View Poll Results: After UA replaced Starbucks, what's your opinion of the replacement coffee?
It's much better than Starbucks.
5
4.07%
It's somewhat better than Starbucks.
3
2.44%
It's about the same as Starbucks.
4
3.25%
It's somewhat poorer than Starbucks.
10
8.13%
It's much worse than Starbucks.
101
82.11%
Voters: 123. You may not vote on this poll
Starbucks coffee no longer served on UA as of 1-July-2011 [updated]
#736
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#737
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
What's taking so long
I have flown 10 segments since 3/1 and been served KOVA only once. You would think that with all of the bad responses from customers and the unfavorable press, UA would have pulled the product immediately or demanded the vendor do the same at their cost or shared cost with UA. Also, it seems like any reputable vendor would want it pulled to preserve their reputation.
Looks like we will suffer until the existing inventory is depleted.
Looks like we will suffer until the existing inventory is depleted.
#738
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
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Posts: 6,716
I have flown 10 segments since 3/1 and been served KOVA only once. You would think that with all of the bad responses from customers and the unfavorable press, UA would have pulled the product immediately or demanded the vendor do the same at their cost or shared cost with UA. Also, it seems like any reputable vendor would want it pulled to preserve their reputation.
2. Freshpoo doesn't care about its reputation because (1) they don't direct market to consumers, and (2) most people not on FT probably do not know what company supplies UA's coffee; they only know that "UA serves bad coffee."
#739
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
1. UA probably could not demand that Freshpoo recall and replace the product at their own cost because UA had already "tested" and "approved" the product and it matched UA's specified requirements (and the requirements probably were: "a coffee which is as cheap as possible.")
2. Freshpoo doesn't care about its reputation because (1) they don't direct market to consumers, and (2) most people not on FT probably do not know what company supplies UA's coffee; they only know that "UA serves bad coffee."
2. Freshpoo doesn't care about its reputation because (1) they don't direct market to consumers, and (2) most people not on FT probably do not know what company supplies UA's coffee; they only know that "UA serves bad coffee."
I am sure you are correct legally, but in my experience, I have observed many effective purchasing managers with persuasive skills that have been able to shift some of the blame of bad decisions onto the supplier. For example, an effective purchasing manager would argue with the supplier that they should have advised United to test the coffee packets on the different aircraft and at elevation. Hopefully the Related Party Relationship (and I do mean that in a legal / securities law perspective) did not influence the Purchasing Manager from doing his/her job properly.
Definitely agree that most people not on FT probably do not know what company supplies UA's coffee; they only know that "UA serves bad coffee."
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Last edited by LAXOGG; Mar 12, 2012 at 12:58 pm
#740
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,497
[/B]
I am sure you are correct legally, but in my experience, I have observed many effective purchasing managers with persuasive skills that have been able to shift some of the blame of bad decisions onto the supplier. For example, a good supplier should have advised United to test the coffee packets on the different aircraft and at elevation.
I am sure you are correct legally, but in my experience, I have observed many effective purchasing managers with persuasive skills that have been able to shift some of the blame of bad decisions onto the supplier. For example, a good supplier should have advised United to test the coffee packets on the different aircraft and at elevation.
#741
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Potomac MD
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 7,182
I told my wife about this thread (and even the stories in the news) about the UA coffee and she laughed--saying that don't we have anything better to worry about. Friday she flew from IAD to LHR in C and described the coffee as "just awful."
I'm flying to NRT and then SIN on Saturday (and even as the 1K agent told me that the upgrades were sure to clear when I booked, things don't look so good now ). So I may need coffee to keep myself awake (can't sleep in Y and might not be able to sleep even in C during the day)--and what do I have to look forward to?
I'm flying to NRT and then SIN on Saturday (and even as the 1K agent told me that the upgrades were sure to clear when I booked, things don't look so good now ). So I may need coffee to keep myself awake (can't sleep in Y and might not be able to sleep even in C during the day)--and what do I have to look forward to?
#742
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Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
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I'm flying to NRT and then SIN on Saturday (and even as the 1K agent told me that the upgrades were sure to clear when I booked, things don't look so good now ). So I may need coffee to keep myself awake (can't sleep in Y and might not be able to sleep even in C during the day)--and what do I have to look forward to?
#743
Join Date: May 2004
Location: OAK
Programs: UA Gold MM / AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,504
From united.com.
Enjoy a blend of service, value and options for customization.
Complimentary seat choice
Complimentary soft drinks, juices, tea and Starbucks® coffee
Premium wines, beer and spirits available for purchase on most flights
Meal and snack selections available for purchase on flights within North America that are more than 2 hours in duration
Did they bring back Starbucks coffee or is united.com lying to me?
Enjoy a blend of service, value and options for customization.
Complimentary seat choice
Complimentary soft drinks, juices, tea and Starbucks® coffee
Premium wines, beer and spirits available for purchase on most flights
Meal and snack selections available for purchase on flights within North America that are more than 2 hours in duration
#744
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA PLT, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 6,716
So, yes, united.com is lying to you. It's a simple act of fraud.
#745
Join Date: May 2004
Location: OAK
Programs: UA Gold MM / AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,504
Which is funny because I thought that the new united.com is merely a copy of the old continental.com. And Continental never served Starbucks! So someone must have deliberately changed the website to say "Starbucks"
#746
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA PLT, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 6,716
I guess so. It should not be a surprise that UACO decided to over-promise and under-deliver. That is their M.O.
#747
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,095
The new .bomb still has references to SkyTeam in it, so cleaning these things up isn't high on their priority list. I suppose someone did jump the gun (presumably importing text from PMUA materials?) and put in Starbucks--don't expect to see it taken down any time soon.
#748
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
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Posts: 6,716
#750
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,095
Has the coffee secretly been switched again?
Granted I hadn't had it for the past couple of months, but I gave it a shot twice this weekend--and it was almost undrinkable!
Granted I hadn't had it for the past couple of months, but I gave it a shot twice this weekend--and it was almost undrinkable!