United expands pre-order meals: also on shorter flights. Photo: United United Airlines is expanding its pre-order meal service in economy class, making it available on shorter flights in North America and the Caribbean.
As part of the change, passengers can pre-order fresh meals on flights over 900 miles (about 1,448 km), down from the previous threshold of more than 1,190 miles (about 1,915 km).
According to the company, the expansion will add the option to pre-order meals on 420 flights per day, allowing up to 65,000 additional passengers each day to use the service. Among other things, the service will also be expanded to flights between the company's main home ports, including Chicago and Houston, Denver and San Francisco, as well as Houston and Washington, D.C.
Orders can be placed on the airline's website or app, starting five days before the flight and ending 24 hours before takeoff. Passengers can choose from a rotating menu that includes sandwiches, burgers, pasta, burritos and breakfast items, along with snack boxes and other items available for purchase on board.
Current menu items include: Mojo-style pork burrito, spicy honey chicken sandwich with waffles, and Chicago-style beef patty sandwich with apple cinnamon waffles.
The options for each flight are listed on the website in the "Trips" area, and passengers are notified in the app when pre-order opens. The company notes that in certain circumstances it may not be possible to provide the meal ordered.
The service expansion joins other moves by United in the passenger experience. The company continues to expand deployment of its Starlink satellite internet service, which it offers free of charge to MileagePlus members on aircraft equipped with the system.
According to it, the service is already available on its entire fleet of regional aircraft in a two-class configuration, as well as on more than 280 aircraft in the main fleet, and its installation across the entire fleet is expected to be completed during 2027.
In this context, we recall that two days ago the company launched a new digital tool that allows passengers to check in advance whether their flight is expected to have Starlink satellite internet.
The company is also expanding its in-flight entertainment options, with more than 2,500 hours of content, and continuing to install personal screens in the backs of seats. According to United, up to 1,000 aircraft are expected to have such screens by the end of 2027. The company also announced that starting November 1, it will refresh the contents of three of its popular snack packs, Tapas, Takeoff and Recline, and will continue to offer seasonal food and beverage items.
David Kinzelman, United's chief customer experience officer, said: "We want our customers to have more of what they value when they fly, more choice, more convenience and a better experience onboard,"
"Expanding Economy meal preorder to millions more customers is one way we're delivering on that, alongside the investments that make it easier to stay connected with fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members, enjoy great entertainment and get more out of their time onboard."