United Airlines Finally Restores Kosher Meals Systemwide

DansDeals.com reports:

United Airlines, the Chicago-based airline which operates a large domestic and international route network spanning cities large and small across the United States and all six continents, plans to restore kosher meal service systemwide.

Currently, United serves kosher meals on flights in both directions on all Tel Aviv flights and on Newark-London and San Francisco-Sydney flights.

Here is the full restoration schedule:

• Effective immediately: Kosher meals are available on all long-haul international flights, when departing from Newark. No kosher meals available on return flights.
• Effective 12/14: Kosher meals are available on all short-haul international flights, when departing from Newark. No kosher meals available on return flights.
• Effective 12/14: Kosher meals are available on all domestic flights that are 2,000+ miles, when departing from Newark. No kosher meals available on return flights.
• Effective 1/1: Kosher meals are available on all international flights, when departing from United hub airports (Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington/IAD). No kosher meals available on return flights.
• Effective 1/1: Kosher meals are available on all flights to Hawaii, when departing from United hub airports. No kosher meals available on return flights.
• Effective 1/1: Kosher meals are available on all domestic flights that are 2,000+ miles in both directions.
• Effective 2/1: Kosher meals are available on all international flights in both directions.
• Effective 2/1: Kosher meals are available on all Hawaii flights in both directions.

Here is where you’ll find kosher meals on United:

• Kosher meals are available on flights and in cabins where passengers are offered an entrée meal service. That includes:
  • First class on domestic flights longer than 2,000 miles. That includes flights like Newark to Phoenix or Cleveland to Los Angeles. You can use the Great Circle mapper to check the distance between airports.
  • First class on Hawaii flights
  • Business/First class on short-haul international flights
  • All cabins on long-haul international flights.
  • On domestic and Hawaii flights where a Premium Plus cabin is sold, you would also be able to request kosher meals in that cabin.
  • On flights between Hawaii and Chicago, Newark, and Washington DC, coach passengers will also be able to request a kosher meal.

United will now serve fresh meals from Fresko on all departures from Newark instead of frozen Borenstein meals. Now it will be expanded to all routes instead of just Tel Aviv, giving United a big advantage over their competitors serving frozen Borenstein meals.

To request a kosher meal, travelers need to contact United or request a meal under “manage reservations,” even if a kosher meal is listed in preferences. As always, 24 hours advance notice is required.

United will also restore other special meals (Asian, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free) in all markets in Q1 2022.

United also reported that they are currently in the process of looking for local purveyors that can supply kosher meals in each of their domestic Polaris lounges.

Polaris lounges are accessible to customers flying Star Alliance international long-haul business or first class. Domestic Polaris lounges are located in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, and Washington/IAD, though the California Polaris lounges are temporarily closed until sometime in Q1 2022.