United’s Bet on Pre-Ordering Could Redefine Airline Catering

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What was once a premium-cabin perk is now becoming an economy-class requirement. United’s decision to make pre-ordering mandatory for fresh meals in economy marks a fundamental shift in how airlines provision food: away from broad forecasts and toward real demand. It’s a change that signals where inflight catering is headed next, not just for United, but for the industry as a whole.

Let’s dive in.

Why pre-orders are the future of inflight catering

Starting this March, one of the largest airlines in the world will make a change to its provisioning process that could reshape how 380 million passengers eat in the air: Preorder your hot meal at least 24 hours ahead of your flight, or settle for a snack box onboard.

United Airlines announced in January that it will soon require economy passengers to pre-select their fresh meals on flights over 1,190 miles across North America and the Caribbean. The carrier says the move will improve operational efficiency on the ground and in the air.

In the process, United is fundamentally shifting how economy-class meals are being offered. It's a bold move that follows the airline's successful rollout of first-class pre-ordering in 2021, which boosted customer satisfaction scores by nearly 40%. 

“In addition to ensuring customers get the meals they want and improving catering efficiency, enabling customers to pre-order meals is expected to help United’s food-waste reduction efforts by helping minimize unconsumed fresh retail items,” United said in a statement. “This approach is anticipated to keep more than 100,000 pounds of unused food out of landfills each year.”

The shift also gives the airline far greater certainty over what gets cooked, loaded, and served. And it turns inflight catering from a cost-heavy, wasteful guessing game into a system shaped by real demand.

The waste problem airlines can't ignore

For decades, airlines have been loading planes with educated guesses about what passengers might want, leading to massive overages—over a billion pounds of unconsumed airline food worldwide annually, according to figures from the IATA.

The old model was broken: caterers would prepare hundreds of meals per flight, flight attendants would run out of popular choices midway through the cabin, and rejected meals end up in waste bins destined for incineration. Too much food, too little satisfaction, and all that extra weight burning extra fuel.

INDUSTRY INSIDER

American Airlines leans into big, reliable flavors

The major U.S. carrier is heading to Texas for its latest menu upgrade. Think barbecue and beer. American has partnered with Pecan Lodge, the Dallas icon famous for its Central Texas–style BBQ, to provide a true barbecue platter with smoked brisket and sausage, mac ‘n’ cheese, coleslaw, pickles, and the restaurant’s signature sauce. And for the first time, the airline is offering a nonalcoholic beer with Athletic Brewing Company’s Free Wave Hazy IPA. [Business Traveler]

Google scientist’s ‘bowl of sadness’ on United goes viral

A prominent Google scientist publicly criticized a United Airlines first-class meal as “3D-printed mystery meat” and “a bowl of sadness” in a viral tweet, sparking debate about onboard catering quality. United apologized for the disappointing experience, although it didn’t offer specific remedies. The episode highlights lingering passenger frustrations with premium cabin food, even as carriers invest in other service upgrades. [PYOK]

Travel consultant lists his Top 10 meals of 2025

An avid traveler who clocks more than 200,000 miles each year has named his very best meals of the past year—with photos. Focusing on standout dining experiences across carriers and classes, the list notably includes one entry from United Airlines: its braised osso buco. Other callouts include the Shake Shack cheeseburger from Delta, and lobster dishes from Singapore Airlines and Starlux. [Live & Let’s Fly]

A word from our partner

Airlines face major challenges in coordinating in-flight catering, as miscommunication between teams can lead to loading errors, delays, and wasted resources. Many still rely on outdated systems like printed documents or emails, which make real-time collaboration difficult.

Modern in-flight catering software streamlines operations by improving communication, reducing errors, and ensuring that meal provisioning runs smoothly—saving both time and money.

IFCS Aviation Galley Planner is the easiest way to monitor and control the operational functions related to inflight catering, menu planning, and galley loading.

TECH CHECK

AI-first thinking is reshaping airline innovation

Instead of bolting AI onto legacy systems, industry players are embedding artificial intelligence deep into platforms to enable predictive decision-making, real-time personalization, and more proactive operational performance. The shift reflects a broader airline tech trend toward smart systems that anticipate outcomes rather than just react. [Skift]

Emirates Flight Catering’s vertical farm goes beyond airline meals

Emirates Flight Catering’s vertical farm initiative, Bustanica, is expanding beyond its airline roots into broader retail and hospitality food production, showcasing ready-to-eat items like salads, sandwiches, soups, and juices. The move represents a strategic push to diversify the business model around sustainable, high-quality food solutions. This expansion also highlights how airline catering arms are looking for growth avenues outside traditional aviation channels. [Gulf News]

The One Chart You Need to Know

2025: A record year for commercial airlines globally

The global airline industry is on pace to break revenue and profit records in 2025 and 2026, with total revenue expected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time, according to the International Air Transport Association. Despite trade disruptions and new tariff pressures, the air cargo sector has remained resilient, with cargo revenues projected to grow 2.6% this year. Even as labor and maintenance costs rise, airline profit margins have rebounded from 2024 levels, setting the stage for record total profits over the next two years.

To see the original chart & story, click here.

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