Denver Weather Summary: 25 degrees

If you feel like you’re being nickel-and-dimed each time you travel, you’re not alone. Buzz60’s Sean Dowling has more.
Buzz60

Flying the friendly skies is about to get a little bit sweeter.

In 2019, United Airlines passengers will once again be able to enjoy a cult-favorite cookie on their next flight. Just after Christmas, the airline tweeted that it’s bringing the Dutch stroopwafel back into its snack rotation on all domestic flights this January.

But, of course, there’s a catch.

The treat will only be served on flights that depart prior to 9:45 a.m. local time, so passengers will need to head out early if they want to satisfy their (free) craving for something sweet.

United originally offered the stroopwafel, which is a waffle-style cookie filled with caramel that originated in the Netherlands, back in 2016 when the airline began offering free snacks again to Economy Class passengers. But when they added a maple-flavored cookie to the menu last June, United ditched the stroopwafel on morning domestic flights — much to many passengers’ dismay.

To say that plenty of cookie lovers are over the moon that the Dutch treat is returning is an understatement.

One woman even claimed her husband became such a fan of the cookie after eating a stroopwafel on their first flight together that they served the snack at their wedding:

My now-husband had his first stroopwafel on our first trip together (ORD-MSY), and he got so hooked, we served them at our wedding a couple years later. Thank you for bringing them back!

— Zena Burns (@zenaburns) December 28, 2018

Here’s what some other excited flyers had to say:

One can stick them under the laptop if working and heat makes them even better.

— Iztok Umek (@iztoku) December 29, 2018

Yasssssssss! So excited for my bi-weekly morning flight with coffee and stroopwafel!!!!!!

— Nicole Sullivan (@nikkiasullivan) December 29, 2018

United even replied back:

can we get a YAS QUEEN for the stroops?! ^BA

— United Airlines (@united) December 29, 2018

In a video posted to United’s employee Twitter account, the airline demonstrates how to eat a stroopwafel, recommending setting it atop a cup of coffee first to heat it up, so the caramel inside becomes a little gooey, then it should be broken in half before eating it.

Of course, there were plenty of people who wished United would start serving healthier snacks or just focus on improving overall flight experiences:

How about some sugar free snacks for diabetes challenged passengers?

— Braasch Biotech LLC (@Braaschbio) December 30, 2018

Count me among those who don’t like stroopwafels and could care less – instead, tell me about United improving economy seats and flight reliability. That would be really sweet!

— Just a Fungi (@JustaFungi51) December 29, 2018

Now let’s just hope the airline doesn’t remove it again like they did with tomato juice, which almost resulted in a real passenger revolt.

For those who are really digging the stroopwafel but can’t be bothered to take an early flight, McDonald’s has recently been serving up a Stroopwafel McFlurry at select restaurants in South Florida.

United Airlines pulled back the curtain and revealed who will run regional carrier ExpressJet Airlines in the wake of the announcement that a new joint venture called ManaAir LLC has acquired ExpressJet from parent St. George, Utah-based SkyWest for $70 million in cash plus assumption of liabilities. 

Next Story

Not Available

Just For You

Not Available

Trending

Not Available

United has indicated it is a significant minority investor in ManaAir, which said last week it will name Subodh Karnik as president and CEO of ExpressJet Airlines once the acquisition is complete in early 2019, pending financial and government regulatory approvals.  

    

Karnik will join ExpressJet with more than 30 years of airline operations, finance, marketing and planning experience, including senior-level positions at Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), Continental Airlines (which merged with United) and Northwest Airlines (which merged with Delta).

Read the full story on The Atlanta Business Chronicle’s website.

Turns out airline food doesn’t have to stay on the plane: Business-class meals can now be made at home with the new United Polaris cookbook, The Daily Meal reports.

But this isn’t the peanuts and pretzels served in coach. United Airlines shared an image of the cookbook featuring a recipe for “coconut soup with sambal oelek chicken” with the Free Press. 

According to the United Airlines shop, the $29.99 cookbook features over 40 recipes from United’s executive chefs and chefs from The Trotter Project, which works to aid young chefs in the culinary and hospitality fields. 

