Food Delivery to the Gate? United Tests New Time-Saving Customer Benefit at Newark Liberty International Airport

United (UAL) is testing a new time-saving benefit at Newark Liberty International Airport that lets customers pre-order food, drinks and travel essentials through the United app for pickup at the gate.

Rhea-AI Summary

United (UAL) is testing a new time-saving benefit at Newark Liberty International Airport that lets customers pre-order food, drinks and travel essentials through the United app for pickup at the gate. The pilot currently operates at up to nine designated gates in Terminal C (C125–C138).

Customers receive pre-departure app or email notifications to choose items such as sandwiches, salads, kids meals, snacks, beverages and select travel essentials. Orders are placed on a pickup shelf at the gate. United is collaborating with OTG and participating restaurants like Nonna's Kitchen and Victory Grill, and plans to expand the pilot to Houston later this year.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

Customers can now order food, drinks and other travel essentials in advance through the United app and have their items waiting for them at the gate

Available on select flights departing from or connecting through up to nine designated gates in Terminal C

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- United has launched a new, time-saving benefit for customers: the ability to order food, drinks and other travel essentials in advance through the United app and have their order waiting at the gate.

The airline is testing the new service on select flights departing from or connecting through up to nine designated gates in Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Customers receive a pre-departure push notification via the United app or email that lets them pick from a selection of sandwiches, salads, drinks, kids meals, chips, candy and more, as well as travel essentials like select over-the-counter medicine, travel pillows and charging cords.

Items are available on a designated pickup shelf to enjoy at the gate or to bring onboard.

"We focus on where the travel experience can be simpler for customers and innovating to remove friction along the way. The time right before boarding is one of those moments when customers want quick, easy access to food without added complexity," said David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer. "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."

The test service is available on select flights departing from or connecting through designated gates in Terminal C (C125-C138). These gates service the airline's domestic and international departures, including both narrowbody and widebody aircraft. As part of this pilot program at Newark, United is collaborating with OTG to support the preparation and delivery of meals from participating airport restaurants, including Nonna's Kitchen and Victory Grill.

United will expand the pilot to Houston later this year, with popular national restaurant brands and more options for customers to pick up food or have it delivered directly to their gate. United will collect customer feedback throughout the pilot to evaluate interest in the service and inform potential future expansion to other airports. If expanded, United will integrate the service into its seatback inflight entertainment screens for an even more seamless ordering experience.

As part of United's broader effort to elevate the customer experience, the airline is continuing to introduce new digital tools that help customers save time and make travel more seamless – from the ongoing rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet and industry-leading inflight entertainment to new app innovations, such as the TSA wait times tracker, that help customers navigate their journey with ease.

For more information, visit united.com. Visual assets can be found here.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/food-delivery-to-the-gate-united-tests-new-time-saving-customer-benefit-at-newark-liberty-international-airport-302867665.html

SOURCE United Airlines

FAQ

What new food and essentials ordering service did United (UAL) launch at Newark Liberty International Airport?

United launched a pilot service that allows customers to order food, drinks and select travel essentials in advance through the United app and pick them up at their departure gate. Orders are prepared by participating airport restaurants and placed on a designated pickup shelf near the gate.

Where at Newark Airport is United's new gate food pickup service available for UAL flights?

The new ordering and gate pickup service is available on select United flights departing from or connecting through up to nine designated gates in Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport, specifically gates C125–C138, which handle both domestic and international departures.

How does the United (UAL) app gate pickup service work for ordering food and travel essentials?

Before departure, customers receive a push notification or email prompting them to order via the United app. They can choose from sandwiches, salads, kids meals, snacks, drinks and select travel essentials like over-the-counter medicine, travel pillows and charging cords. Items are then placed on a pickup shelf at the gate.

Which restaurants and partners are involved in United's Newark gate ordering pilot for UAL customers?

For the Newark pilot, United is collaborating with OTG to prepare and deliver meals from participating airport restaurants. Named restaurants include Nonna's Kitchen and Victory Grill, which supply items that customers can order through the United app for gate pickup.

Will United (UAL) expand the gate food ordering pilot beyond Newark Liberty International Airport?

United plans to expand the pilot program to Houston later this year. The company indicates the Houston rollout will feature popular national restaurant brands and offer more options for customers, including the ability to pick up food or have it delivered directly to the gate.

What types of items can United (UAL) customers order through the new gate pickup service?

Customers can order a variety of items including sandwiches, salads, kids meals, chips, candy and drinks. The service also offers travel essentials such as select over-the-counter medicine, travel pillows and charging cords, which can be picked up at a designated shelf near the gate.

How does the new gate food ordering pilot fit into United's (UAL) broader digital initiatives?

The pilot is part of United's broader effort to improve the customer experience with digital tools. The airline highlights initiatives such as the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi, enhanced inflight entertainment and new app features like a TSA wait times tracker that help customers navigate their journey.