United Announces Sweeping Changes to Inflight Meal Service

United Airlines will make improvements to onboard food and drink offerings for first-, business- and economy-class passengers on North American flights.

Responding directly to complaints from United Airlines’ frequent flyers, a representative from the airline announced in a post to the FlyerTalk community on Thursday that the carrier “will be making a multi-million dollar investment in our onboard food and beverage options,” adding that the airline has heard members “loud and clear.”

In an official statement, Lynda Coffman, United’s vice president of food services, said, “These changes mark the beginning of an extensive overhaul of our North America and international food service, offering travelers a level of service above that offered by our peers. Our new selections offer customers more of what they tell us they want when they travel — variety, bold flavor combinations and higher quality.”

Beginning this fall, United’s flight crews will be pouring Prosecco sparkling wine from Italy for first- and business-class passengers. Other changes set to be phased in by the middle of 2015 include expanding premium-class meal service to include any flight longer than 2 hours and 20 minutes, or 800 miles, as well as overhauling the menu to include things like gluten-free soup and new options dreamed up by the airline’s team of chefs.

The warm cookies and mixed nuts in first class will stay.

United also plans to improve snack services for passengers traveling in United Express’ premium cabins and redesign the menu options for economy-class seats on all long-haul flights.

[Photo: United Airlines]