Today United Airlines restored hot, plated meals on several routes after more than a year with much more limited meal service onboard. Here’s what to expect onboard if you are traveling in first class.
United Airlines Domestic First Class Meal Service
Hot meals in first class are now served on the following flights:
- Domestic flights – over 1,500 miles
- Hub-to-hub routes – over 800 miles
“Domestic” includes the following routes:
- United States
- Canada
- Caribbean
- Latin America
A reader who works in United’s catering department sent me the following menu information.
For June 2020, the menu choices on United Mainline include:
- Breakfast
- Egg scramble with plant-based chorizo, jack cheese, butternut squash, black beans
- Belgium waffle with bourbon bananas foster sauce and berry compote
Both entrees are served with a side of fresh fruit and lemon wafer bites. On flights over 1,500 miles, meals are also served with a side of a peach-flavored Greek yogurt parfait.
- Lunch/Dinner
- Grilled chicken breast with orzo and lemon basil pesto
- Vegetarian enchilada with green chile sauce, served with a side of Spanish rice
Both entree are served with a Southwest grain salad (organic farro, roasted corn, black beans) and mini “Pie in the Sky” chocolate chip pie. On flights over 1,500 miles, a bread roll is also served.
If these options are not appealing, snack boxes will still be available upon request.
On United Express flights, which do not have ovens, breakfast will include coconut chia oatmeal with bananas and chocolate chips. Flights over 1,500 miles will also include yogurt.
For United Express lunch and dinner flights, choices will include a grilled chicken breast (served cold) or a cheese plate. Both choices will be served with a banana, grain salad, bread roll, and cookie. The menu will be the same on both shorter hub-hub flights as well as flight over 1,500 miles.
This marks a big step up from the hot sandwiches that have been served for the last several months. These sandwiches will remain on non hub-to-hub routes between 800 and 1,500 miles.
> Read More: United’s New First Class Sandwiches
Finally, note that meals will vary on premium transcontinental and Hawaiian routes.
CONCLUSION
I’m looking forward to trying United’s new first class meals. While American Airlines has promised that these sorts of meals are likely never to return and Delta Air Lines has only restored meals on a handful of routes, it is nice to see United Airlines be the first airline to bring back hot meals to many shorter routes.
Have you tried United’s new first class meal service? How tasty was the food?
While restoring hot meals is good, the carb + fat content of these unappealing meals needs to change! Other airlines like jetBlue, American and Air Canada are much better in that regard.
You don’t have to eat it. You don’t have to fly United. Aren’t choices great?
You know American is serving a full of carb snack basket for flights less than 900 miles and that pathetic turkey sandwich or cheese tray for flights between 900 and 2200 miles right ?
When airlines doesn’t serve food “people complain!”; when they do serve food “people complain!!”.
The answer is simple, fly with another airline that caters to your dietary needs! oh… but wait!!!! doing that would require you paying $1,000 to get their fancy high end chef crafted meals for the health inclined, which many don’t want to subject their finances to such lavishes, so in actuality they want to fly cheap business/first class seats and want a 5 coarse meal lol.
As a person who flies first/business frequently and one who maintains a healthy diet, and exercise on a regular basis “not a health nut!” having a high calorie mean on a plane shouldn’t bother anyone if you have a health routine that you maintain.
Because it’s only a one time meal that you will burn off by the time you finish your flight travel (i.e. walking to your gate or through terminals, pulling/pushing your luggage etc.) by the time you know it that high calorie meal will be gone by the time you put your foot into the cab to get home.
It is important to give feedback.
The meals are high in carbs and low in protein to save money.
An important issue with the carbs for me is the poor texture and mouth feel after the reheat – makes me appreciate my Turkish Air chef.
Guess some on here criticizing your comments are food service contractors. United needs to solicit more contractors with better menues and recipes for modern eating choices. The current fare is subpar. And why be subpar – with a little attention and a little more $ united can be best in class.
The truth is, after looking at some of those pictures, I would rather just have a large cold salad (leafy greens, not iceburg/romaine).
