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United Airlines is expanding its pre-order program to include Economy Class and allow customers to reserve fresh meals such as burgers and sandwiches before departure through the airline’s website and mobile app. The change gives travelers more control over inflight dining options while helping United streamline catering operations and reduce unused food.
Pre-orders are available on flights longer than 1,190 miles within the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Beginning March 1st, advance ordering will be the only way to purchase fresh entrées in Economy. Snack boxes, packaged snacks, and beverages will continue to be sold onboard as usual. (I can see some angry folks over this change.)
United expects the pre-order system to enhance both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. By preparing meals based on demand, the airline anticipates reducing more than 100,000 pounds of unconsumed food from landfills annually. The carrier also plans to expand the range of pre-order items this summer to add salads, sandwiches, and wraps (along with exclusive premium beverage options later in the year). I’m curious to see what these look like as I’m growing tired of the choices up front.
The airline first launched pre-order capabilities for premium cabins in 2021. This resulted in a nearly 40% increase in customer satisfaction scores on domestic flights. With the latest expansion, Economy Class customers can pre-order Bistro on Board and retail items beginning five days and up to 24 hours before departure. The rollout includes January menu items such as a Steakhouse Burger, Tacos Al Pastor, Cheese and Fruit Tray, and Everything Bagel Dots.
Aaron McMillan, Managing Director of Hospitality Programs at United, said:
We’re continuing to invest in meaningful improvements to our onboard food and beverage program, with a focus on quality, consistency and customer choice. Pre-ordering is a win for everyone – customers board the plane knowing they’ll get the meal they want, our catering partners know exactly how much food to prepare for each flight and it helps our operation run even more smoothly and reduce food waste.”
Anthony’s Take: This is a smart move for both passengers and United. Passengers will not need to worry about an item running out and United will not waste food.
(Image Credits: United Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
