United Airlines is moving closer to a return to normal. Customers will now be able to purchase food items under United's Buy-on-Board Menu available on select flights. While bringing back food for purchase, the airline is also offering new additions to the menu as it continues to invest in its inflight experience, but it will not be bringing back complimentary meal items.

United Airlines brings back food for purchase

Customers will now be able to purchase food options onboard the aircraft. However, the menu is going to look a little different than it has before. This is because United is adding new items to its menu. This includes:

  • Beatrix Market Chia Seed Pudding with fresh mango and toasted coconut ($8)
  • Beatrix Market Mediterranean Grain Bowl featuring bulgur, a black lentil and carrot salad, roasted zucchini, and bell peppers served with a bright lemon vinaigrette ($10)
  • Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Spiral Croissant with shoulder bacon, fried egg patty with black pepper, and cheddar cheese on a butter spiral croissant ($8)
  • Classic Beef Butter Burger with Cheddar, which is an old-fashioned cheeseburger with cheddar and pickles on a buttered brioche bun ($10)
  • Kindred Creamery Selection Cheese Tray with cheddar cheese, Gouda cheese, Colby jack cheese, Monterey jack cheese, crackers, dried cherry, and almond mix ($10)
Meet the Beatrix Market Chia Pudding Bowl. Photo: United Airlines

The enhanced Buy-on Board Menu is available for purchase on most domestic flights over four hours. Payments can be made through the airline's contactless payment and pre-order technology. This helps provide a layer of additional safety for onboard transactions. Make sure to save a form of payment before boarding to purchase onboard, or else you will not be able to buy anything inflight. You can save it within your MileagePlus account, at check-in on the United app or website, or after check-in on the United app.

United healthy
United Airlines is offering some healthier options for sale. Photo: United Airlines

Bringing local flair onboard

United's partnership for the new inflight menus is with Chicago-based restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants and Beatrix Market Chef Partner Janet Kirker, who had the following to say on the new partnership:

"Beatrix Market offers healthful and craveable menu options in a convenient grab-and-go fashion. We are thrilled to partner with United Airlines to feature select Beatrix Market signature dishes so travelers can have the opportunity to enjoy a hearty, yet good-for-you snack while in-flight."

Some items, like the Better Burger, are available warm. Photo: United Airlines

United Airlines is not the only airline turning to bring local flair onboard their aircraft. Delta Air Lines is doing so in premium cabins on transcontinental flights. Local items are a good way for carriers to highlight new and emerging restaurant groups while also appealing to local travelers.

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Returning to pre-crisis services

United Airlines first brought back onboard snacks and drinks for purchase on March 4th. Now, the airline is bringing back fresh items. Some of these items will be available as a hot entree, and others are only cold entrees.

United B737
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Aside from snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, most airlines in the United States only offer food in economy for purchase. There are some exceptions to this, including on long-haul international routes and transcontinental routes. This has been one way for airlines to shore up some additional ancillary revenue.

United is starting to get back to normal. Ready to move beyond the health crisis, it is now looking to offer its customers more inflight food and beverage options at a time when some of its competitors have yet to bring back substantial service.