American Airlines has restored two key elements of premium cabin service to its premium transcontinental and intnerconinetal flights: glassware and ice cream sundaes. It’s time for United Airlines to do the same.
It’s Time For Ice Cream Sundaes And Glassware To Return To United Airlines
Over the weekend, we covered United CEO Scott Kirby’s proud proclamation that United Airlines was on its way to to becoming not only the largest, but the greatest airline in the world. While becoming the greatest airline in the world is a worthy goal, it will not be reached through what frequent United flyers wryly describe as “Kirby Kutbacks.”
Throughout the pandemic, United has substituted glasses and ceramic cups for plastic and paper cups. Not only are those wasteful, but there is nothing premium about them.
United has also eliminated appetizers and its elaborate dessert course from premium transcontinental and overseas flights. The dessert cart included crackers and cheese, an ice cream sundae, and a variety of petite fours, all of which created a much more premium product and were once a selling point of the new Polaris business class product.
Early on in the pandemic, we learned that COVID-19 is not spread by surface contact. Around the world, other airlines responded by restoring elements of service like appetizers, dessert, and real glasses.
Fly Lufthansa between Chicago and Frankfurt and you’ll receive a multi-course meal with cups, glasses, and other elements that make business class business class (not to mention first class).
Fly United on the same route and you’ll receive this:
And while comparing joint venture partners does seem to me to be an apples-to-apples comparison, both American and Delta have now brought back pre-pandemic service to intercontinental flights. As of November 10th, American Airlines has brought back glassware to all premium cabins.
It’s time for United to do likewise.
Yes, the seat is the most important element and the Polaris seat is a darn good one. Network matters greatly. Yes, service matters too. And bedding.
But food and drink is important to me; so important if I am buying a revenue premium cabin ticket I will fly on another airline that offers full service, both domestically and internationally. I know I’m not alone.
CONCLUSION
For too long, cost-cutting in the catering department has been masked as a precautionary health measure. That’s rubbish: it’s just hygiene theatre. The restoration of glassware in premium cabins on American Airlines marks a great opportunity for United to do likewise. It’s time to bring back appetizers, desserts, and glassware.
Does dessert, appetizer, or glassware matter to you when flying in a premium cabin?
I shared the story on another post about how disgraceful United has been on catering. They delayed our 70 minute flight by almost 2 hours since they forgot to cater the plane. I was on first class and it was a night flight so expected some food since they were so focused on catering the plane. All I got was small bottle of Dasani tap water, a Biscoff and a stroopwafel. Seriously, I wonder what they served on coach. Loads of sugar and processed crap. Unreal!!!
This was a key priority of my administration. And who says we’re not winning?
Oh yes I’m sick of those ivermectin poppers with a clorox chaser.
clorox may be the only food and drink available if hyperinflation sets in. Let’s go brandon.
You truly are an ignorant fool…2020, black swan event, US GDP drops, fiscal stimulus to improve things into 2021. Pent-up demand & economy re-opened…temporary inflation.
It is always amusing when know-it-all authoritarians like UA-CCP make proclamations that reveal how little they actually know. The pandemic was most definitely not a black swan event.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-pandemic-isnt-a-black-swan-but-a-portent-of-a-more-fragile-global-system
Thanks cargo, appreciate the backup!
UA-NYC: “Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey says ‘hyperinflation’ will happen soon in the U.S. and the world”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/23/twitter-and-square-ceo-jack-dorsey-says-hyperinflation-will-happen-soon-in-the-us-and-the-world.html
https://twitter.com/jack/status/1451733913961783299
Isn’t he one of your saviors? You just keep getting checked left and right.
Have fun fun talking amongst yourself.
We will, Aaron, seeing that you add zero to the conversation. Are you just Matthew under a new name trying to get rid of us? Good luck.
Here here thanks for bringing this to the forefront. They’re losing my business in the meantime.
Now if AA can just get some pilots we are set…
Matthew you could do your part even more by ceasing to highlight the wokeness of Kirby and UA, and focus on why and how they will begin losing money. Many of us have already walked with our wallets, flying paid premium on other airlines, because of UA’s BS excuses, the sad part is, the Union and many employees are buying into his wokeness too.
The fact that you are using “wokeness” in a derogatory way says so much about you. And none of it good.
Also not sure what that has to do with cutbacks and penny pinching by UA, but there you go…
“Wokeness” now describes an illiberal, intolerant and racist worldview. You don’t like being called a racist?
When Wokes and Racists Actually Agree on Everything
No, it doesn’t. Even as much as you try making to divert the attention away from your own racism and bigotry.
