United Airlines appears to be bringing back the glory days of flying. Okay, not the ’60s-esque glory days, but the other ones: when you didn’t have to shell out $5 (or more) for a bag of chips. The carrier announced today that it’s leveling the snacking playing field by once again offering economy passengers free nibbles.
In yet another attempt to get in passengers’ good graces, the airline said on Wednesday that it’s aiming for customers’ stomach by offering free snacks on daily North American and Latin American flights starting in February.
The treats will vary depending on flight times. Travelers leaving before 9:45 a.m. will receive something called a morning stroopwafel, a Dutch caramel-filled waffle.
Trips taking place after 9:45 a.m. will include packaged savory snacks, like an Asian-style snack mix of rice crackers, sesame sticks and wasabi peas; zesty ranch mini pretzels; Cajun corn sticks or soy nuts.
The new snack offerings come as United tries to win back customers while revamping its business practices under new CEO Oscar Munoz, and his current stand-in Brett Hart.
“We’re refocusing on the big and little things that we know matter to our customers and shape how they feel about their travel experience,” Jimmy Samartzis, United’s vice president of food services and United Clubs, said in a statement.
Among other changes, the company has made plans to overhaul its coffee option, bringing in Illycaffe’s scuro dark roast on all flights starting next summer.
If the complementary coffee and treats just aren’t enough to sustain you during your flight, United says it will still offer its Choice Menu, which includes other snacks, sandwiches and meals for an additional cost.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist