United Airlines customers can now order fresh, Economy class meals like burgers and sandwiches before their flight through the airline’s website and mobile app. This change prioritizes giving customers more choice and ensuring they get the meals they want, while also helping the airline’s catering operation run more efficiently and supporting efforts to reduce food waste.
Meal preorders are available on flights over 1,190 miles within the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Starting March 1, preorders will be the only way to purchase fresh entrees for customers traveling in the Economy cabin. United Economy will still offer its snack boxes, packaged snacks and beverages for purchase onboard.
The airline expects to add additional fresh meal choices to the preorder menu this summer that include “elevated” salads, gourmet sandwiches and wraps, with expanded preorder premium beverage options planned for later this year.
United first introduced preorder in its app for premium cabins in 2021 and saw customer satisfaction scores for domestic flights increase by almost 40%, according to the airline.
Aaron McMillan, managing director of hospitality programs, said, “Preordering is a win for everyone — customers board the plane knowing they’ll get the meal they want, our catering partners know exactly how much food to prepare for each flight and it helps our operation run even more smoothly and reduce food waste.”
Customers can preorder both fresh Bistro on Board and retail items in advance through the mobile app or on united.com, beginning five days before and up to 24 hours before departure.
