Rumbling stomachs in coach will soon be a thing of the past for travelers flying on United Airlines. The Chicago-based carrier is bringing back a popular passenger perk: free snacks.
“We’re refocusing on the big and little things that we know matter to our customers,” Jimmy Samartzis, United’s vice president of food services and United Clubs, said in a statement. Free snacks, he said, “add that extra level of service our employees will be proud to deliver and will make a big difference for our customers.”
The airline nixed complimentary snacks for economy passengers in 2008, NBC reports. It was a cost-saving measure by United, but it was a move that irked passengers.
“We heard loud and clear from customers that better coffee and complimentary snacks will improve the in-flight experience,” said United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson. The airline also recently announced it will begin serving the Illy Italian coffee brand on flights and in its airport locations.
So, what will United passengers be munching on come February?
On morning flights, a complimentary caramel-filled Dutch pastry known as a stroopwafel will be served. United said the waffle “pairs perfectly with coffee or tea.” On flights departing after 9:45 a.m., United passengers can pick from 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.
United also serves complimentary soda, water and coffee.
The complimentary in-flight snack options will be offered on United’s North American, Caribbean, Honolulu and Guam flights that don’t already have free food options. The airline will continue to sell a variety of other a la cart snack items on its flights.
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