Starting in March 2026, economy class passengers flying with United Airlines will be able to pre-order fresh meals such as burgers and sandwiches before their flight using the airline’s website or mobile application, and this new change will enable the airline to provide customers with more meal options while also improving the airline’s operational efficiency on the ground and in the air.

The option to pre-order fresh meals will only be available on flights over 1,190 miles within the North American region, covering destinations in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Saving Over 100,000 Lbs Of Unused Food

Credit: United Airlines

As per the latest press release from United Airlines, starting March 1, the only way fresh meals and entrées can be purchased by passengers travelling on United Economy will be by pre-ordering the meals as per the passengers’ preferences before the flight, via the airline’s website or mobile application. However, pre-ordering will only be an option on the airline’s services that cover distances over 1,190 miles to destinations within the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. However, the airline will still offer its signature snack boxes and beverages to be purchased onboard.

The airline states that with this new initiative, it will be able to offer a wider range of meals to the United Economy customers to choose from, while knowing what meals have been ordered will make the airline’s catering operations on the ground smoother as well. Additionally, by only carrying fresh meals that have been ordered, United Airlines anticipates saving over 100,000 pounds per annum of unused food being sent to landfills.

This decision is based on the airline’s findings in 2021, when United allowed its premium customers to pre-order meals via the mobile application, from which the carrier recorded customer satisfaction on domestic flights increased by almost 40%. The airline’s Managing Director of Hospitality Programs, Aaron McMillan, states,

“We’re continuing to invest in meaningful improvements to our onboard food and beverage program, with a focus on quality, consistency, and customer choice.”

Credit: Shutterstock

Apart from offering more meal choices for customers, the airline also plans to expand its offerings in the coming months, and by this summer, will even include premium beverage options available exclusively by pre-ordering. The airline states that meals can be pre-ordered beginning five days ahead of a scheduled flight, and up to 24 hours prior to departure. It is also stated that customers who have added the trip on the mobile application will get notified when the meal pre-ordering option becomes available.

For the month of January, some of the highlights from the airline’s menu include options such as:

By pre-ordering meals, the airline’s catering partners will know beforehand the meal choices and their respective quantities, which would make the ground operations more efficient, while also reducing food waste.

Apart from reducing food being sent to landfills, by carrying only meals that have been chosen by passengers, the airline is also reducing the weight of the aircraft. While such reductions appear marginal, when evaluating the airline’s wider operations across a period of a year, the weight reduction is considerable, and subsequently so is the cost saved in terms of reduced fuel burn and reduction in carbon footprint, improving sustainable practices.

Related

United Airlines’ Latest Inflight Dining Upgrade That Will Soon Take It Up A Notch

The carrier’s new move promises a fresh look for meals in its most premium class.

American Airlines Upgrading Its Meal Services Too

Credit: Shutterstock

Another American carrier upgrading its meal service this year includes American Airlines, which, as part of its centennial celebration this year, has announced that it would be serving regional delicacies from its home, Dallas, Texas. In partnership with a brand known across the country, American Airlines, with Pecan Lodge, will be offering Texas barbecue onboard.

This new offering of brisket and smoked sausage, served with creamy mac and cheese with crisp coleslaw, will be made available to passengers starting in February, before expanding the offerings in March to include chopped brisket sandwich, roasted green beans, and creamy potato salad.

However, the airline has stated that these special meals will only be available to the airline’s first class passengers, limited to the airline’s services from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to New York JFK Airport and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). However, it is only January, so it is possible the airline might introduce more meal options to more routes throughout the year as part of its ongoing investments in improving the airline’s onboard offerings.