United Airlines Expands Mandatory Economy Meal Preordering to Shorter Flights

United Airlines has expanded its United Economy meal preorder program to shorter routes across North America and the Caribbean, making fresh food preordering available on flights over 900 miles, down from the previous 1,190-mile threshold, effective immediately.

The expansion adds 420 additional flights per day to the preorder program, opening access to up to 65,000 more customers daily. Newly eligible flights include some key connections for United, such as Chicago to Houston, Denver to San Francisco, and Houston to Washington, D.C.

Passengers on those flights can now preorder meals via the United mobile app or website starting 5 days before departure up to 24 hours prior to takeoff. App users will receive an automated push notification when the preordering window opens for their upcoming flight.

The preordering window is crucial for clients wanting hot or fresh options: only Economy passengers who place a preorder ahead of time are able to purchase fresh entrees onboard. Those who do not preorder will still be able to purchase United’s packaged snackboxes, individual snacks, and beverages onboard, but they will be unable to order a fresh meal during the flight.

Passengers will be able to choose from a monthly rotation of items, which currently features selections like a pork mojo burrito, hot honey chicken & waffle sandwich, a Chicago patty melt (by Jeff Mauro of Mauro Provisions), and a cinnamon apple waffle, alongside United’s signature snackboxes.