If you’re weighing an upgrade to Polaris or just want to know what United serves in 2025, this guide lays out the real experience: how Polaris meals are timed on overnight flights, the current buy-on-board options in Economy, and where the drinks list shines. We’ve used United’s current inflight menu details and frequent-flyer reports on service flow so you know what to expect, and how to plan your eating/sleeping strategy.
What Polaris service actually looks like onboard
On most evening transatlantic flights (think IAD–FRA at ~10–11 p.m.), expect a paced but efficient sequence: hot towel and drinks with warm nuts ~30–45 minutes after takeoff, then appetizer + main (often on the same tray if it’s a late departure), followed by the dessert cart. Flight attendants can compress this into “express dining” on request so you can eat quickly and sleep. Mid-flight snacks are available in the galley, and the pre-arrival service (usually a lighter breakfast) begins about 60–90 minutes before landing.
Frequent flyers are candid: dinner quality ranges from fine to forgettable, the ice-cream sundae cart is reliably popular, and breakfast is hit-or-miss (fruit + yogurt is the safest bet). If you’re prioritizing rest on a late departure, many recommend eating in the Polaris Lounge (à la carte dining where available), then asking for express service onboard or skipping dinner entirely and going straight to sleep.
Bottom line for Polaris: plan your meal around sleep, not the other way around. Eat well on the ground when you can; in the air, use express service, grab a sundae if you want a “treat,” and keep breakfast light unless you’re truly hungry.
Economy + Premium cabins: the current in-flight menu (prices & miles)
United’s buy-on-board menu covers snacks, soft drinks (free), alcohol (paid in Economy; complimentary in premium cabins and on long-haul international), plus Bistro on Board hot and cold items on longer routes. Symbols to know: V (Vegetarian), VG (Vegan), GF (Gluten-friendly), KOSHER, W (Served warm). Items may contain allergens (dairy, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, wheat).
Free snacks (Economy, flights >300 miles)
- Undercover Quinoa Crisp (V, GF): chocolate + quinoa crunch
- Savory Snack Mix (V, KOSHER): bagel chips, bread bites, mini pretzels
- Daelmans Stroopwafel (V, KOSHER)
Snacks to buy (typical pricing or miles)
- Pringles (VG, KOSHER) – $5 or 590 miles
- TruFru Strawberries (KOSHER) – $5 or 590 miles
- Mega Omega Trail Mix (GF, VG, KOSHER) – $6 or 710 miles
- Sour Gummy Worms – $6 or 710 miles
Hawaii exclusives: Better Sour Guava Calamansi Gummy Stars (VG) $6; Diamond Bakery Kona Coffee Shortbread $7; Nuts.com Tropical Delight Mix (VG, KOSHER) $6
Snackboxes (all $10 or 1,180 miles)
- Tapas (VG): hummus, pita chips, bruschetta dip, rosemary crackers, Poshi® olives, almonds
- Takeoff: beef salami, crostini, gouda spread, flatbread, fig spread, olive-oil cashews, hazelnut wafer
- Recline: kettle chips, beef/pork stick, gummi bears, OREO®, almonds
Non-alcoholic drinks (free; illy® Cold Brew $6 or 710 miles)
Coca-Cola (regular, Zero, Diet), Sprite, Seagram’s ginger ale/tonic/seltzer, AHA sparkling (Blueberry+Pomegranate, Passionfruit+Pineapple), Minute Maid juices (lemonade/orange/apple/cranberry), The Pickle House Bloody Mary mix/tomato juice, illy® Dark Roast coffee (regular/decaf), Twinings® tea (black/green/lemon-ginger), DASANI bottled water.
illy® Cold Brew Classico: $6 or 710 miles.
Alcohol (Economy; paid; complimentary in premium cabins & on long-haul international)
Beer: Michelob ULTRA $8, Stella Artois $9, Bell’s Two-Hearted IPA $9; Kona Big Wave $8 (Hawaii routes).
Canned wine (250 mL): Just Enough Cabernet $12, Chardonnay $10, Rosé $12, Maker Brut Bubbles $12.
