pdx1M

Wow - it looks like it has finally gotten through to UA management that people actually notice quality of product as well as price. Not a big deal in itself but we are beginning to see some signs that UA wants to actually compete for business instead of just cost cutting their way to "glory". Hope this trend continues toward some changes at the top end of the product as well.

hoopics

It isn't what they're taking away; it's what they aren't paying back. Their fuel prices have gone through the floor, but fares haven't followed. Your stroopwafel is being paid for by about 5% of the price savings they've realized on a single gallon of Avgas.

Dieuwer

Wall Street will be mad. You will be eaten their stroopwafel

ncorman

For flights departing prior to 9:45am it is, but what is being offered after 9:45am.

"Flights departing after 9:45 a.m. will offer packaged savory snacks, such as an Asian-style snack mix of rice crackers, sesame sticks and wasabi peas or a zesty-ranch mix of mini pretzel sticks, Cajun corn sticks and ranch soy nuts."

http://newsroom.united.com/foodandbeverages

ozziegumby

Being United the airline we all love, I am wondering what is being taken away for this freebie. Given what happened with the international economy service (the mid flight snack being taken away and replaced with BOB) you wonder in what other area they will cut to give this snack.

jtet

Yeah, interesting how the reaction of the forum (which I share) is universally positive about the coffee and stoopwafels. And very, very quiet about the savory snack offerings. As mentioned in one of the previous posts, I'd prefer the stoopwafel anytime, not just prior to 9:45.

ExtonUS

Nice little addition! Years ago I switched from US to UA even based out of Philly because it just left like a more 'premium' flying experience. Looks like the new management wants to compete more in that area.

asaf08

This is great, great news.

catocony

With luck we're slowly inching back to the service of 10 years ago. I would personally prefer a bag of plain pretzels, but anything is better than nothing. Or the cheese and cracker packages from international flights.

The E product on international flights has improved quite a bit over the last year. Little bottles of water, cups of ice cream, the cheese and crackers, the now free beer and wine (boxed, but free). I personally think that all of this small stuff does add up for frequent flyers, with far more goodwill value than the small amount of money it costs per passenger. I doubt if hot meals in coach for domestic flights will ever come back, but maybe the small bags like American, TWA and other airlines used to have for flights.

spin88

+1 Its amazing how Jeff getting canned caused United to U-turn away so dramatically from the Hunter Keay view that service quality does not matter, its all network and price.

raehl311

I will second that I'm not a fan of the odd savory snacks. Most of your economy flyers are going to want something more... familiar. Although maybe that's intentional... they'll still pay $4 for a can of Pringles.

iahphx

I hear the echoes of Gordon Bethune, who famously turned around CO on the theory that you can make a pizza so cheap that nobody would eat it.

So I guess now we're all getting some extra pepperoni.

Or at least a slice or two.

It has felt that USA airline cheapness bottomed about a year or two ago and now there's a concerted effort to make it somewhat better. Heck, when WN offers better service than a full-service USA airline, it's probably time to improve the product.

No doubt the billions that the USA airlines are currently making is playing a part in this move to better service.

I do wonder if making the product un-sucky is good for business. I honestly don't know. I sure hope so. The world is a better place when everything doesn't suck.

drewguy

Yes, on the one hand this is bringing UA a bit closer to what should be standard.

On the other hand, given how many departures in the other direction recently it's good to see UA bringing back small things that are a benefit to passengers.

channa

In fairness, it's not clear that UA management didn't know this before. It's very likely many of the same people still there, just that they were too intimidated to share their ideas, or they were shot down or otherwise suppressed.

Only once they removed the toxic leader did people feel that they could speak more freely or suggest things.

entropy

Well, corporate minions often suck up to the leader. So when the leader is beating the "Cut cut cut" drum, guess what the minions do?

When the new CEO says we need to deliver better quality to our customers, you'd have to be a very foolish minion not to come up with some improvements.