United Airlines is celebrating the success of its meal pre-order program and preparing to expand it even further.
United Expands Meal Pre-Orders As It Claims 40% Satisfaction Boost And Less Food Waste
A memo to flight attendants shared with Live And Let’s Fly counts up what a cornerstone meal pre-orders have become at United Airlines:
- Customer satisfaction scores have increased by almost 40% since we introduced preorder for domestic first class in 2021 (but let me add that in 2021 these were the sorts of meals served onboard…)
- Last September, United expanded meal service pre-orders to Premium Plus (premium economy) and ” more than 280,000 UPP customers have preordered — that’s more than 65,000 per month”
- The most popular preorder exclusives are hub signature entrees, which reflect the culinary identity of each hub city, and are only available in domestic first class on flights departing from those hubs
Keep in mind that I recently reported:
- As of February 1, 2026, passengers seated in economy on eligible flights 1,191 miles and longer within the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean can now preorder fresh Bistro on Board items (eligible means flights departing before 9:00 pm)
- Starting March 1, 2026, preorder will be the only way for economy customers to purchase fresh entrees
> Read More: United Airlines Will Require Preorders For Fresh Economy Meals, Ending Onboard Purchases
United says “Preordering means customers’ favorite items are waiting for them before takeoff, and those seated towards the aft of the aircraft no longer have to worry about items selling out,” and that is indeed the advantage of preorders. But that very point makes me wonder why United says “this approach is anticipated to keep more than 100,000 pounds of unused food out of landfills each year.”
I was recently on a hub-to-hub flight and seated in the middle of the aircraft. I wanted to order a burger from the Bistro on Board menu, but there were none left by the time the flight attendants reached me. In fact, I cannot recall ever being on a flight where there were a bunch of these fresh meals leftover. If I sit in the back of the plane, I routinely wind up with nothing. So it isn’t clear to me where this waste is coming from.
More Pre-Order Options Coming To United Airlines
Buried in the memo is news that pre-orders are expanding further:
- “As we continue to expand preordering capabilities, we’ll be able to offer an even wider selection of unique entrees, including more exclusive options for Polaris customers.”
- “This summer, we expect to add additional fresh meal choices to the Bistro on Board menu, such as elevated salads, gourmet sandwiches and wraps. These choices will also be available on even more routes than they are today.”
- “Later this year, we also look forward to offering customers in premium cabins on long-haul flights the ability to preorder both their primary meal and their arrival meal — giving them an even more personalized dining experience.”
I love the hub signature entrees. This week I’ll do a “Meal of the Week” on the bison meatloaf from Denver, which is the best domestic entree I’ve had in years on United.
I like that United will expand the buy on board menu to include more options like sandwiches and salads…I think that will be a hit. It’s also nice that pre-arrival meals can be ordered in advance, something neither American Airlines or Delta Air Lines offers (even though both carriers began offering meal pre-orders years before United did).
CONCLUSION
United Airlines has seen great success in its meal pre-order programs and plans to expand it this year to economy class plus pre-arrival meals in premium cabins. In so doing, it promises to reduce waste and broaden the menu of food available. As I’ve said many times before, offering simple dishes with simple ingredients is what I am looking for. Give me a superfood bowl like I had on British Airways and I’ll be very happy.
image: United Airlines
Feels like United’s own attempt at Book-The-Cook!
Which would be great if UA could actually pull that off.
“I like that United will expand the buy on board menu”
United won’t have a buy on board program anymore. It’s turning into a ‘order ahead, eat on board’ program, which is a real downgrade especially for loyal 1K fliers. They’re perfectly capable of having both preorder and eat onboard for the Economy program – and doing so during the transition period. That needs to be made permanent. Between business plan changes, irregular operations, leaving no way to order a meal on board anymore is a big downgrade.
I do agree…and I’ve made that very point in prior articles (and will continue to do so).
Agree, if UA has irrop or cancels/rebooks your flight, or if you book your flight after the “pre-order” period, or are standby, ends your meal becomes the 1K Tapas box instead of the burger
Am I mistaken to think that all uneaten food would be destroyed coming into the Caribbean or Mexico ? Perhaps the 100,000 pounds tossed might be food that not consumed because passengers wanted something different. If so then preordered choice could mitigate some waste.
Look forward to the bison meatloaf review
will there be additional choices for Polaris and PP like we have on domestic flights or just the standard 4 and 2 choices?
More choices coming.
Bon appetit, lucky guests!
“In fact, I cannot recall ever being on a flight where there were a bunch of these fresh meals leftover. If I sit in the back of the plane, I routinely wind up with nothing. So it isn’t clear to me where this waste is coming from.”
I have a hypothesis: Perhaps those in Premium cabins who get an entree for free will settle for their second choice, barely touch it, and then discard most of it.
Matthew, I’m a flight attendant at United and I can offer some info. So, I always sell out of the hot sandwiches and burgers and stuff like that, especially on flights around meal times. It’s usually the things like the yogurt parfaits or whatever cold fresh breakfast items, or sometimes a cheese plate if they aren’t all snatched up. Those are the things that are *sometimes* leftover. But you’re right in that the hot food sells out by the exit row most of the time. I just hope that people will actually use their apps and will actually know that they have to pre-order now…. my fingers are tightly crossed
I appreciate the insight. Thanks, MJ!
Now if UA could only make the food edible. On 6 flights last week, all with pre-ordered food, the food was not edible on 5 of the 6 flights, including the 2 flights in Polaris and 2 in Premium Econ. The rubber chicken was literally a cold hockey puck on one flight.
Would be nice if United provided a way to pre-order more than one meal for a flight, like you can do on Jet2.com and certain other airlines.
Agreed.