Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
The pandemic brought many cuts to airline catering. Premium cabins saw drastic reductions in service, food quality, and quantity. While much of the experience of flying international business class has returned, there are a few holdouts. One of these is the ice cream sundae. Ice cream with your choice of toppings at 36,000 feet had a cult following for decades. And, pretty soon it will return.
A few test markets out of San Francisco (SFO) had been trialing its comeback including flights to Frankfurt (FRA), Brisbane (BNE), Sydney (SYD) and Singapore (SIN). United announced that starting in February, all Polaris passengers will get their sugar rush. United said in an Instagram post on Saturday: “We all scream for ice cream! Because the United Polaris business class Sundae Cart IS BACK!”
The packaged ice cream United substituted during the pandemic came on the tray either rock hard or melted. And, it was usually mango flavor. Who wants that? Then, the ice cream switched to have chocolate sauce and brownies crumbled over it. Sounds good, but it was not great because the texture and temperature it was served at usually made it difficult to eat and the flavor was meh.
Anthony’s Take: I’m glad to see United returning service levels to those pre-pandemic. It would be nice if the food quality improved along with this addition. United has been trying too hard or not trying at all with the odd combinations and flavors presented in recent months on Polaris flights. I guess the sweet spot here is that even if the meal is bad, you can save room for ice cream.
Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: The United℠ Explorer Card is the best card for regular United flyers and one of the two United cards I hold. The annual fee is waived the first year, then it’s $95. With it, you get 2 miles per $1 spent on United Airlines, restaurants, and hotels (booked directly through the hotel); 1 mile per $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases. Other benefits include: upgrades on award tickets for Premier® members (a benefit not offered to anyone else other than GS members), a free checked bag on every flight, a 25% statement credit on purchases made onboard (think Wi-Fi or snacks), two United Club℠ passes (annually) and priority boarding with Group 2. Learn more.
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
3 comments
Did FRA-SFO in Polaris last week. Sundaes offered.
Other choices: 1 (one) frangipane cookie or cheese & crackers. Wow, so under impressed!
I knew to ask for a glass of port; not listed on the cheap one-sided menu. No liquor options listed either.
Bring back the tiered pastry selection!! Promote port.
Mid flight snacks: ramekins of left over mixed nuts; bags of chemically induced chips. No fruit, no wraps, no chocolate.
Shameful.
I agree with you. There used to be mid-flight snacks like grilled cheese and tomato soup, sandwiches, and more. That became chips and gummy bears. The dessert was multiple choices and you could have cheese, pastries, and ice cream. Hoping for change because the way it has been is not okay.
SFO Pre-arrival meal choices: burger or quinoa salad. That was lunch.
Wonder if the FA unions give cost-cutting suggestions to management. Less food (meals) = less service time.
UA also hasn’t brought back the beautiful Japanese meals (NRT; HND; KIX) that could be pre-ordered.