- United Airlines launched a food and essentials pickup pilot at Newark Liberty on September 2, 2026.
- The test covers nine Terminal C gates, C125 through C138, for select departing and connecting flights.
- Passengers order in the app, then collect items from a gate shelf; a Houston expansion is planned later in 2026.
United Airlines launched an app-based food and essentials pickup pilot on September 2, 2026, at Newark Liberty International Airport, giving passengers on select Terminal C flights another way to collect meals and travel supplies before boarding. The trial covers nine designated gates, C125 through C138.
Passengers place orders in the United app. A shelf near the gate holds them for pickup.
The service targets travelers with limited time between arriving at a gate and boarding. It applies to select flights departing from or connecting through Terminal C, rather than every flight in the terminal.
David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer, said the moments before boarding often leave passengers looking for food without time for another line or detour.
“The time right before boarding is one of those moments when customers want quick, easy access to food without added complexity.”
Kinzelman also described Newark as “a hub of transiting travelers” and said the airport provides a useful setting for testing the service. The pilot places the ordering step inside the airline’s existing app.
Passengers receive a pre-departure push notification or email through the app. They can then collect the prepared order from a designated shelf near the assigned gate.
The pilot combines gate pickup with a broad last-minute menu
The offering goes beyond restaurant meals. It includes snacks, children’s food and items passengers may need after entering the terminal.
| Category | Available items |
|---|---|
| Meals and food | Sandwiches, salads and kids’ meals |
| Drinks and snacks | Drinks, chips and candy |
| Travel supplies | Travel pillows and charging cords |
| Health items | Select over-the-counter medicine |
| Pickup area | Designated shelves near gates C125 through C138 |
The setup is designed for passengers who want to remain near their gate. It also gives connecting travelers a way to order without searching the terminal for a restaurant or shop.
The pilot does not describe a general terminal-wide rollout. Availability remains tied to participating flights and the nine designated gates.
Airport restaurants will prepare the orders
United is working with OTG Management on the preparation and delivery operation. Participating restaurants include Nonna’s Kitchen and Victory Grill.
Those restaurants supply the food orders, while the airline’s app carries the purchase and notification process to the passenger. The pickup shelves connect the two parts of the service at the gate.
Travel essentials form the other half of the test. Charging cords, travel pillows and select over-the-counter medicine address needs that can arise after passengers have cleared the terminal’s earlier shopping areas.
The arrangement also tests whether passengers will use app ordering for relatively small purchases when boarding is approaching. A short pickup distance remains central to the design.
United plans a Houston test later in 2026
United plans to expand the pilot to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport later in 2026. That expansion would put the gate-ordering model in another major connecting hub.
The airline is also considering a second ordering channel. If the program expands further, United may integrate the ordering flow into seatback inflight entertainment screens.
That possible change would move the service beyond the phone app. The Newark trial comes first.
Passengers using the pilot should check the app for the pre-departure notification or email, then go to the pickup shelf assigned to their gate. The current test remains limited to select Terminal C flights and gates C125 through C138.