Spirits (each $10): Bacardi Silver, Jack Daniel’s, Bombay Sapphire, Bailey’s, Buffalo Trace, Glenfarclas Single Malt, Tito’s, Corazón Blanco.
Crafthouse Cocktails (each $12; route-specific): Pineapple Daiquiri, Mai Tai (Hawaii), Espresso Martini (Domestic/UAX/Hawaii), Moonlighter Vodka Spritz (Domestic/UAX/Hawaii).
Polaris-only: Aperol Spritz , complimentary.
Bistro on Board (flights >1,190 miles; time-of-day menus)
Breakfast (5:00–9:59 a.m.)
- Everything Bagel Dots (V, W) – $9
- French Toast Monte Cristo (W) – $10
- Denver Omelet Breakfast Burrito (W) – $10
Lunch/Dinner (10:00 a.m.–8:59 p.m.)
- Ultimate Cheeseburger (W) – $11
- Pepperoni Pizza Melt by Jeff Mauro (W) – $12
- Fresh Cheese & Fruit Tray (V) – $10
Regional variations
- Hawaii (SFO/LAX ↔ Hawaii):
Breakfast: Everything Bagel Dots (V, W) $9; Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding (V, W) $10; Portuguese Sausage Breakfast Sandwich (W) $10
Lunch/Dinner: Spam Musubi $11; Kalua Pork Sandwich (W) $11; Cheese & Fruit Tray (V) $10 - Canada → U.S. (select >1,190 miles)
Breakfast: Maple Breakfast Sandwich (W) $10
Lunch/Dinner: Hummus Platter (V) $11; Forty Creek BBQ Burger (W) $11; Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Pesto Wrap $11 - Latin America/Caribbean → U.S. (select >1,190 miles; excluding long-haul with free Economy meals)
Breakfast: Maple Breakfast Sandwich (W) $10
Lunch/Dinner: Turkey & Mozzarella Sandwich (W) $11; BBQ Chicken Sandwich (W) $11
Note: Bistro is not offered on long-haul Hawaii routes that already include complimentary Economy meals.
Strategy tips (so your food plan matches your flight plan)
- On late-night Polaris departures: Eat a proper meal in the Polaris Lounge (book the Dining Room if available), then request express onboard and sleep. Grab the sundae if you want a quick “win,” but don’t let a full multi-course service eat your sleep window.
- Breakfast expectations: Keep it light. Fruit + yogurt is consistent; hot items vary more by station.
- Mid-flight snacks: Galleys typically set out packaged snacks; on some routes a small-plate/tapas item is available on request until shortly before breakfast.
- Special meals: If you need vegetarian/vegan/kosher/halal/gluten-friendly, pre-order (generally ≥24 hours) and still consider eating in the lounge so you’re not dependent on a single onboard option.
- Economy buy-on-board value: Snackboxes and the Jeff Mauro Pepperoni Pizza Melt are reliable; for early flights the Bagel Dots are the fastest-moving breakfast pick.
FAQs
Are alcohol and cold brew free in premium cabins?
Yes. Alcohol and illy® Cold Brew are complimentary in premium cabins on all flights (and wine/beer are free on long-haul international flights in Economy).
Can I pay with miles for food and drinks?
Yes, for most buy-on-board items (see prices above), though the ability to buy with miles may not be available on every aircraft.
Do offerings change by route?
Yes. Hawaii, Canada→U.S., and Latin America/Caribbean→U.S. menus have regional items. Availability always depends on station catering and flight length.
Should you upgrade for the food?
No one upgrades to Polaris only for the entrée. You upgrade for the bed, privacy, service flow, and lounge access, with dining as a meaningful part of the package. Treat onboard meals as fuel that fits your sleep plan, enjoy the lounge for your best “restaurant” experience, and lean on the sundae cart for a little joy at 35,000 feet.
If you want, I can tailor this for a specific route (e.g., SFO–NRT or EWR–FRA) and layer in typical Polaris entrée rotations and lounge dining highlights for those stations.
Related guides on United Polaris: