From this summer United Airlines will be offering an improved catering experience for its premium customers.The mammoth US carrier has partnered with famous restaurant owner and chef Charlie Trotter to devise special menus for first and business passengers on selected routes.
The Charlie Trotter menus will be offered on eastbound United flights departing the US for Europe. They will also be provided on board United's "ps" B757 flights operating on transcontinental routes linking New York with Los Angeles and San Francisco. These "ps" or premium service flights feature an above-average product on US domestic routes. "We've put back the quality which was taken away in the past," said a United spokesperson.
Passengers get lie-flat seating in first and what the carrier describes as a "substantially-sized" seat in business class.
"We're very please to partner with world-renowned chef Charlie Trotter to develop a memorable in-flight dining experience for our customers," says Charlie Ahmes, United's VP of onboard service.
"Offering an upscale menu for our customers travelling in our premium cabins is one of the many ways we are enhancing our customers' overall travel experience."
To ensure premium quality, Charlie Trotter will collaborate with United's corporate executive chef Gerry Gulli on the menu options. United will be the only airline to offer these entrées, which will be introduced next summer on a date to be announced.
In other news, United will launch a daily B777 service linking Rome with Washington Dulles on April 2. Flight UA967 will depart Rome at 1055 arriving in Washington at 1440. The overnight inbound service departs Washington at 1816 to reach Rome at 0850. This will be the only direct service linking both capitals. Currently passengers must change planes in Munich, Paris or London.
United has also been given the green light to link two other capital cities: Washington DC and Beijing, mainland China. Services are expected to start in the next few months on this route which, again, is not served directly. United said it would be able to offer connections elsewhere in China at Beijing thanks to code-share links with Air China and Shanghai Airlines.
For more information go to united.com, charlietrotters.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
