Liquor Eliminations
#61
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
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Posts: 7,058
I'll give UA the benefit of the doubt that they will replace these with other things.
From the paying J passenger perspective I'm never going to drink these brands on or off the plane.
From the paying J passenger perspective I'm never going to drink these brands on or off the plane.
#63
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,604
#65
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA MP (1K, 1MM)
Posts: 268
I flew LAX-PVG today. The newly downsized menu and wine card did not even bother to list the champagne and said the FAs will tell you about today's selection. The FA I asked said she had no idea and I should rely on what the menu listed.
However I soon found out she did not know what was on the menu either. I read my first selection and she said she had never heard of it. Spicy chicken in coconut curry broth with udon noodles, I had to show her in the menu. She came back and said they have chicken so I should just order chicken, not spicy chicken. The same thing with the person next to me ordering seared sea bass. She told him just say fish if he wanted to order it. Nonetheless we got our spicy chicken and seared sea bass and they were quite good.
I think they may be dumbing down the wines and liquor selection to a level more appropriate for these menu challenged FAs.
However I soon found out she did not know what was on the menu either. I read my first selection and she said she had never heard of it. Spicy chicken in coconut curry broth with udon noodles, I had to show her in the menu. She came back and said they have chicken so I should just order chicken, not spicy chicken. The same thing with the person next to me ordering seared sea bass. She told him just say fish if he wanted to order it. Nonetheless we got our spicy chicken and seared sea bass and they were quite good.
I think they may be dumbing down the wines and liquor selection to a level more appropriate for these menu challenged FAs.
#66
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: United MileagePlus Gold
Posts: 58
Guessing brandy drinking in general is declining and that's what led to Courvoisier being dropped. I think it's a generational thing. I'm 41 and I will occasionally order a brandy. My take is that folks older than me are more likely to be brandy drinkers and folks younger much much much less likely to drink brandy. We'd really need to know more about capacity and ordering patterns to make any assessment. If they're constantly running out of Buffalo Trace, and the call is to axe Courvoisier to make room for more Buffalo Trace, then I would get it. You might disappoint some brandy drinkers but you'll make more bourbon drinkers happy = net happiness gain.
#67
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: United MileagePlus Gold
Posts: 58
Well if this is true that sucks. I don't mind if they cut Jim Beam or Jack Daniels...never made sense to have both on the list. But no Canadian whiskeys...don't get it. As several other posters note, I am concerned that UA is headed back towards this cost cutting mentality.
#68
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
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Posts: 3,319
If you're drinking it with coke, why does it even matter if it's Crown Royale, Canadian Club, Jack Daniels, or Jim Bean? It's all going to taste like gross high fructose corn syrup anyways.
If you're ordering neat or on the rocks, you won't be drinking the afore-listed garbage.
It only makes sense to keep Buffalo Trace and Glenfarcas for people with tastebuds, and Jack Daniels for everyone else
If you're ordering neat or on the rocks, you won't be drinking the afore-listed garbage.
It only makes sense to keep Buffalo Trace and Glenfarcas for people with tastebuds, and Jack Daniels for everyone else
#69
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
I would think about it more by use than origin. Use-wise, Crown and Jack are fairly similar insofar as most folks are going to order them with something carbonated, and I'm guessing they're generally not going to be too upset about which one they get. Someone who orders a Crown and Coke is generally going to be OK with a Jack and Coke. On the other hand, folks who drink rocks or neat are not going to be happy if they ask for bourbon or scotch and are offered Jack instead. Could be wrong, but that would be my rationale for why eliminating Crown makes sense.
#70
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Oakland,CA,USA
Programs: UAL Gold Million-Mile
Posts: 339
"They're discontinuing Cognac"
I just flew UA870 SYD-SFO arriving this morning. Got the upgrade into Polaris.
After the main meal I requested a cognac but the FA said that it's being discontinued and none was available.
Is this possible?
I had to agree with her opinion: "The Germans won't like it."
After the main meal I requested a cognac but the FA said that it's being discontinued and none was available.
Is this possible?
I had to agree with her opinion: "The Germans won't like it."
#71
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Yup, the mods have moved this into the earlier thread on liquor eliminations ... they are depleting their remaining supplies of Courvoisier before discontinuing. It is still showing on the printed liquor list and online. Apparently from an insider, consumption is non-existent domestically and people only request it internationally if it is offered. What I did hear is that the galley space will be reallocated for increased units of high-volume liquors (Tito's etc). Sounds unlikely. Still cost-cutting.
#73
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
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Did you ask what they have in duty free? I just got a laugh with that one, no Cognac.