United Airlines has upgraded its pre-departure beverages from plastic cups to glassware on international flights, a small but long-overdue enhancement that makes for a much more premium experience.

United Airlines Upgrades Pre-Departure Drinks To Glassware In Polaris

This week, United Airlines is rolling out new dishware, utensils, and glasses in Polaris (business class) and United Premium Plus (premium economy) on international flights, premium transcontinental, and long-haul Hawaii flights. It will next roll out to domestic, Canada, short-haul Latin and Micronesia routes on June 5, 2025.

As part of that transition, United is “enhancing the customer experience by using new rocks and flute glasses instead of plastic disposable cups for the premium cabin pre-departure welcome beverage service on all international flights.”

Currently, blue plastic cups (the same cups used in economy class) or plastic goblets and tumblers are utilized for pre-departure beverages, which are tacky…can you think of a better word? But with the upgrade to glassware comes new requirements to ensure that pre-departure beverages are collected before takeoff.

Flight attendants will begin to pick up welcome beverage glassware 10 minutes before departure. All glassware must be collected and properly stowed in the galley carts/carriers before door closure to ensure compliance with FAA regulations.

Flight attendants have been advised that if they cannot begin distributing welcome beverages 20 minutes prior to door closure, offer customers water in blue disposable cups instead. United says, “This ensures customers still receive a beverage, and the disposable cup can be easily collected after the safety demonstration and disposed of in the galley trash containers.”

I’ve said often before that it’s the little things that matter…while one thing may alone be trivial, many small improvements add up to create a real differentiator and a truly premium experience. Using glassware instead of cheap disposable plastic will not go unnoticed. That certainly does not solve all the catering issues at United, but it’s another step in the right direction.

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