United Airlines is adding a sweet new touch to its domestic first class service: Godiva chocolate.
United Airlines Adds Godiva Chocolate To Domestic First Class
The Belgian chocolatier, like United, is celebrating its 100-year anniversary and will be featured onboard throughout the month of April. Specifically, United says the chocolates will be offered in domestic first class on flights over 901 miles, excluding those departing from Canada and Latin America.
The chocolates will be presented as part of the pre-arrival service, about 90 minutes before landing. Flight attendants will serve them from a bowl placed on a silver tray, using tongs, with a serviette alongside (so not quite like the individually-wrapped chocolates pictured above, from an EVA flight).
Each flight will be catered with enough chocolate for each first class passenger, which will be offered individually.
While this is hardly a game-changing upgrade, it is a thoughtful one. Small touches like this can leave a lasting good impression, especially when accompanied by a warm smile on domestic flights where the service flow can otherwise feel assembly-line.
It reminds me of when Polaris was first introduced and passengers were treated to a chocolate truffle as part of the pre-boarding service…
CONCLUSION
United’s addition of Godiva chocolate in domestic first class is a modest but welcome update. More importantly, it is another sign that despite warning signs of rising oil prices, United is not going to enter austerity mode. It properly sees that if wants to charge a premium for its product, it must offer a premium product.
Who isn’t celebrating their 100th anniversary this year?
Well done, gourmet UA!
Caviar and now Godiva… United trying to be the Emirates of the Americas?
As long as I can still stroopwaffle-it-up, I’m pleased.
If UA and DL are looking to seriously compete for the big money crowd, then pax will be the winner. Except if they’re on AA, of course.
Incidentally, Godiva Chocolatier, headquartered in NYC, is a multinational chocolate maker owned by Turkish conglomerate Yıldız Holding. And both UA and TK are proud members of the Star Alliance.
Interesting point, Godiva’s ownership and UA/TK’s Star Alliance membership really show how global brands and alliances cross borders beyond their “home” identities.
Well, at least ‘premium’ for a month ! ..,,. I didn’t realize that those ‘Contriva’ chocolates rivaled gold in their worth !
Catering just the exact number for !st class and excluding Canada ( another slight ), the rest of Latin America Central America ( is the Caribbean also embargoed ? ) … Seems a tad underwhelming, at best. Why not downgrade the quality of chocolate a bit and extend the celebration to at least the whole western hemisphere & throughout the year ? I think the positive effects of this little initiative could also be appreciated throughout the rest of the international route system as well …. Contrast that with Emriates unlimited caviar ! But maybe poor timing in general, considering the turbulent economic skies ahead…..
You sound miserable. So sorry for your family and friends.
I reported this last week on FT.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37665186-post270.html
I reported this last week on FT. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37665186-post270.html
Oh, I missed your post. A FA sent me a memo that was dated last Wed.
This is actually a service-element that they are bringing back.
UA formerly had (and advertised) a Godiva chocolate service in the late 1990s in F.
It was eliminated in February 2001 as part of a big cost-cutting initiative.
The February 2001 cuts also saw the elimination of grapefruit juice, lemonade, olives, lemon peels, Mrs. Fields’ cookies, children’s activity books, Y class menus to Europe/Latin America, along with a host of other service elements.
Interesting – was before my time. I started flying UA in earnest in 2004.
My only vague memories before that are the McDonald’s Happy Meals in the 90s and those breakfast burritos they used to serve…in Y.
I can see why UA discontinued the ‘Happy Meals” … Who would have thought that even those delicacies would fail at bringing an enjoyable (Happy) inflight experience ! … lol
(Although, ironically haven’t the ‘big 3’ all brought back good ‘ole American greasy ‘boigas’ with all the fixins ? )
I know it’s mainly due to my (overly) cynical nature, but my first reaction upon reading this article was ‘cheap’ .. in restricting the distribution of the treats geographically in both distance & location. Couldn’t they’v just opted for 100 year ‘exclusive commemorative’ Russell Stover chocolates for ALL flights systemwide ALL (anniversary) year ? .. lol
The Happy Meals were also eliminated as part of this 2001 cut.
Yes, yes, yes! I remember flying LAX-LHR in Connoisseur Class on a 747 in 1991 and 1992. The flight attendants would take around a 10 (or 20?) pound box of Godiva and serve Connoisseur Class pax. The box was then placed in the galley area for pax to help themselves.
Thanks for the nostalgic airline trivia .. I couldn’t recall any ‘Connoisseur Class’ designation, but now I know … Learn something new every day … 🙂
Those were the days of connoisseurs…
Nice touch!
I remember flying UA’s transcon flights between JFK-LAX in the mid 90s where they routinely serve salmon over risotto, a tub of Haagen-Dazs ice cream and GODIVA chocolates in economy (Y) !! Seriously .. not kidding .
“Specifically, United says the chocolates will be offered in domestic first class on flights over 901 miles, excluding those departing from Canada and Latin America.”
How cheap of them.
Not defending UA here, but it may be for regulatory reasons – like hwy they have difference BOB food on Canada/LatAm flights.
I meant the 901 miles limit being cheap.
Godiva- Garbage ingredients; like palm oil and artificial flavors and ingredients. And as previously mentioned, it’s owned by a Turkish conglomerate.
UA should do better.
Seriously, it’s a small square of chocolate. United wants to give it, take it or leave it. Isn’t it the gesture than count?
Indeed…. the gesture of if I”m flying less than 901 miles in 1st class or from certain geographical areas, I’m not worth a measly ‘Contriva’ chocolate square !! … lol
Gosh, this brings back memories of the old Connoisseur Class service back in the 90s. The FAs would leave a box by the stairs on the upper deck of our 747-400s and we’d always grab a piece (or three) on the way up and down.
Even Timmy Dunn would agree this is PREMIUM
UNITED RISING
@Bissa you sound like a birtchy complainer that has zero appreciation for the little touches that the company is doing to do nice things for its passengers. You most be a miserable passenger in the skies. I hope I never sit next to you.
Oh yes, that won’t happen as I don’t fly on Spirit Airlines.
Well said. Bossa seems to have lots of issues. Stay clear.
LH offers chocolate to everyone in Y. UA thinks offering to F is a big deal. I think it shows how low the UA meal quality is
The chocolate is a nice touch on LX, OS, and LH, but they charge for drinks other than the water bottle…that’s not very high-quality.