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United debuts new way to pay for onboard snacks and drinks

Nov. 22, 2024
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3 min read
United Boeing 757-300 Newark Denver
United debuts new way to pay for onboard snacks and drinks
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If you're feeling peckish on your next United Airlines flight, the carrier has some good news.

United is rolling out a new and faster way to pay for onboard dining items: single-tap payments via Tap to Pay on iPhone. The airline first communicated the news in an internal memo to flight attendants and then confirmed the update with TPG.

To use Tap to Pay, you only need to present a valid contactless credit or debit card on board. This includes cards equipped with a wireless chip and digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. United is enabling this technology through the iPhones that it issues to its flight attendants. Apple rolled out support for Tap to Pay on iPhone in 2022, and two years later, United is now using this feature to enable contactless payments.

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United says that this new technology is available immediately across all mainline aircraft. Even though United is adding a new onboard payment method, the airline will still offer top-tier Premier 1K elite members one free snack and drink anytime they are seated in economy.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Furthermore, customers using a MileagePlus credit card for food, beverages and Wi-Fi on their flight receive a 25% rebate on their next statement following travel.

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In recent years, United has been the tech-savviest of all the major U.S. airlines, yet its onboard payment technology felt a bit outdated, requiring travelers to store payment methods in the United app or united.com before travel.

If you didn't perform this multistep process, you'd be out of luck if you wanted to buy a snack box or alcoholic beverage on board. So, for most United travelers, this news is actually a major upgrade.

In fact, United is even playing catch-up here with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, both of which already offer contactless payment for purchases while in flight.

United does a great job of displaying the onboard menu before your flight on the flight status page, and it also allows all travelers to preorder their preferred snack or drink up to 24 hours before departure. This ensures that the airline doesn't run out of your favorite pick before getting to your row. You can find both of these options in the United app and via the "manage trips" feature.

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Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.