Bur hey, you have a Youtube video! Whoopee!
And what about the video, comedic as it is, is untrue? Do you not see race and racism everywhere?
The move of UA in that direction is a news item in itself – I can’t help but to highlight it. Whether that is good or bad for business remains to be seen.
Last week was the first time I was given an actual glass with my soda on AA since this “whatever” started. It was a shorter flight so no meal.
Haven’t the sundaes returned in a limited form on the premium transcons and long Hawaii routes?
Not sundaes – the mango sorbet has been placed in a plastic bowl and topped with frozen strawberries. A far cry from the traditional ice cream sundae service. On international flights, though, the dessert is still served like the picture above.
IAH-HNL: the ice cream was served in the same round cup as they used before the pandemic. The thaw time took over :30 min and that didn’t include the fruit compote – which I ate as a popsicle.
I’m all for bringing back the glass drink ware. I despise the 2 sandwich choices – bring back the salads!
Time for you to do the thing you should have done yesterday – come over to American.
Yuck, Yuck and Triple Yuck!!
Amen
Why was any of this taken away to begin with? Beyond ridiculous. Theater.
Of all the things going on in the world, why write about this? First world problems.
Please submit all complaints to [redacted by admin]
Comment of the year. When he is “finished” in Taiwan he will get back to you.
I’m pretty conservative when it comes to body count but it is admirable how she slept her way to the Vice Presidency. seeing that it’s well documented I’ll never understand how UA-NYC can only see one side of things. but I heard that vaccine disables the empathy gene, so it makes sense.
This has to be your most nonsensical post to date.
opinions are like …holes. everyone’s got them.
I won’t lose sleep over your opinion.
@Mathew / Kyle? All good here? Really?
really? I don’t care if Matthew deletes it but come on. all you do is personal attacks 25/8/366.
@UA-NYC – I edited the email address previously posted.
@Acura – There’s plenty of substance to attack, the last word of that email address can’t stay.
sounds good. here’s the G rated version:
UA-NYC@WeDidItJoe.com
Recently flew LAX-MUC on LH and FRA-Den back on UA. While the I would not rate the food on LH the best, it was miles better compared to the service and food on UA. Kirby needs to start bringing back what we had in Polaris prior to the pandemic, including the hot towel service.
I live in Washington, DC and I’ll take nonstops and the most convenient flight any day over a slightly better meal. Going to Europe I’m not stopping in Philadelphia or Charlotte or New York when I can just go nonstop from Dulles to most of the places I go. Or fly Lufthansa or Austrian, but I do love the Polaris seat and that matters, especially going to Europe, and the seats on Lufthansa and Austrian just dont compare (though I do love the Austrian service). Going to California it really depends on my schedule. But I wont connect somewhere to get a better meal when I can go nonstop. Period. But each person is different. I hope they bring back the old service standards soon, but schedule and comfort matter most to me, I can get a better meal either before I depart or when I get to my destination.
I used to be the same way TATL from IAD, only taking direct if I could. But a few years back, I decided that, since I could not check into the hotel until 1-3 or so, rather than take an overnight direct that gets me into my final destination at 0700, I will look for the cheapest business class TATL flight (which usually makes PZ easier to find, too) connecting at an EU airport with decent lounges so I can shower and have breakfast before taking the short flight on to my final destination, arriving closer to check-in time. And since are so many hourly flights or even trains for the short intra-Europe leg, delays in the TATL leg are not really a problem.
I’m fine connecting in Europe. Frankfurt/Munich/Zurich/Brussels/Vienna/Lisbon are all great and work well when There’s no nonstop. I particularly like the 10pm flights on ua/lh to Frankfurt and Munich. Sleep well and easy transfer
I don’t really see the fuss over sundaes. On United the ice cream is always way too cold and it is obviously cheap. Is this what Americans think of as good food? I’d prefer a little pot of Grom or something along those lines. Of course, pandemic theater in all its forms needs to stop.
In the name of COVID airlines are saving tons of money in premium services. I don’t see any value as 1k member anymore with United. I decided give Delta a try but just to find same crappy plastic glasses in premium cabins. Maybe is time to build my status with AA.
American Airlines, serving a sundae that’s barely good as McDonald’s hot fudge sundae? Seriously?
Frankly speaking, United is “leading” by default, since oneworld and SkyTeam partner airline nations are still down in the doldrums. But choosing to restore service is a big step, considering practice makes perfect, and this will give them the time to iron out the kinks.
I know Americans don’t like United but they are responsible for most inbound tourists, business travelers bound for the United States.