United Brings Back the Sundae Cart to Business Class
The carrier's much-missed ice cream sundae cart will be returning to Polaris business class cabins in February after almost three years
Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines
United Airlines fans’ favorite ice cream sundae service will return to long-haul international flights in February, nearly three years after it was suspended amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Before the pandemic, the three-tier dessert cart was a staple in United’s Business Class for decades. Flight attendants served passengers scoops of vanilla ice cream in glass coupes, customized with chocolate, caramel, or fruit sauces, M&Ms, Oreo flakes, cream, cherries, and strawberries.
When in-flight services were stripped back during the coronavirus crisis, and amid virus fears, the sundae service was replaced with pre-packaged ice cream – an unpopular change among many travelers. But with infection worries receding, in November, United relaunched the sundae service on four flights departing San Francisco (SFO), headed to Brisbane (BNE), Frankfurt (FRA), Singapore (SIN), and Sydney (SYD).
United said that the revival of the sundae service was based on feedback from passengers and flight attendants. Now the airline has announced that the sundae service will also return to other long-haul international flights at an unspecified date in February.
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The carrier celebrated the sundae relaunch online over the weekend, posting on Instagram: “We all scream for ice cream! Because the United Polaris business class Sundae Cart IS BACK!”
Passengers greeted the news enthusiastically. Customer Shana tweeted, “This is one of my favorite amenities that I’ve experienced flying over the years, so glad it’s back!”
“Honestly, it’s stuff like this that makes flying Business Class feel like an event rather than a means to an end,” passenger Ryan tweeted.
“Everyone acts like a kid when there’s ice cream involved,” United replied to one customer.
Passengers who don’t like ice cream can select from a range of tarts and cheese plates with fruits.
Over the last year, many carriers have relaunched the in-flight services they pared back or discontinued during the pandemic. That means flyers enjoy more options, alcoholic beverages, and snacks on short-haul trips with many airlines.
Photo: Courtesy of Arkin Si / Unsplash
United’s ice cream sundae cart returns when the carrier is amidst a major overhaul of its fleet. In December, the airline announced it was ordering 200 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the single largest widebody jet order in the history of U.S. air travel.
The Chicago-based carrier is also retrofitting the interiors of its existing fleet, including adding more of the popular Polaris seats, which means more opportunities to sample their famed sundaes!
