United rolls out economy meal pre-order

The aim is help make inflight catering more efficient and reduce food waste.

United Economy meal pre-orders are available on flights over 1,190 miles within the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean starting March 1 and pre-orders will be the only way to purchase fresh entrees in the Economy cabin.

United Economy will still offer its signature snack boxes, packaged snacks and beverages for purchase onboard.

The airline says it is expected to keep more than 100,000 pounds of unused food out of landfills each year.

United plans to add additional fresh meal choices to the pre-order menu this summer that include salads, gourmet sandwiches and wraps.

United first introduced pre-order in the United app for premium cabins in 2021 and says customer satisfaction scores for domestic flights increase by almost 40%.

“We’re continuing to invest in meaningful improvements to our onboard food and beverage program, with a focus on quality, consistency and customer choice,” said Aaron McMillan, Managing Director of Hospitality Programs at United.

“Pre-ordering is a win for everyone – customers board the plane knowing they’ll get the meal they want, and our catering partners know exactly how much food to prepare.”

Customers can pre-order both fresh Bistro on Board and retail items in advance through the mobile app or on united.com, beginning five days and up to 24 hours before departure.