United to upgrade food on overseas coach flights

  • Chicago Tribune
  • Wednesday, April 15, 2015 3:30pm
  • Business

CHICAGO — United Airlines apparently has decided the way to customers hearts — and wallets — is through their taste buds, as the Chicago-based carrier Wednesday announced more food upgrades, including free wine and beer for economy passengers on long-haul international flights and three-course meals in coach.

The food changes starting June 1 are “designed to offer travelers flavorful, complimentary meals with more substantial portions,” United said.

Three-course meal service in economy class starts with a beverage and cheese and crackers, baked whole-grain bruschetta chips or Kiri cheese spread and crackers. Main courses, served with salads and artisan bread, include turkey meatloaf with sweet potato mash and mixed vegetables, ravioli with roasted red pepper sauce, and udon noodles with stir-fried vegetables and ginger soya sauce.

Desserts include gelato, sorbet, ice cream and mousse.

The changes are part of a food-upgrade blitz by United in recent months.

In March, the airline launched a new food menu, including a Greek yogurt bar and a hot oatmeal station, at its United Club airport lounges in Chicago and Houston. That’s in contrast to the salty snacks and packaged food commonly found in the clubs. O’Hare International Airport hadn’t gotten a significant menu upgrade since United merged with Continental airlines in 2010. The food is slated to be rolled out to clubs worldwide.

United also introduced new premium-cabin meals and snacks on flights within North America and replaced snack boxes with freshly prepared entrees served on chinaware in premium cabins on United Express regional-jet service of at least 800 miles.

It launched Goose Island Beer Co.’s award-winning Goose IPA craft beer this month on flights worldwide, with the beer being served free on Wednesday on seven domestic flights departing O’Hare and on one flight from Houston to London.

Most of the previous food upgrades were aimed at premium customers – those who spend the most money with the airline – but Wednesday’s announcement is aimed at passengers in the back of the bus, although long-haul international tickets are pricey too.

“United is committed to improving every aspect of our customers’ experience on the ground, in the air and with every interaction,” said Sandra Pineau-Boddison, United’s senior vice president of customers.

United is also upgrading its gate areas, starting with prototypes at O’Hare that include redesigned seating areas, more power outlets and even a proprietary scent piped into the jet bridge walkways. That adds to recent additions of new and remodeled aircraft as well as onboard Wi-Fi and video entertainment streamed to passengers’ personal devices.

The changes are coming as United is making record profits. The airline last year earned about $2 billion, up 89 percent over the previous year on the strength of full planes and plummeting jet-fuel prices.

The new food changes announced Wednesday apply to long-haul international flights, which United defines as trans-Atlantic flights, most trans-Pacific flights and service from the U.S. to Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

Besides free beer and wine, passengers will receive a free bottle of water and can buy half-bottle premium wines and spirits.

United will also offer what it calls pre-arrival food service in economy, including a croissant with jam, a warmed sandwich or a hot meal served with fruit and a roll. On flights where a hot meal is available, new options, such as cinnamon-swirl French toast and a Tuscan skillet with scrambled eggs, will be available, the carrier said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

Black Press Media operates Sound Publishing, the largest community news organization in Washington State with dailies and community news outlets in Alaska.
Black Press Media concludes transition of ownership

Black Press Media, which operates Sound Publishing, completed its sale Monday (March 25), following the formerly announced corporate restructuring.

Maygen Hetherington, executive director of the Historic Downtown Snohomish Association, laughs during an interview in her office on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Maygen Hetherington: tireless advocate for the city of Snohomish

Historic Downtown Snohomish Association receives the Opportunity Lives Here award from Economic Alliance.

FILE - Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs poses in front of photos of the 15 people who previously held the office on Nov. 22, 2021, after he was sworn in at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Hobbs faces several challengers as he runs for election to the office he was appointed to last fall. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs: ‘I wanted to serve my country’

Hobbs, a former Lake Stevens senator, is the recipient of the Henry M. Jackson Award from Economic Alliance Snohomish County.

Mark Duffy poses for a photo in his office at the Mountain Pacific Bank headquarters on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Mark Duffy: Building a hometown bank; giving kids an opportunity

Mountain Pacific Bank’s founder is the recipient of the Fluke Award from Economic Alliance Snohomish County.

Barb Tolbert poses for a photo at Silver Scoop Ice Cream on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Barb Tolbert: Former mayor piloted Arlington out of economic brink

Tolbert won the Elson S. Floyd Award, honoring a leader who has “created lasting opportunities” for the underserved.

Photo provided by 
Economic Alliance
Economic Alliance presented one of the Washington Rising Stem Awards to Katie Larios, a senior at Mountlake Terrace High School.
Mountlake Terrace High School senior wins state STEM award

Katie Larios was honored at an Economic Alliance gathering: “A champion for other young women of color in STEM.”

The Westwood Rainier is one of the seven ships in the Westwood line. The ships serve ports in the Pacific Northwest and Northeast Asia. (Photo provided by Swire Shipping)
Westwood Shipping Lines, an Everett mainstay, has new name

The four green-hulled Westwood vessels will keep their names, but the ships will display the Swire Shipping flag.

A Keyport ship docked at Lake Union in Seattle in June 2018. The ship spends most of the year in Alaska harvesting Golden King crab in the Bering Sea. During the summer it ties up for maintenance and repairs at Lake Union. (Keyport LLC)
In crabbers’ turbulent moment, Edmonds seafood processor ‘saved our season’

When a processing plant in Alaska closed, Edmonds-based business Keyport stepped up to solve a “no-win situation.”

Angela Harris, Executive Director of the Port of Edmonds, stands at the port’s marina on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Leadership, love for the Port of Edmonds got exec the job

Shoring up an aging seawall is the first order of business for Angela Harris, the first woman to lead the Edmonds port.

The Cascade Warbirds fly over Naval Station Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald file)
Bothell High School senior awarded $2,500 to keep on flying

Cascade Warbirds scholarship helps students 16-21 continue flight training and earn a private pilot’s certificate.

Rachel Gardner, the owner of Musicology Co., a new music boutique record store on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. Musicology Co. will open in February, selling used and new vinyl, CDs and other music-related merchandise. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Edmonds record shop intends to be a ‘destination for every musician’

Rachel Gardner opened Musicology Co. this month, filling a record store gap in Edmonds.

MyMyToyStore.com owner Tom Harrison at his brick and mortar storefront on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burst pipe permanently closes downtown Everett toy store

After a pipe flooded the store, MyMyToystore in downtown Everett closed. Owner Tom Harrison is already on to his next venture.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.