Nov 19, 2015, 9:40 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United Airlines to Bring Customers Coffee's 'Gold Standard' with illy Premium Blend
CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and illycaffe are creating a new alliance that will offer the Italian company's delicious premium blend to delight customers on board and in United Club locations worldwide.
Beginning next month, United will offer illy's signature scuro dark roast and the coffee company's espresso in United Club locations at the airline's mainland U.S. hubs. Other lounge locations will offer illy in 2016, with the scuro dark roast coming to flights worldwide next summer.
Not Just a Cup of Coffee
Chosen after extensive testing with United customers and employees – including in-flight taste tests – illy reflects the airline's global network as well as United's commitment to creating an elevated, distinctive premium experience for its customers.
Based in Trieste, Italy, with more than 80 years of history in the coffee industry, illy's distinct flavor comes from a unique blend of the top one percent of Arabica beans, purchased directly from the best growers in Brazil, Central America, India and Africa.
Noted for its strong commitment to sustainability, illy's internationally certified supply chain includes farmers who earn above-market prices in exchange for meeting quality standards – enabling the company to offer world-class blends.
A recent Wine Spectator magazine article praised the coffee, saying it "has become a gold standard in high-end restaurants and five-star hotels around the world."
"Our collaboration with illy is helping to make the world feel a bit smaller and making flying that much more special, simply by way of a perfect cup of coffee," said Jimmy Samartzis, United's vice president of food services and United Clubs. "By serving the world's most well-known premium coffee in our clubs and on board, we are communicating an experience to our customers and our employees with the quality and care that comes with every cup."
"It's truly an honor for illy to be selected as the worldwide coffee partner for United Airlines. The process and final decision to choose illy demonstrates United's deep commitment to providing its customers the highest quality products and experiences," said Andrea Illy, Chairman and CEO of illycaffe s.p.a. "Our new relationship with United Airlines is also a testament to our passion for the best and recognition that the illy brand is the world's reference for coffee culture and excellence."
Illy will be complimentary on every flight and when offered in United's lounges.
CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and illycaffe are creating a new alliance that will offer the Italian company's delicious premium blend to delight customers on board and in United Club locations worldwide.
Beginning next month, United will offer illy's signature scuro dark roast and the coffee company's espresso in United Club locations at the airline's mainland U.S. hubs. Other lounge locations will offer illy in 2016, with the scuro dark roast coming to flights worldwide next summer.
Not Just a Cup of Coffee
Chosen after extensive testing with United customers and employees – including in-flight taste tests – illy reflects the airline's global network as well as United's commitment to creating an elevated, distinctive premium experience for its customers.
Based in Trieste, Italy, with more than 80 years of history in the coffee industry, illy's distinct flavor comes from a unique blend of the top one percent of Arabica beans, purchased directly from the best growers in Brazil, Central America, India and Africa.
Noted for its strong commitment to sustainability, illy's internationally certified supply chain includes farmers who earn above-market prices in exchange for meeting quality standards – enabling the company to offer world-class blends.
A recent Wine Spectator magazine article praised the coffee, saying it "has become a gold standard in high-end restaurants and five-star hotels around the world."
"Our collaboration with illy is helping to make the world feel a bit smaller and making flying that much more special, simply by way of a perfect cup of coffee," said Jimmy Samartzis, United's vice president of food services and United Clubs. "By serving the world's most well-known premium coffee in our clubs and on board, we are communicating an experience to our customers and our employees with the quality and care that comes with every cup."
"It's truly an honor for illy to be selected as the worldwide coffee partner for United Airlines. The process and final decision to choose illy demonstrates United's deep commitment to providing its customers the highest quality products and experiences," said Andrea Illy, Chairman and CEO of illycaffe s.p.a. "Our new relationship with United Airlines is also a testament to our passion for the best and recognition that the illy brand is the world's reference for coffee culture and excellence."
Illy will be complimentary on every flight and when offered in United's lounges.
UA serving illy’s world-class coffee
Nov 20, 2015 | 10:42 pm
#106
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Nov 21, 2015 | 4:51 am
#109
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The previous coffee was swill that would have ashamed even a WWII army cook.
So yes...this is much better, even for those that our not coffee connoisseurs. And as others have note, bring back espresso machines in Business. And install espresso machines in United Clubs! It's even better in their espresso versions.
Nov 21, 2015 | 5:10 am
#110
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Maybe these were being offset by drink purchases in economy, but I doubt it.
