United Launches Economy Meals Preorder to Cut Food Waste

United Airlines has introduced a new feature that allows customers to preorder fresh Economy-class meals before their flight, rather than ordering them on board. Orders can be placed through United’s website or mobile app, giving travelers more control over their onboard dining choices.

Efficiency and sustainability benefits

Preorders open five days to 24 hours before departure, helping ensure passengers receive their preferred meals while allowing United to better plan catering loads.

United says the preorder system improves catering efficiency by aligning meal supply more closely with demand. The airline expects the program to prevent more than 100,000 pounds of unused food from ending up in landfills each year, supporting its broader sustainability goals.

Routes and rollout details

Meal preordering is available on flights longer than 1,190 miles within the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Beginning March 1, preordering will become the only way to purchase fresh entrees in the Economy cabin on eligible routes.

Passengers will still be able to buy snack boxes, packaged snacks, and beverages onboard. United also plans to introduce more preorder-only options this summer, including upgraded salads, gourmet sandwiches, and wraps, with exclusive premium beverage selections arriving later in the year.

Additional meal and beverage enhancements are planned as the program expands later in 2026.

Digital upgrades support the experience

In December 2025, United rolled out a major update to its mobile app, embedding AI across several customer touchpoints. These enhancements include smarter personalization, improved disruption handling, and real-time travel guidance.

One notable feature, Virtual Gate, provides live boarding updates and shows how many passengers have already boarded. United says this reduces congestion at gates and helps customers better time their boarding.

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