Intro

Domestic US flights rarely inspire high food expectations, so I was surprised when United’s Premium Plus cabin on my afternoon Newark to Los Angeles flight offered two full meals.

This is United’s Premium Plus product on a widebody, with decent recliners, pillows, generous food portions, and decent width.

For a 5.5-hour transcontinental hop, it works well.

Three empty business class seats with black leather upholstery and purple headrests on an aeroplane, with windows and seat controls visible.
Rows of aeroplane seats with personal screens and tray tables in an aircraft cabin, with overhead lockers and some people visible in the background.

First Service

The inflight service was delayed slightly due to turbulence, and once it was safe, the crew resumed the lunch service.

While the flight attendant who served me appeared visibly untidy, with an untucked shirt and an ungroomed beard, and seemed unfamiliar with the menu, they were polite and attentive throughout the meal.

It was clear the crew were doing their best despite these presentation lapses.

An aeroplane meal tray with gnocchi in tomato sauce, a side salad with artichokes, a bread roll, dessert, pretzels, packaged condiments, an empty glass, and a wrapped serviette.

Combined with gum chewing observed elsewhere in the cabin, the crew presentation was inconsistent and didn’t always match the product United is selling in this cabin.

However, service remained courteous, and meals were delivered efficiently.

Of the three options, I chose the vegetarian gnocchi, which was a generous, hot portion.

The salad, with mixed leaves, artichoke, bocconcini, and roasted tomatoes, was fresh.

The chocolate dessert with strawberries looked appealing and was a proper dessert, not pre-packaged.

Overall, the meal was impressive for a domestic US flight.

A white tray filled with gnocchi in tomato sauce with visible herbs and diced vegetables.
A white dish containing mixed leaves, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and small mozzarella balls.
A chocolate fondant with a sliced strawberry and red sauce on a white dish, served as part of an in-flight meal.

Bottled water was delivered to the cabin between meal services, which was a nice touch.

A bottle of Dasani water sits on a tray table in an aeroplane cabin, with seatback screens and pockets visible in the background.

Not that I needed more food at that point, but the Snack Shop screen offered Daelmans Stroopwafels, a Tapas Snackbox, and Pringles if you wanted something extra.

An in-flight entertainment screen displays three snack options: complimentary stroopwafel, a tapas snackbox, and Pringles crisps, with the United Airlines logo in the top right.

Everything is available without having to flag down the crew.

About 2.5 hours after the first meal, a charcuterie plate appeared with ham, olives, crackers, cheese, and fruit.

I was still full from the first meal, which was the point, two full portions are unexpected on a domestic afternoon departure, and United deserves credit for it.

A tray of aeroplane food with sliced fruit, cold meats, cheese, biscuits, olives, a packet of butter, packaged biscuits, and a wrapped serviette on a seatback tray table.

Passengers around me seemed equally surprised, and compared to other airlines’ premium economy, the food was generous.

Great to see.

Conclusion

Two full meal services on a domestic US flight were surprising, and United deserves credit.

The gnocchi was hot, the salad fresh, and the charcuterie plate was generous. For an afternoon cross-country flight, this is solid.

While crew professionalism was inconsistent, the airline’s food and comfort set a high bar for domestic premium cabins.

For those seeking decent meals, extra space, and complimentary drinks, United Premium Plus stands out as a superior choice for transcontinental travel.

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