Market Update: United Expands Meal Preordering to Economy: What Changes for Passengers – Full Analysis

From an operational standpoint, the logic is clear. When customers choose meals in advance, United and its catering partners know exactly what to load. That precision reduces last-minute substitutions, limits overcatering, and allows flight attendants to focus on service rather than inventory management.

“We’re continuing to invest in meaningful improvements to our onboard food and beverage program, with a focus on quality, consistency, and customer choice,” said Aaron McMillan, Managing Director of Hospitality Programs at United. “Preordering 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.”

That last point carries weight. United estimates the shift to preordered fresh meals will keep more than 100,000 pounds of unused food out of landfills each year. In an industry where sustainability is often discussed in broad terms, the airline is tying this initiative to a specific, trackable outcome.