United is bringing back fresh food to coach cabins
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.
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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
- 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.
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.