Seeking to streamline the pre-flight airport experience, United Airlines has launched a new time-saving pilot program at Newark Liberty International Airport that allows passengers to order food, drinks, and travel essentials in advance directly through the United app.
The test service is currently available for select flights departing from or connecting through up to nine designated gates within Terminal C (Gates C125–C138). Through pre-departure push notifications or email prompts via the app, travelers can select from an assortment of sandwiches, salads, snacks, kids’ meals, and travel necessities such as over-the-counter medicine, travel pillows and charging cords.
Once prepared, items are placed on a designated pickup shelf right at the gate for travelers to enjoy before boarding or bring onboard.
“The time right before boarding is one of those moments when customers want quick, easy access to food without added complexity,” David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer, said. “Newark is a high-volume connecting hub where customers often have limited time between arriving at the gate and boarding, making it an ideal place to pilot this type of service.”
For the Newark launch, United is partnering with airport hospitality group OTG to coordinate meal preparation and pickup from terminal vendors including Nonna’s Kitchen and Victory Grill.
Following the Newark evaluation, United plans to expand the pilot to Houston later this year, incorporating national restaurant brands and exploring broader pickup capabilities. Airline officials noted that customer feedback gathered throughout the initial rollout will help shape potential future integration into seatback inflight entertainment screens and wider network deployment.
