United Airlines has launched a new gate-side food and travel essential delivery service at Newark Liberty International Airport, allowing customers to pre-order items via the United app for pickup before boarding.
This pilot program is available on select flights from or connecting through up to nine designated gates in Terminal C (C125-C138). Customers receive a pre-departure push notification or email to choose from a selection of sandwiches, salads, drinks, kids meals, chips, candy, and travel essentials like over-the-counter medicine or charging cords, which are then available on a designated pickup shelf.
David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer, said, "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." He further noted, "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."
United is collaborating with OTG to support meal preparation and delivery from participating airport restaurants, including Nonna's Kitchen and Victory Grill. The airline plans to expand the pilot to Houston later this year, incorporating national restaurant brands and more options, while collecting customer feedback to inform potential future expansion and integration into inflight entertainment systems.