Flying from Chicago to Hawaii on United is longer than flying to several European destinations in the opposite direction. Yet service has remained no different than any other standard domestic flight. That changes in a new trial starting next month.
United Testing Free Sandwiches On Chicago – Honolulu Route
Starting on February 1st, United will offer a cold sandwich on a complimentary basis to every passenger in economy class on UA218/219. This will not replace the buy-on-board meals offered, but augment them. Both a meat and vegetarian option will be available.
This is not a first-time trial, but a repeat of a trial that took place last spring on flights between Honolulu and Houston/Chicago. United also offered free sandwiches on those flights:
@ZachHonig @thepointsguy UA253 beta testing free mini sandwich for economy flyers pic.twitter.com/O03AgSY99l
— shipwreck (@shipwre66723600) April 15, 2019
It’s not clear why United needed a second trial, but it will begin only on the ORD-HNL route next month.
> Read More: United Airlines Adds Free Meal To Another Hawaiian Route
United Testing Free Amenities On Chicago – Honolulu Route
In addition to the free sandwich, United will offer economy class and premium cabin passengers free amenities.
In United First, passengers will receive Sunday Riley amenity kits, similar to what is offered on premium transcontinental flights between Newark – San Francisco/Los Angeles and Boston – San Francisco. These will include:
- eye shades
- ear plugs
- dental kit
- Sunday Riley lip balm
- Sunday Riley moisturizing wipe
In economy class, passengers will receive:
- dental kit
- eyeshade
- ear plugs
These items will be distributed from a basket.
CONCLUSION
These enhanced amenities will just be trials rather than permanent adjustments to service. Nevertheless, it is great that United trying to be more competitive.
While hardly a gourmet meal, it is certainly a recognition that both Delta and American offer complimentary food on their longer Hawaiian routes. Hawaii is and remains a very different, primarily leisure-based market compared to Europe, but Chicago to Honolulu is a 9-hour flight. That’s a long time to go without eating for those who did not bring a credit card to buy food onboard. The new sandwich and amenities onboard will be appreciated.
Kudos to United for trying, especially now that AA is deploying a much nicer airplane (787 versus domestic 777) on the ORD-HNL service. AA’s premium cabin service to Hawaii is reminiscent of Continental, when the BusinessFirst service was actually differentiated for CO’s limited portfolio of HNL routes. UA doesn’t need to go overboard, but it would certainly be a welcome change to see some special service elements added to what were once United’s undisputed flagship routes.
I hope the trial goes well and the amenities are deployed to the rest of the longhaul network.
It’s… a 9hr flight! Just cater the damn thing properly with a free hot main meal, and make up the cost from the premium for it being non stop. It’s not like United don’t have a catering operation/supplier to be able to do this in Chicago.. or in Honolulu either!
Is there a scheduled end date for the trial?
No. Historically, trials have been one month.
Actually, the trial will run through April 30 with the goal being permanent this time around 🙂
Any updates on this, or any plans for Amenity Kits in First Class to be a part of the ORD to OGG flights? Thank you in advance!
These have been cut due to the pandemic.
Why do they have to do another test a year later for such a simple change.
Meanwhile AA premium cabin catering and seats blowing UA out of the water on Texas-HNL and ORD-HNL
Get that right – enough of the management consultant nonsense
How many complaints did they have to receive before they woke up ?????……Good grief, 10 hours (even 4-5-6 hour flights) are ridiculous with no food offerings (for free or a price). Who thinks of these idiotic “savings” and still retains a job with United – oh, right, they were probably treated as a hero and given an over-priced bonus.
All the complaints in the world won’t matter when you have to be competitive on price with WN.
Wow. A cold sandwich. And it’s FREE.
Leave it to United Airlines to find inspiration from the catering offered in 1933 on their Boeing 247’s.
In other news, Delta has already been doing this on their flights to Hawaii from MSP, ATL and JFK. In fact, I believe they’re doing two meal services, unless this has changed.
Only doing it because AA put the pressure on. Maybe they’ll stop flying that NASTY domestic 772 for the 9hr flight someday soon too.
This is actually seems embarrassing to publicise. It is blocked as a flight time of 9hrs 30mins. Admitting to such poor standards in the first place (lack of amenities) by spruking the minimum standards of the vast majority of other full service carriers is laughable. For reference, writing from Australia so referencing QF, VA, SE Asian and ME carriers.
Anywhere else in the world, an airline not offering a free decent meal on a 9 hour flight would soon loose most of its customers !
Does anybody on this blog know how to decipher the TSA regulations regarding bringing food onto a flight? I’ve tried to research that, but I can’t find anything? Yet, there have been instances when my local TSA (at John Glenn International Airport), has instituted extra screening for sandwiches, which are plainly visible in zip lock bags. Also, they don’t like Jello Chocolate pudding either, and tried to remove it, until a supervisor said that it was ok. What gives with these incompetent characters? When I traveled through the Frankfurt Airport in Germany, the guards there didn’t make a fuss about my sandwiches, and believe me, they have very high security at that airport.
The “official” TSA policy is that food may be brought in “reasonable” quantities, but should be presented to an officer at the checkpoint for separate inspection. Sadly, the reality is I don’t think most TSA agents know their own rules. I fly with my 3-year old and bring food for him, and run into this issue often. At DAL, they follow the procedure exactly as outlined. At DFW, PDX, and HNL, when I hand over the food, they shrug their shoulders and give me some variation of “this is the PreCheck lane, put it back in your bag”. At SJC, twice I’ve gotten the DFW/PDX/HNL treatment twice, and told once that any kind of food > 100ml is prohibited but that “I will allow it this time”. I think it’s really luck of the draw on who’s manning the station that day.
Delta even provides free alcohol from DTW/MSP/ATL. They don’t openly advertise the free booze but man is it nice.
Good job United. And vegetarian options are amazing along with amenity kits. I’m loyalty United fan for 25 years.