On its website, United said it’s “excited to be the official airline of The Trotter Project,” bringing gourmet options for United Polaris business class passengers and premium transcontinental service flyers, plus new dishes for international economy dining.

“A portion of proceeds (for the cookbook) will be donated to The Trotter Project to continue its mission of inspiring the next generation of culinary professionals,” a United spokesperson said Monday in an email.

As Travel + Leisure notes, other airlines have also ventured into cookbooks: Southwest Airlines published “Feel the Spirit, Savor the Fare” in 2006 and Delta put out a book of recipes compiled by flight attendants called “First-Class Meals” back in 1987.

Follow Aleanna Siacon on Twitter: @AleannaSiacon

More: Poop on planes and emotional support squirrels: 5 craziest travel stories of 2018

 

After the dragging incident, the airline made big promises about discovering caring. And, at least on some flights, a change is noticeable.

The much-loved Stroopwafel, a waffle-like Dutch treat, is returning to the air. United Airlines says it’ll serve the cookie, a favorite snack to pair with coffee or tea, onboard in 2019.

Old-School Snacks We Bet You Completely Forgot Existed

This is big news for frequent flyers. As we reported in June, the Stroopwafel has been a beloved free perk for United passengers since 2016. They’re wafer cookies sandwiching caramel, and are traditionally served in the Netherlands steamed over coffee. The steam from the hot beverage softens the cookie to reveal its melty center.

Back in June, the airline replaced Stroopwafels with “maple wafers” on flights departing before 9:45 a.m. and customers complained on social media. But on Dec. 28, United tweeted that they’re coming back.

“We’re starting 2019 on a sweet note – the stroopwafel will be back in the snack rotation starting in January!” the tweet reads.

United Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but a United spokesperson told The Points Guy website that the “intention has always been to bring it back.” No exact date was given for the cookie’s return.

Cookie monsters on Twitter were pretty excited.

“My now-husband had his first stroopwafel on our first trip together (ORD-MSY), and he got so hooked, we served them at our wedding a couple years later,” wrote Zena Burns. “Thank you for bringing them back!”

My now-husband had his first stroopwafel on our first trip together (ORD-MSY), and he got so hooked, we served them at our wedding a couple years later. Thank you for bringing them back!

— Zena Burns (@zenaburns) December 28, 2018

If you’re planning to fly in 2019, you may want to know which foods to skip while in the air. Here’s a helpful list of the unhealthiest airplane snacks.

Traverse City’s Holiday Inn Sold For $23 Million; New Owners Aim For “Icon”

By Luke Haase

The West Bay Beach A Holiday Inn Resort in Traverse City has been sold for $23.2 million,The Ticker has learned, to a team that intends …

Turns out airline food doesn’t have to come in a snack-sized bag and doesn’t have to stay on the plane. 

Now folks can recreate some business-class meals with the new United Polaris cookbook, The Daily Meal reports.

But this isn’t the peanuts and pretzels served in coach — United Airlines shared an image of the cookbook featuring a recipe for “coconut soup with sambal oelek chicken” with the Free Press. 

According to the United Airlines shop, its $29.99 cookbook features over 40 recipes from United’s executive chefs and chefs from The Trotter Project — which works to provide education and mentorship to benefit young chefs in the culinary and hospitality fields. 

On its website, United has said that it is “excited to be the official airline of The Trotter Project” and partners with the nonprofit to bring gourmet options for the United Polaris business class passengers and premium transcontinental service flyers, plus new dishes for those enjoying international economy dining. 

More

Kayaker plunges over U.P.’s Tahquamenon Falls

7 expenses to cut from your budget in 2019

“A portion of proceeds (for the cookbook) will be donated to The Trotter Project to continue its mission of inspiring the next generation of culinary professionals,” a United spokesperson said in an email Monday. 

According to Travel + Leisure, other airlines have previously ventured into cookbooks: Southwest Airlines published “Feel the Spirit, Savor the Fare” in 2006 and Delta put out a book of recipes compiled by its flight attendants called, “First-Class Meals” back in 1987.

Contact Aleanna Siacon: ASiacon@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AleannaSiacon.