Enhancements coming - Pre-Departure Beverages...September 2011
Aug 14, 2011, 9:35 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: BOS/NYC
Posts: 137
I was given my choice of pre-departure beverage in F on a A319 IAD-BOS this past friday. I was pretty shocked and wasn't sure if the purser was just awesome of if this was a new policy, but if it is a new policy that's about the only change I "like" so far. 
Aug 15, 2011, 11:30 am
#32
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Actually good coffee is very complicated. To be properly prepared water must be a specific temperature which is often not controllable with the coffeemakers on most airplanes. Canada's major coffee shop chain has refused to license any airline to make its coffee inflight, lest its image suffer. And this is our main mass market brand! European and Asian airlines that care about coffee in F and C install Nespreso machines. But for coach such capsule machines are impractical and most Americans don't know good coffee when it's offered to them. Even hotels now introducing capsule machines in their rooms use the most insipid blends!
Aug 15, 2011, 12:05 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Illinois-downstate
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Posts: 955
Shareholder, good coffee may/may not be complicated. I am not a perfectionist or coffee gourmet... but I do know that I enjoy my fresh ground Gevalia whole bean coffee every morning at home. I would not trade it for anything else at 6:30am.
People have different tastes in coffee. I would be very hesitant to say that a country's people (ie... Americans... from your posting) wouldn't know good coffee when it is offered to them. I know people who prefer colored water to something with some zing. But that's what they enjoy! More power to 'em. I always warn people who are getting ready to drink what I brew that it might be a bit strong for them.
Wine appreciation depends on individual taste. Fine cheeses depend on individual taste. Chocolate depends on individual taste. So does coffee! What tastes great to one person may be swill to the next!!
But I still am hopeful that my Wednesday morning flight on UA will serve up something with a little bit of flavor...... not looking forward to it if it is what folks have been talking about here. I'll have my Gevalia before leaving home.
People have different tastes in coffee. I would be very hesitant to say that a country's people (ie... Americans... from your posting) wouldn't know good coffee when it is offered to them. I know people who prefer colored water to something with some zing. But that's what they enjoy! More power to 'em. I always warn people who are getting ready to drink what I brew that it might be a bit strong for them.
Wine appreciation depends on individual taste. Fine cheeses depend on individual taste. Chocolate depends on individual taste. So does coffee! What tastes great to one person may be swill to the next!!
But I still am hopeful that my Wednesday morning flight on UA will serve up something with a little bit of flavor...... not looking forward to it if it is what folks have been talking about here. I'll have my Gevalia before leaving home.
Aug 15, 2011, 12:17 pm
#34
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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There has been much discussion about pre-departure beverages well here's a change as SMI/J would say I'm hoping you will like.
For pre-departure beverages they will start fulfilling individual requests instead of the pre-poured options you are used to seeing on domestic and international flights. The requests can include (wine, beer, alcohol, and soda).
Coffee....yes bye bye Starbucks and hello Journeys, United's Gourmet Custom Blend. We'll have to wait for the reviews to see how premium this product is.
For pre-departure beverages they will start fulfilling individual requests instead of the pre-poured options you are used to seeing on domestic and international flights. The requests can include (wine, beer, alcohol, and soda).
Coffee....yes bye bye Starbucks and hello Journeys, United's Gourmet Custom Blend. We'll have to wait for the reviews to see how premium this product is.
Aug 15, 2011, 12:36 pm
#35
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Aug 16, 2011, 10:06 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Stockholm Sweden
Programs: Continental Onepass
Posts: 3
No more Starbucks.........???
That was the only thing I was looking forward to in this merger. As a Continental flyer and a big coffee drinker, I thought one day soon I would enjoy a cup of Starbucks onboard, I cannot believe it is gone!....
Awe well!
Awe well!
Aug 16, 2011, 10:21 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Washington, D.C. Metro
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Aug 16, 2011, 11:04 pm
#38
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Aug 17, 2011, 9:17 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: United 1K 2 million miler Starwood Marriott Hilton
Posts: 134
I was afraid CO was going towards UA....
On my last CO flights EWR/LAS/EWR no preflight drinks were offered at all. There was no urgent departure, delivery of supplies to explain it other than a lazy crew. Has anybody ever walked upfront and just asked for a drink?
Aug 17, 2011, 12:52 pm
#41
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Aug 17, 2011, 1:01 pm
#42
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Aug 18, 2011, 7:27 am
#43
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
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Only had OJ or water on ORD-ROC yesterday.
Aug 18, 2011, 10:35 am
#44
Join Date: Oct 2002
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