United Introduces Meal Preordering for Economy Passengers Online and via App

United Airlines has rolled out an exciting expansion of its meal preorder program to include Economy class passengers. This initiative allows travelers on longer flights to choose from a variety of fresh meal options via the airline’s website and mobile app before their journey begins.

Economy passengers flying routes exceeding 1,190 miles within the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean can now preorder meals such as burgers, sandwiches, and snack boxes. This service will be available starting five days before and up to 24 hours before departure. This shift represents a significant transformation in United’s onboard food service approach.

Beginning on March 1, 2026, preordering will be the exclusive method for United Economy travelers to procure fresh entrees. Although passengers will still have the option to purchase snack boxes, packaged snacks, and beverages during the flight, the traditional method of ordering freshly prepared meals will be phased out.

The airline has indicated that this change aims to enhance meal availability while improving catering efficiency and minimizing food waste. This initiative is expected to prevent over 100,000 pounds of surplus food from ending up in landfills each year, enabling caterers to align supply with demand more effectively.

“Preordering is beneficial for all parties involved,” stated Aaron McMillan, United’s Managing Director of Hospitality Programs. “Travelers can board knowing their preferred meal will be waiting, our catering partners can accurately prepare the required amount of food, and it streamlines our operations.”

While the preorder option is new to Economy passengers, United is building on its previous success. The airline initially launched meal preordering for its premium cabins, such as United First and United Polaris, in 2021. This initial rollout resulted in nearly a 40% increase in customer satisfaction scores on domestic flights.

The new expansion introduces a different service model for Economy passengers, moving from traditional cart service to a more reservation-style system. By making preorders mandatory for fresh meals, United marks a significant evolution in its dining experience.

United plans to broaden its preorder menu later this year, with upcoming options that will include salads, gourmet sandwiches, and wraps. Additionally, the airline anticipates the introduction of preorder-only premium beverage choices soon.

Passengers can conveniently place their meal orders via the Trips section on united.com or through the United mobile app. Users of the app will receive a notification when the preordering period opens for their specific flights. It’s essential to note that preordered meals may not be available under certain conditions, such as last-minute aircraft changes.