I’ve grown weary of the lack of variety in the business class meals on United Airlines’ premium transcontinental flights. So for my last flight, I ordered a kosher meal even though I am not observant nor Jewish…and was pleasantly surprised.
Trying Out A Kosher Meal In United Airlines Business Class
Consider a special meal like a kosher meal on your next United Airlines flight in business class.
How To Order A Kosher Meal (KSML) on United
I put in my request on united.com because when I tried to use the mobile app it would not stick (I would click save, but then when I returned to the itinerary, it would show no special meal ordered).
United offers special meals in business class on domestic flights over 2,000 miles and most short-haul and long-haul international flights departing or inbound to the USA. Choices include:
- Asian Vegetarian (AVML)
- Gluten-Free (GFML)
- Kosher (KSML)
- Vegan (VGML)
The choices when flying between New York and Los Angeles have really not changed in ages, with ravioli or chicken in one direction and Asian noodles or ravioli in the other direction. Thus, I decided to order the kosher meal, which was represented as a “strict” Glatt kosher meal.
Glatt kosher historically referred to meat from animals with defect-free lungs, but the term is more commonly used today to represent a product was processed under a stricter standard of kashrut (Jewish dietary laws).
Before takeoff, a flight attendant confirmed my kosher meal had been loaded and ask if I wanted to eat dinner after takeoff. Shortly after we leveled off, dinner service began and I received a wrapped tray as well as a double-wrapped hot meal placed on top.
While not pretty, everything is sealed sealed so it will not get “contaminated” by anything that is not kosher.
Unwrapping the first layer, I found a sealed bread roll, a salad with olives, rice, and eggplant, a pastry-like dessert with chocolate icing and filling, as well as a packet of instant coffee, tea, and a sealed cup of water.
The catering was by Regal and included a rabbinical note:
Unwrapping my main course, I found it sealed and wrapped in another layer. After unwrapping that layer, I was pleased to see a very edible-looking roast beef dish with peas, carrots, and what looked like couscous (even though the ingredient sheet said it was red potato wedges).
I was a bit dismayed to see that the main course, even though it featured beef, had a use by date of 03/13/23, more than six months away. It is my understanding these entrees are frozen.
After fianlly unwrapping everything, I dug into the meal:
I must admit, not bad…and a great alternative to the usual meals on this route. I ate most of it before falling asleep.
Bonus Meal
As we prepared for landing in New York, a flight attendant presented me with “breakfast,” which was really another full lunch or dinner meal.
It included bread to make a sandwich, a sealed packet of turkey, potato chips, a cookie, and some sort of chocolate pudding.
I was not expecting the second meal and ended up leaving it behind…
CONCLUSION
I was impressed by the Kosher meal on my United Airlines transcontinental flight in business class. My understanding is that the Kosher catering is even better out of Newark (Fresko instead of Regal /Borenstein) and I will order a kosher meal again.
If you’re tired of the same old choice each flight, do consider ordering a special meal.
Why did you fly into JFK rather than EWR? Better upgrade availability? I’ve had pretty good luck with upgrades into Newark on the 7am or 12:45pm flight, and both of those are on widebodies.
To be honest, I was hoping to catch a retrofitted 757-200 with the dark blue Polaris-style seat covers (instead of the old Continental purple ones) to provide an updated review. But once again (like every time I fly in business class on this plane) I got the old seats.
Furthermore, I had several meetings and a lot of work to do upon landing and wanted to do it inside the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, which is great (review coming when I do the trip report).
Hey all,
Does anyone know if Japan has announced any reopening plans recently? I saw that Delta announced it is starting LAX-HND and HNL-HND flights in the next few months. That made me think that Japan might be opening but I didn’t see any official announcement. It looks like United’s schedule also has the Tokyo flights not currently operating (LAX-HND, HNL-NRT, DEN-NRT, EWR-HND, IAD-HND) all on the schedule starting the end of October, around the same time Delta is resuming these flights.
If anyone knows anything about this, please let me know as I am looking to go to Japan soon!
Thanks!
Japan still has not fully reopened to tourists – only to pre-screened tourists groups on organized tours.
I looked into this within the past several days and the best educated speculation I could find was that mid-October was the most optimistic possibility for independent travelers, but that the recent steep rise in “cases” could easily push that back more towards December or later. Since only a minuscule number of tourists have entered Japan under the current group travel regime. the hope is that the increase will be properly seen as homegrown and unavoidable and not be blamed on foreigners, and therefore allow the government the political flexibility to maintain the current schedule.
The Ravioli has gotten Raviold, I see…
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/29/united-airlines-mishandled-listeria-contamination-lawsuits-claim.html
I don’t know about anyone else but food is one of the most difficult features of travel for me. I am not picky but then again I am. I will try anything but,,,
Very helpful thanks. I had always wondered if the meals would be better than the usual slop, and in fact that appears to be the case. It also looks like it might work well for those of us who prefer to delay our meals on international flights (more likely to be saved as it is individually wrapped and labelled).
The only downside is that I will miss out on the famous UA fka CO cheeseburgers, but those are a better option in economy.
What an appalling environmental disaster that meal is. But it does look better than the Gluten Free version, which is truly terrible.
It’s nice to hear that it wasn’t terrible.
On the other hand, one perspective is that we’ve reached a point where a “build your own turkey sandwich kit” competes favorably with the standard offerings in business class.
I think fresko is exclusive for the TLV flights
Actual Jewish here… but I do not keep kosher. I’ve spec’d kosher airplane meals in the distant past after reading they tend to be better, but after this NW FA loudly announced to everyone in the F cabin “AAAND FOR YOU MR SALTY HERE’S YOUR KOSHER MEAL” and I was served a disgusting stinking fish meal on LH, done. Gimme all the trayf.
From what others have said, vegetarian meals are also a good alternative, since many airlines serve vegetarian Indian food, so if you’re into that…
All of this is a testament to how bad the regular meals in Polaris really are.
Doesn’t United offer Halal meals? If not, shame on them for not catering to a large population of international fliers.
Kosher meals are Halal.
Eat those olives. Olives and olive oil are a healthy food.