United Airlines Moves to Digital-First Economy Dining
HOSPITALITY
United customers can now order fresh, United Economy meals like burgers and sandwiches before their flight through the airline's website and mobile app.
Starting this month, United Airlines is significantly altering how it handles food service in the back of the plane. In a move aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing waste, the airline has expanded its pre-order meal system to the Economy cabin for flights over 1,190 miles within North America and the Caribbean.
The policy shift comes with a firm deadline: beginning March 1, 2026, pre-ordering will be the only way for Economy passengers to purchase fresh entrees. Onboard sales will be restricted to snacks, beverages, and the airline's signature snack boxes.
Bridging the Gap Between Choice and Waste
For United, the transition to a pre-order model is a response to two primary pressures: customer satisfaction and environmental impact.
By allowing passengers to select meals up to five days in advance, the airline ensures that customers receive their preferred choice, a strategy that previously led to a 40% increase in satisfaction scores when implemented for premium cabins in 2021.
Environmentally, the precision of a pre-order system is expected to keep more than 100,000 pounds of unused food out of landfills annually by minimizing unconsumed fresh retail items.
The Logistics: How it Works
Passengers traveling on eligible routes, covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean—can browse and buy fresh items through the United mobile app or website. The window for ordering opens five days before departure and closes 24 hours before take-off.
The current January menu features diverse options, including:
Steakhouse Burgers
Tacos Al Pastor
Fresh Cheese & Fruit Trays
Everything Bagel Dots
United has already signaled plans to expand the menu this summer to include elevated salads and gourmet wraps, as well as premium beverage options exclusive to the pre-order platform.
A Strategy for Scalable Operations
“Pre-ordering is a win for everyone,” said Aaron McMillan, Managing Director of Hospitality Programs at United. Beyond the passenger experience, the system allows catering partners to prepare exact quantities, smoothing out ground operations and reducing the operational friction of carrying excess inventory.
As the industry moves toward a more personalized, digital-first experience, United's latest move reflects a broader trend in aviation: using data to balance the luxury of choice with the necessity of sustainability. For travelers, the message is clear, if you want a fresh meal in the sky, you'll need to plan ahead on the ground.