MatthewLAX

Well folks, good news today--

Official: United Airlines Restores Glassware, Pre-Departure Beverages

(link to my blog)

I had no idea this announcement was coming when I published my story yesterday, though AA's re-introduction was a good indication that United would soon match.

I'm sorry to our friends here who hate the prospect of drinking from a real glass. I'm sure plastic will still be available upon request.

SuperFlyBoy

MatthewLAX

Just so you don't have to click:

• PDBs return on November 23rd - sparkling wine and water only (though I bet FAs will accommodate requests)
• Glassware returns on December 1st
  • same glassware as before the pandemic, with highballs and wine glasses on domestic flights and rocks glasses plus wine glasses plus champagne flutes plus cordial glasses on longhaul flights

artvandalay

Taking UA back to SRQ next month. I'll toast you.

seanp7

Hooray! (and thanks for the summary).

MBS MillionMiler

Matt's article says "mainline" PDBs returning. I hope United gives their express contractors some guidance here and that they return to SkyWest/Mesa/GoJet/Republic as well! Or are beverages markedly less safe on smaller aircraft?

(And not just PDB, I have lots of examples of not even a drink service in F on GoJet and SkyWest flights--with no drinks AT ALL in the name of 'safety').

cesco.g

Still hope that will be combined with more acceptable reintroduction of food service, esp appetizer, desserts.

EWR764

Agreed... but still, a very welcome step in the right direction.

cesco.g

Frankly, AFA longhaul flights are concerned I would trade the PDB for better food selection anytime;
more so from hubs like SFO, where there is no PL to get a decent bite pre/post-flight.

rittenhousesq

You might as well just be honest and give yourself the credit for these service restorations!

DELee

Agreed! MatthewLAX has continued to press UA consistently to restore services onboard especially.

David

EWR764

It's unfortunate, but at this point, we are just missing an appetizer, additional entree choices (portion size is the same) and the dessert cart from the pre-COVID Polaris service. On one hand, we don't have much farther to go to return to the most recent iteration of the service, but on the other, it's indicative of how degraded the onboard product became prior to the pandemic.

Coursed service is take-it-or-leave-it for me. On some routes, especially long ones, I don't mind (and in some cases prefer) the more drawn-out service. But, on redeyes and eastbound TATL, I usually was in the "express" category myself if I hadn't already eaten in the PL, so it's not a dramatic change. The plastic cups, though, are a tangible indication of "cheapness", cost-cutting and hygiene theater in the pandemic era that I am happy to see go away.

exp

What is better environmentally, glassware or plastic ?

do they do a good job of sanitizing and washing? But that would consume a lot of energy?

HNLbasedFlyer

Environmentally - glass is better but quite frankly it is the lessor of two evils. Most glass is not recycled (although 100% of it can) and the raw materials needed to create glass are not being replenished at the rate they are being used.

Starbase 1K

This truly is exciting news! Might this also mean that flights from DEN have silverware? Will DEN flights have glassware lost in the abyss along with their silverware? 😅