United Airlines announced that it will launch a six-course meal as a premium dining experience for business and first class long-haul international flights around the globe.
The meals will be made of restaurant-quality, said in a press release issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc., the parent company for United Airlines and United Express, on Thursday. Those traveling in United Global First and United BusinessFirst flights will be able to choose from a variety of entrees containing beef, chicken, fish, and vegetarian style pastas.
"The changes come after many months of input from customers and from our Congress of Chefs, as well as taste-testing sessions," Sandra Pineau-Boddison, vice president of Food Services for United, stated for the press release. "Our goal is to deliver a better and more-consistent experience for our customers, while offering greater variety and choice."
Specifically, premium-level customers for United will start off their extravagant meals with an snack of warm nuts accompanied by the alcoholic beverage of their choice, either a spirit, beer, wine, or champagne. From there, listed the press release, United Global First flyers jetting around the world will receive a six-course meal starting with an appetizer and soup, with a salad and gourmet breads.
The high-priced seat-holders will then get the meat- or vegetable-entrée of their personal choosing, cheese and fruit, and a dessert. Ice cream sundaes made-to-order, liqueurs, port wine, and freshly brewed coffee will be offered for snacks and dessert for the luxurious meal.
United BusinessFirst's menu will be more limited than that of its brother Global First flights, where they will offer five rather than six courses for those taking international flights. That will consist of an appetizer, salad with gourmet breads, entrée, choose with fruit, and dessert, noted the press release.
Certain parts of the world and flights destined in and out of them will get more ethnic-blends of entrees and meals to choose from, said the United Airways press release. Flights in and out of Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka, and via China, will offer hot noodle soup as a mid-flight snack. International flights going from the United States and Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America, Asia, and Australia will also have the dinner packages available for first- and business-class customers, said the press release.
