’t need fancy food, just edible food. Simple green salads, lean portions, and sides as simple as buttery garlic bread or ice cream sundaes represent exactly what many customers want.
CONCLUSION
Garlic bread is returning to United Airlines in Polaris Business Class. Let’s hope it is just as decadent as in 2020!
Bonus: I’m sure I’m not the only United frequent flyer who can look up at the three pictures above and immediately identify what station the bread came from!
Garlic ANYTHING has no place on an airplane.
Helps hide the BO, dirty crack, and bad breath.
Does the cabin smell like garlic? Seems akin to people bringing on their broccoli, fish and hard boiled eggs.
Hahaha! I was thinking this regarding the BBQ rib posting recently!
That being said, garlic gets a bad rap. I don’t think it makes breath smell that bad and it rarely is that pungent.
True, normal garlic is not terrible but garlic powder is pretty strong. However, I am sure with United’s A+ catering that they are only using fresh garlic. Either that, or natural flavors. Only the best for the best.
Oh my….. Why?????
The bread basket was seen on my IAD-BRU flight Wednesday. Maybe because I was in the last row, or maybe the FA was trying to get rid of it, but I ended up with 4 slices.
“I do not eat bread at home”
But dry airplane bread is a delicacy? OK.
Another step, now get us the appetizer/salad served first, separate from the main course so that doesn’t go cold while eating the salad
Does this really warrant a post?
Seeing United has proclaimed they are the alpha and the omega: yes.
How else is Matthew supposed to spread the Gospel of Scott Kirby, CEO of the greatest airline in the world?
I’m waiting for ‘The Chosen: Scott Kirby Edition’
Good grief! At this rate, it will be 2030 by the time United returns to the pre-pandemic standard of service they managed to slash to the bone in a matter of days in 2020…
Slowly but surely…cmon!!!
Ok- Matthew has challenged his readers for extra credit. The pictures show 2 different types of garlic bread and 2 different styles of pretzel rolls. I feel the calories just thinking about the carbs. Garlic bread most resembles images from ORD so I’m going with that for my guess.
Let me guess. Garlic bread will come back a few routes at a time over a period of a couple of years. And sometimes you will get it, and sometimes you won’t, for some reason. I’ve seen this movie before.
Personally, I would just like a decent-tasting entree.
Big f…big deal, how much do they pay you to shill this?
Mayor Pete needs to be fired for allowing this garlic bread to be served. If it tastes good he should be fired for not making united bring it back sooner
Hmm. Aaron, who has been pretty quiet, commented on another article within three minutes of this comment. Average Republican=Aaron? All starting to make sense.
What!? How dare you! I’m not that woke lib. I’m a real Alpha male.
I’m so mad I’m going to go find a prius to roll some coal on
Have never heard “rolling coal” and didn’t look it up the last time you said that, but I just did. Average republicans, teaching people something new every day. What would we do without you?
@AJ Let’s have a reveal celebration! You’re a bot! I can tell when your human has control. And I will not tell how because they will fix you
Just saw this Maryland. Not a bot. Bot/not yet anyway. ChatGPT is crazy AF though.
Nah, you’re just a hateful bigot, which is usually the type of person who uses woke as a slur or insult.
Please don’t insult me that way. Also I’m that other person using the Aaron name in that other post you mentioned.
Garlic Bread is sooo 20 minutes ago
Well now I’m definitely switching over to United
In other news, looks like my upcoming Delta One flight will have Indian chicken curry as the meal… great. That smell will offend me worse than any garlic bread.
Hopefully that won’t be like this.
https://i.postimg.cc/hGd81x60/Screen-Shot-2023-03-03-at-10-50-15-PM.png
You should probably stick to the purest and cleanest of all white meats. Any shade of dark seems to trigger you.
Another sign things are slowly returning, the UA lounge at NRT is open again.
Matthew – do you know a specific date the appetizers are returning to Asia flights? I’m going on LAX-HND inaugural on the 25th, hoping I see them then.
01 March
Wonderful, curious to see what they’re serving!
Also – is Australia/New Zealand already getting this added service? Would assume so as those flights are longer?
When will we see the return of quality main courses?
https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/unmountable-boot-volume.png
These oligopolies have the consumer trained like the best flying monkeys.
I don’t like garlic bread. I also dislike United but they have a good frequent flyer program.
You don’t have to eat it! 😉
“Like a dripping faucet…”
Could not have said it any better myself Matthew! I was on UA33 yesterday and selected the chicken option after no menus were presented. What a very small medallion (one!) of chicken breast that was in my bowl. For the first time, I left that trans Pacific crossing still hungry! One can conclude that I can easily go to the Polaris Lounge to eat while transiting at LAX, but how customers who end their journey in LAX? I was HAPPY though to enjoy my ice cream sundae having enjoyed my last one back in February 2020 before the Pandemic. Oh and on the desert cart were small bottles of Port that I also enjoyed. For the pre arrival meal I choose the pancakes and on the plate was a warmed cinnamon roll (not sticky guey like the kind us loyal CO Customers were used to) and croissant.