If you saw a big purple blob-like creature on a recent United Airlines flight in Polaris Business Class, you weren’t dreaming…it was Grimace, Ronald McDonald’s best friend, traveling to McDonaldland.
Grimace Flies To McDonaldland In United Polaris
Based on a teaser United posted on Instagram last week, I speculated whether Happy Meals would return to the Friendly Skies…one of the little things that made me loyal to United nearly 30 years ago when I was just a kid.
Alas, no. While there will not be Chicago-based McDonald’s served on Chicago-based United, on August 7th UA919 from Chicago (ORD) “took off” for McDonaldland (MCDL). Among the passengers was Grimace, who was quite a sight in the Polairs Business Class cabin (I don’t think he could have squeezed into economy class…).
Ok, McDonaldland is a McDonald’s media franchise and the fictional fantasy world inhabited by Ronald McDonald and his friends…it’s all virtual…think metaverse. McDonaldland VR launches on August 12th and will include games, classic characters, and be somewhat of a walk down memory lane for McDonald’s fans.
To coincide with that launch, McDonald’s is adding a “McDonaldland Meal” at participating McDonald’s locations nationwide. Each meal includes:
- Quarter Pounder with Cheese or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets
- French Fries
- Limited-edition Mt. McDonaldland Shake
- One of six collectible McDonaldland character souvenir kits
Grimace enjoyed this meal on his United flight…but we’ll have to wait and see if we can ever order McDonald’s again on a United flight.
CONCLUSION
As someone who is reasonably health-conscious, I don’t eat McDonald’s (regular readers know my vice is Taco Bell…), but I like this collaboration with United and still hold out hope that a deeper partnership will develop. As I look back on brand loyalty, I’m still amazed that a Happy Meal on United 30 years ago helped to put me on the path to eventually becoming a Million Miler Premier 1K so many years later.
I’m definitely missing the point of this article, unless it’s just an elaborate ad for McDonald’s. Even then I’m not sure why it’s here.
I just felt like writing it…as a follow-up to my story last week. Not an ad…
Plus Matthew loves UA.
Being an “unc,” I usually am not aware of these trends, but iirc, my nieces and nephews talked about some grimace trend a year or two ago. Wouldn’t be surprised if that was the take for marketing.
What the funk is an unc. Must be a term the kids use….
Uncle.
UA919 operates LHR-IAD with a 772. The Instagram video looks like ORD. I’m confused.
Exactly. Kind of odd the used a well known, regular flight number.
I’m still confused how this is in anyway connected to United. Make it make sense.
McDonalds and United are based in Chicago. Their executives probably dreamed this up after having an edible and chillin in someone’s pool a few months ago while talking about their love of marketing.
In all seriousness, the people focused on social media only care about metrics and engagement. Grimace is fun and shareable, and this is something that people’s inner kiddo will notice.
Matthew, have you ever heard of Mr Blobby, off of the 1990s BBC series “Noel’s House Party”? It was basically the UK equivalent of “Saturday Night Live”, and its host, Noel Edmonds, is probably most similar to Thomas Gottschalk, if you’ve come across him in while you’ve been in Germany…it feels like this purple blob is very similar to Mr Blobby.
That’s not seat 1A!
I noticed that too!
Grimace was always a bit naive. He feel for a pax gaming him for a better seat.
There is no way Grimace is fitting into a Polaris seat.
If your favorite fast food is Taco Bell, I’m surprised you were able to stay out of the bathroom long enough to write this.