@Ken Yeah, you’re right!! Like not serving you anything for lunch at all!! Hmm..I think I see your point!
Can’t wait to try this. Will be doing so in July. Any word on the meals served in Premium Economy cabins on long haul flights, over 1500 miles?
Same as before, with eggs or French Toast for breakfast and chicken (or lobster mac & cheese) or pasta for dinner.
Matthew… heard anything about the use of glassware in first class? This should have happened before now.. ,
It should have, but we will still be using plastic.
Thanks, Matthew.. but remember, “we will still be using plastic (until AFTER AA, DL starts using it again. ha)
Matthew – are there still “exception” flights, like ORD-LGA/EWR, etc.?
Unfortunately, not for ORD – LGA/EWR. Only hub-hub flights longer than 800 miles.
A first step but still a ways to go toward being an appropriate premium cabin meal. Especially on the premium transcons and international. UNITED has room to really become a leader on this front.
Lufthansa, BA, and Air France have all essentially kept their pre pandemic meal standards in place, and those wer already above UNITED on international.
what about the rumors of enhanced meal service coming to the long haul Hawaii flights? How will the first and PP meals be changing with the coming upgrades?
Does anyone know if they are doing meals in economy plus on transcon routes or is that a thing of the past?
For now, a thing of the past.
Alaska never stopped serving the fresh fruit & cheese plate with hot cookie throughout Covid.
United should have a fresh fruit, cheese & yogurt option. I would eat that for all three meals.
I enjoyed the scrambled eggs this morning LAX-IAH. I supplemented with a yogurt drink from the UC. I skipped the lemon cookies.
I wish they’d bring back the French toast dish for breakfast. I know a lot of people like to complain about airline food, particularly on the US-based carriers, and I know that dish is mega carbs, but it was pretty good, and a nice treat once in a while.
Also, would love to have bags of Garrett’s for purchase in the back again (seems like that was only available for a hot minute, but definitely took advantage of that one).
I love the French toast!
Hi! My family and I will be traveling at United First/Business class in July, SJU-ORD; and it will be back ORD-IAH-SJU. Did you know if I can visit the United Club? I’m litter confuse. Thanks
Unfortunately not. SJU is considered U.S. domestic and access is not included with business class tickets.
@ Matt Klint Sorry to say this bud, but when you are wrong you are wrong. The answer to Wila is YES. Yes you CAN visit the UA club because for some reason SJU is considered international. I myself have gone on at LEAST 5 different mileage runs from ewr and back and have used ALL UA clubs both at the beginning and at the end of my journey. Please clarify this to Wila as your first response is factually wrong. ☺️
@Gravelly & @Matt Klimt, Thanks for your prompt response. I guess now I’m a litter more confuse.
I use to visit US Polaris Lounge when I’m traveling international Business w/UA. When I said international for me means to Europe, Africa…etc.
When using other airlines like Delta Business between SJU and USA states I’m able to visit the Delta Sky Club. Maybe I need to call UA customer service.
Thanks for your help and time!
Wila SJU
UA is always feigning like these meals are curated by renowned chefs for foodies. However, the pictures always look better- & probably taste better- than the actual meal. Furthermore, if I were a chef I would be embarrassed to have my name associated with UA’s “cuisine.”
A few years back, UA used to have a grilled chicken salad: bed of lettuce, with accoutrements and grilled chicken. Nothing fancy, but tasty enough and most importantly easy for FAs to presentably execute.
That’s not really representative of what’s served on board. Make sure it’s both burnt and under-cooked at the same time. Mash it up real good. Slosh it around. Serve.
We just flew IAD to SMF. The cheese enchiladas were very good. My kids and hubby had the chicken which was also surprisingly good. The chocolate chip cookies were to die for! Wish we got a few more of those.
I’m thrilled, since it seems like there will always be at least one vegetarian option. I guess they had to include it since they are still not offering special meals, but I hope the trend continues. An on-the menu-meal is always better than a special meal.
Does this apply on flights from San Francisco to Maui?
Yes.
Small typo at the bottom of the Domestic First Class service is says, “For June 2020…”. Should read, “For June 2021”.