United Airlines is adding hot mid-flight snacks and fresh fruit to more flights in its long-haul Polaris Business Class, another step toward returning meal service to pre-pandemic levels.
Hot Mid-Flight Snacks + Fresh Fruit On More United Airlines Polaris Flights
When United first launched its Polaris business class in 2016, it used to offer a delicious lobster Mac & Cheese dish as a mid-flight snack on longhaul flights. This dish was brimming with flavor and often the culinary highlight of my flight. Other mid-flight snacks included sandwiches and soup, hearty crowd-pleasers that always hit the spot. Those all went away during the pandemic, but have been glowingly coming back, one region at a time. You can currently enjoy a hot mid-flight snack (sandwich and soup) on flights to the Middle East, India, Asia, and Australia.
Starting on May 1, 2023, United will bring back hot mid-flight snacks to all Polaris flights over 10 hours. In a memo to flight attendants reviewed by Live And Let’s Fly, United explained this move is driven by “popular demand.” While the precise snacks were not identified, this month’s selection out of the USA includes a pastrami sandwich and onion soup, both of which I recently enjoyed:
Furthermore, United will bring back fresh fruit to its mid-flight snack offering on all Polaris flights. This will include whole bananas, oranges, pears, and apples.
I appreciate this, particularly on long flights like between the USA to South Africa, where there can be a 10-hour gap between meals. Sometimes a bowl of soup and sandwich really hits the spot.
It is probably wishing for too much, but over time I would love to see a la carte service on United, which would be unique among US carriers and be very well-received by passengers. Some may want breakfast after takeoff while others may want it before landing. Some may just want a sandwich and bowl of soup instead of a heartier main course. I actually think it would lead to less food waste onboard and potentially lower consumption…but it certainly would not save money because at least one extra flight attendant would be required if snacks and meals were served on-demand.
CONCLUSION
United will add a hot mid-flight snack to all Polaris Business Class flights over 10 hours starting in May. With each addition, United moves one step closer to finally restoring its full pre-pandemic premium cabin offering.
Literal cup of soup. I think soup is best served in an actual bowl. Perhaps reverse it. Put the sandwich standing up sticking out of the cup and the soup in those horrid casserole dishes.
If that photo of a half sandwich and a coffee cup is representative of what they are “bringing back”, then it is even clearer that United has a long way to go on improving its abysmal, high-school cafeteria grade offering in Polaris, Domestic First, etc….The food is simply atrocious.
But better than nothing at all (except chips and cookies) mid-flight.
Have standards gotten so low that “better than nothing” is the standard to aim for? I will say the previous soup and sandwich were decent and welcome, they weren’t exactly premium. I’d like to say they could put in a bit more of the budget into offering quality as well quantity when it comes to meals, but I don’t expect it happening any time soon.
all well and good but comparable asian or european airlines will run planes with 2-4 more flight attendants so service will be better. in all cabins. so whenever I have some more schedule flexibility, I will not fly a US carrier. I usually only fly them on schedule or if that’s all my miles can get.
My last AF B787 flight offered J pax virtually nothing by way of mid-flight snacks, so I am not sure that European airlines are that much better. Admittedly it wasn’t one of the longest routes (NBO, 7.5 hours or something to CDG), but I would rather keep my bags of cashews and protein bars to use off the plane.
Thank god. I flew from Singapore to SFO last month on Polaris and United did not provide any food for 9 hours after the first meal (at which point they put out a bunch of bananas).
I’ll miss the package of pretzels and small bottle of water they now offer as a snack. It’s sad that I have to carry my own snacks so I don’t starve while flying Polaris.
They used to serve soup with sandwiches on domestic economy flights in the 70s. They used to offer the best meals. What a downfall.
A bowl of soup is fine and I’ll welcome it if it’s offered on our Polaris flight home from FRA in June. But I forever will be hooked on the Biscoff cookies served up on most American flights — even in economy!
Is this photo showing what the hot mid flight snack is? Well then this is a gas station food. United will have a very long way to know what premium means.
Better than nothing at all and about what AA offers (and better than what DL offers).
I sincerely hope they bring back the grilled cheese and tomato soup, which was legitimately delicious (not just good compared to most airplane food).
It’s truly a wonderful meal, whether at home or not
No matter how much people complain about the service and food it does not seem to change much. I say one’s expectations are certainly low. It seems that the Airlines that you speak of don’t really listen/care.
You foodie you. I fast and eat nothing and I end up feeling a whole lot better.