CHICAGO – A recent move made by United Airlines caused passengers to see red – tomato red, to be exact.
The world’s fourth largest airline announced last week that it would be eliminating tomato juice on domestic flights of less than four hours. The move was meant to be a minor adjustment to its in-flight offerings, but United underestimated just how much people love their tomato juice.
What followed was a full-out, straight-up social media meltdown, with critics slamming the airline for its decision and vowing to jump ship for its competitors.
@united Um, you really ought to bring back the tomato juice. Are you trying to suck the last remaining ounces of joy out of our flying time with you?
— Occam’s Miter Saw (@ebuckle3) 10 May 2018
No Tomato Juice on a plane??????!!!!! What are you doing United Airlines???? Everyone knows tomato juice is so much better in the air!!!! @united pic.twitter.com/J4YN6C0nmi
— Jaime Pulfer (@Pulfer680News) May 10, 2018
Seriously @united, you are ditching tomato juice on your flights??? I’ve always been a united guy and will book based on price, but if your price is equal to your competitor, the airline serving the tomato juice will get my business! #Mottsorbust
— Jason Chase (@chasing_jason) May 9, 2018
@united heard a rumor tomato juice (and diet sprite) soon to be discontinued. Blood Mary Mix is not a substitute! Everyone knows tomato juice tastes better on the plane and is popular. Google it. Please reconsider. Don’t race to the bottom!
— akagai1 (@akagai1) May 7, 2018
The backlash on social media was so swift and severe that United was forced to reassess its policy. On Thursday night, it backtracked on its earlier announcement and tweeted that the beloved tomato juice will be back.
You say tomato. We say, we hear you. Tomato juice is here to stay. #letscallthewholethingoff https://t.co/R6QskrYE8i
— United Airlines (@united) May 10, 2018
If you’re wondering why people reacted so passionately to the tomato juice ban, there’s actually a scientific reason for it. According to a 2016 report in the Los Angeles Times, studies have proven that tomato juice actually does taste better at 35,000 feet than on the ground. The higher you ascend in the sky, the more your senses change. Foods can taste a bit blander than what you’re used to, and lines between sweet and salty tastes become blurred. When it comes to tomato juice specifically, people have found it tastes sweeter, even fruitier, while on a flight.
So the people have spoken and their beloved tomato juice has been saved. The same can’t be said for Sprite Zero, Jim Beam, Courvoisier and Amaretto though, all of which have been ditched by United. Only time will tell if these beverages will be saved too.
