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United is bringing back fresh food to coach cabins

Sept. 01, 2021
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3 min read
United Boeing 737 MAX 8 New Interior
United is bringing back fresh food to coach cabins
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United flyers sitting "in the back" can soon enjoy some fresh fare.

Beginning Sept. 15, United will once again offer a selection of fresh food on its buy-on-board Choice Menu.

There'll be two options to enjoy for morning departures between 5 a.m. and 9:59 a.m, as well as three all-day dining choices for flights departing between 10 a.m. and 8:59 p.m., with the details and United's descriptions below.

Morning

  • Chia seed pudding – topped with fresh mango and toasted coconut.
  • Bacon, egg and cheese croissant sandwich – bacon, fried egg and cheddar on a butter spiral croissant.

Lunch/dinner

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  • Mediterranean grain bowl - bulgur, black lentil and carrot salad, roasted zucchini and bell peppers, served with lemon vinaigrette.
  • Cheeseburger – cheeseburger with cheddar and pickles on a buttered brioche bun.
  • Fresh cheese tray — cheddar, gouda, Colby jack and Monterey Jack cheeses, along with crackers and dried cherry and almond mix.
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Bacon, egg and cheese spiral croissant (Photo courtesy of United)
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United didn't have any updated pricing available to share publicly at this time, but if history is any indication, each option should cost about $10, like it did before the pandemic started.

Reintroducing fresh food in economy is especially good news for United's top-tier Premier 1K and invite-only Global Services members who continue to receive one free food and drink item when seated in coach.

These new offerings will join the recently refreshed snack boxes and packaged snacks — Pringles, banana bites, sweet potato tortilla chips and a trail mix — as the nosh available for sale on domestic flights over 1,500 miles, excluding long-haul Hawaii flights where flyers are served complimentary meals in coach.

In order to purchase one of the new options, you'll need to have a credit card stored in your MileagePlus frequent flyer account.

When the flight attendant passes by your row, you’ll be asked if you want to purchase a snack (or drink). If you do, the crew will pull up your profile on a mobile tablet and charge your stored payment method. Receipts will be emailed, keeping the purchase process completely touchless.

Beginning Oct. 1, you can use United's new pre-order feature to select a fresh meal up to five days before your flight on select routes.

For the latest details on inflight food and beverage updates during the pandemic, be sure to bookmark TPG's comprehensive guide.

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

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  • 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.