Coffee is a fairly inexpensive drink, compared to the other on-board choices. I would wager that FreshPoo actually increased beverage costs, overall.
Nov 21, 2015 | 7:23 am
#111
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Another item was the waste factor -- people would get a cup, try it, send it back, and order something else. So they were paying for the FreshPoo and another beverage, while throwing the FreshPoo down the drain.
Plus, as you point out, the soft drink or other beverage is very likely more expensive than the coffee, so each cup of FreshPoo that was was returned costs them even more.
On morning DL flights, I usually drink coffee. On morning UA flights, I usually drink cocktails. That's a cost difference right there.
Nov 21, 2015 | 8:01 am
#112
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I hope UA does not mess it up by diluting it down until it is unrecognizable.
It is great news. I never drink coffee on UA because it is hideous ... Illy will surely change that! Now, UA, PLEASE bring back Espresso in intl. C/F!
Nov 21, 2015 | 8:09 am
#113
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http://www.illy.com/wps/wcm/connect/...essamente-illy
Nov 21, 2015 | 8:19 am
#114
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Illy is well regarded, but they don't have the brand recognition of say Starbucks in the United States. The quality is there, but people aren't familiar with it.
I could see this being a potential issue with certain customer segments. Then again, those segments may not care. So long as it's better than FreshPoo, they may not care.
Nov 21, 2015 | 8:30 am
#115
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That is actually a good point, and identifies a possible risk with this move.
Illy is well regarded, but they don't have the brand recognition of say Starbucks in the United States. The quality is there, but people aren't familiar with it.
I could see this being a potential issue with certain customer segments. Then again, those segments may not care. So long as it's better than FreshPoo, they may not care.
Illy is well regarded, but they don't have the brand recognition of say Starbucks in the United States. The quality is there, but people aren't familiar with it.
I could see this being a potential issue with certain customer segments. Then again, those segments may not care. So long as it's better than FreshPoo, they may not care.
Those that don't, won't care. They just want a cup of coffee.
I'll take my mother in law as an example ... She's a typical(ish) leisure traveler - only flies a handful of times a year. She loves her coffee, but isn't a snob about it. Maxwell House is just fine for her. She won't order a coffee on a United flight because it's so bad, but once she sees the Illy branding, she'll know it's better. Not that she drinks Illy at home, but she will at least recognize it as a premium coffee compared to previously. We've talked about how awful FreshPoo is several times; she'll be really excited by this.
Will she fly more often because of it? No. But will it make her think of United as a more premium airline? You betcha.
This is a marketing move, and a shrewd one at that. Again, I don't see the bottom dollar net incremental cost being more than 1m annually, but the amount of 'premium' branding United will get for that is worth a whole lot more than that!
.... And the fact that USdbaAA is still serving the 'poo? All the better for UA.
Nov 21, 2015 | 8:40 am
#116
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A well reasoned and constructed post ^
And for those of us who saw the constant nickel and diming as well as major devaluations, a hope for a better UA. Maybe even friendly
Nov 21, 2015 | 9:39 am
#117
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United (and AA) no longer provide the expenses for catering in their quarterly results, but Delta will spend about $900 million this year for food and beverages, and that's in line with AA's spending before the merger (and the disappearance of the passenger service line item in the P&L). If UA is spending something like $750 million to $850 million this year, an upgrade to the coffee won't break the bank.
This is a very positive sign that UA wants to attract dollars of revenue instead of constantly looking for pennies and nickels in cost cuts. Lousy coffee is immediately noticed by everyone who tastes it. Broken cashews, while revealing cheapness, at least taste the same as whole cashews (provided UA stayed with the same vendor and type of cashews).
This is a very positive sign that UA wants to attract dollars of revenue instead of constantly looking for pennies and nickels in cost cuts. Lousy coffee is immediately noticed by everyone who tastes it. Broken cashews, while revealing cheapness, at least taste the same as whole cashews (provided UA stayed with the same vendor and type of cashews).
Nov 21, 2015 | 11:26 am
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Maybe this will turn me around to try out their coffee soon.
Nov 21, 2015 | 2:24 pm
#120
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Espressamente Illy is in the Venetian/Palazzo in Las Vegas.
http://www.illy.com/wps/wcm/connect/...essamente-illy
http://www.illy.com/wps/wcm/connect/...essamente-illy
Illy is a very well known brand. I can't believe some people haven't heard of it.