dailynewsnblog
Air travelers are more connected to their mobile devices than ever, and often have to work while in transit. Whether that means making a phone call in the boarding area or editing a document during a flight, this work can often jeopardize the chance to refuel with food. 
United Airlines has added a new feature to its mobile app that lets passengers order food or other essentials and have them delivered to their departure gate at 
Newark Liberty International Airport(EWR).
The partnership is a collaboration between United and On the Go (OTG), who is the primary food and beverage vendor management company at EWR. Air travel can do strange things to your diet. You may get a random urge for a light snack, or perhaps you’re flying across four time zones, and the flight occurs during your normal meal time. The convenience of bringing freshly prepared food on the plane is likely more appealing than a questionable sandwich or salad from the buy-onboard menu once you’re in the air.
A Limited Rollout At First
Initially, the service will be offered only on select United flights from EWR, leaving from gates C125-138. These gates serve both domestic and international departures with narrowbody and widebody aircraft. Passengers with the United app booked on selected flights will receive a push notification about this new option. OTG prepares and packages orders before delivering them to a designated spot at the departure gate, much like the familiar shelves for online carry-out orders at a quick-serve restaurant.
Participating restaurants at EWR Terminal C include Nonna’s Kitchen and Victory Grille, though Terminal C has dozens of other dining options. Nonna’s score on Yelp is 2.4 stars, while Victory Grille’s score is only 1.9 stars, but sometimes we’re at the mercy of whatever we can conveniently get when in a rush. Other eateries may be added later, but none were mentioned in United’s press release. In addition, passengers can also acquire other essentials they may have forgotten at home, such as over-the-counter medicine or a charging cord.
As always, you’ll be at the mercy of airport price markups, though United isn’t charging a fee to use the service. This program is tailored for those who are running short on time.
“The time right before boarding is one of those moments when customers want quick, easy access to food without added complexity,” said David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer.
Future Expansion To Houston Bush
The program will expand later this year to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). During this pilot program at both airports, United will collect customer feedback and evaluate whether to continue expansion to other concourses or additional airports. If the program succeeds, United plans to let passengers place orders using their seatback inflight entertainment screens, so food is waiting upon arrival.
Not long ago, 
Denver International Airport (DEN) had a similar program called “At Your Gate” for food delivery within its 3 concourses, but that program has been shuttered. One could expect United’s new program to expand to DEN if the airline decided to implement it at an additional hub, operating over 550 flights each day.
New Routes & Cabin Upgrades
United recently announced 14 new routes from EWR, many of which will use the new Airbus A321XLR. The airline will also resume flights to Tel Aviv on September 8 and Dubai on November 8. Both routes had been paused due to military action in their respective regions.
United also just announced an additional app feature that will let customers choose up to three standby flights scheduled earlier than the one you purchased. This may be useful in the event of weather disruptions. United will monitor seat availability on the earlier flights and notify you if a seat opens up. From there, you can switch flights or stay on the one you booked.
Finally, United continues to add Starlink WiFi to its fleet, promising faster upload and download speeds aloft than ever before. This tracking website shows that 523 of 1,787 aircraft have received the upgrade as of September 2.
