Your meal days before takeoff: United expands advance ordering for Economy class

Before packing their travel bags, more United passengers will be able to choose what they eat on board. The US carrier has expanded its pre-order meal service for economy class to include shorter flights across North America and the Caribbean.

The company announced it lowered the minimum distance requirement for the service to more than 900 miles, or about 1,450 kilometers. According to United, the move adds 420 daily flights to the program and makes it available to up to 65,000 additional passengers each day.

Flights added to the service include Chicago–Houston, Denver–San Francisco, and Houston–Washington. Passengers can place their orders through the company’s website or mobile app, starting five days before departure and up to 24 hours prior to takeoff.

Options include sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and breakfast dishes, with menus that change monthly, alongside eligible pre-order snack items. The service applies to food available for purchase and does not mean a complimentary meal is added to the ticket.

To view the options available for each flight, passengers can visit the “Flights” section on the website, while app users receive a notification when ordering becomes available. United notes that pre-ordered meals may not be available under certain circumstances.