May 31--Just before Christmas last year, United Airlines announced a merry change: Complimentary food was back for fliers in coach seats.
Starting last February, passengers are offered a stroopwafel, or Dutch caramel-filled waffle, on flights departing before 9:45 a.m. The airline also started offering pretzels, sesame sticks and rice cakes on flights later in the day.
Now the world's third-largest carrier is adding to its menu of free munchies.
Coach passengers on flights from the U.S. to Europe currently get a free mid-flight snack, plus whatever they want to buy from the onboard menu. But starting Wednesday, coach passengers on those flights will get a complimentary pre-arrival snack: a warmed croissant, jam and a yogurt cup. Passengers on flights from Europe to the U.S., who already get a pre-arrival snack, will now also receive a mid-flight snack.
On flights from the West Coast to Europe, United announced, the airline will offer a new complimentary small sandwich. Travelers flying from Europe to the West Coast already receive a pre-arrival sandwich, so the new offering for them is an enhanced mid-flight snack, according to United spokesman Jonathan Guerin.
"We're listening to our customers and making some changes based on their feedback," Guerin said.
The entire airline industry has been upgrading onboard food and entertainment, thanks to increased travel demand and lower fuel costs that have pushed profits up.
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