United Airlines is finally returning its inflight meal offerings on premium transcontinental routes to the pre-pandemic standard.
Back to the good days
According to a story from Live and Lets Fly, United Airlines’ meal offerings on its premium transcontinental routes will return to its pre-pandemic standard later this month. The COVID-19 pandemic led many airlines to cut back on their offerings, and in the United States (US), most airlines have gone back to what they offered in the past. 
United Airlines
is finally catching up to the rest of its competition in this sense.
Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying
Flights from Los Angeles to the New York area (Newark included) are the most premium transcontinental flights there are. Four American carriers deploy aircraft with lie-flat seats on these routes, including American Airlines which has a specially configured Airbus A321. United deploys some of its widebodies with its premium Polaris business class product from its hubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles to Newark.
Despite some of these flights being operated with arguably the best business-class product in the US, they have not reached their pre-pandemic standard. Menus on these routes have been limited, and passengers have not been served appetizers. But this is set to change two weeks from today.
Starting November 15, United is making the following major changes and adding:
- Linens
- Expanded wine selection
- Appetizers
- Larger pre-arrival meal with a side salad
Last month, United got rid of its inflight magazine, Hemispheres, and now, all of its menus are available digitally. To find the menu for a flight, one can check a flight’s status on the United website or app and then see the inflight amenities. United has two daily redeyes from Los Angeles to Newark, and for the first of the two, the menu in first class has the following options
- Beef melt sandwich
- Cheese plate
- Cheese enchiladas
The above options are preorder exclusive.
- Grilled chicken breast
- Tortellini en brodo
- Southwest chorizo spiced quinoa salad
- Tripple chocolate cheesecake
- Assorted cheese plate
- Tillamook vanilla bean ice cream sundae
Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying
The pre-arrival is listed as a light breakfast.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to see a flight’s status more than three days out, which means the menus are not accessible. Fortunately, Live and Let’s Fly found a post on an online forum where a passenger shared the menu for his flight. Different from the above menu, this includes starters and a different pre-arrival meal.
The menu for the December flight has a burrata or baby red oak leaf arugula salad as the starters and for the pre-arrival meal, a cod fritter or radiatori pasta. Additionally, there is a green salad, as mentioned above.
How a long-haul transatlantic service differs
Tonight’s flight from Los Angeles to London has an extensive menu, as expected for such a long flight. There are three appetizer options, four entrees, three dessert options (including the sundae cart), and two midflight options as well as a snack basket. Pre-arrival, there are two starters and two entree options. The airline also has all of its spirits, beers, and wine options listed.
Photo: United.com