United has launched a mobile app tool that provides travelers with the ability to order food, drinks and other items in advance and have their order waiting at the gate. The airline is testing the new service on select flights departing from or connecting through up to nine designated gates in Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Customers receive a pre-departure push notification via the app or email that lets them pick from a selection of sandwiches, salads, drinks, kids’ meals, chips, candy and more, as well as “travel essentials” like over-the-counter medicine, travel pillows and charging cords. Items are available on a designated pickup shelf to consume at the gate or to bring onboard.

David Kinzelman, chief customer officer, said: “We focus on where the travel experience can be simpler for customers and innovating to remove friction along the way. The time right before boarding is one of those moments when customers want quick, easy access to food without added complexity.” Newark, he said, “is a high-volume connecting hub where customers often have limited time between arriving at the gate and boarding, making it an ideal place to pilot this type of service.”

United will expand the pilot to Houston later this year, with popular national restaurant brands and more options for customers to pick up food or have it delivered directly to their gate. The airline will collect customer feedback throughout the pilot to evaluate interest in the service and inform potential future expansion to other airports. If expanded, United will integrate the service into its seatback inflight entertainment screens for “an even more seamless ordering experience.”