New Snack Areas, Sleek Lighting, and Bigger Bins: A First Look at United’s Brand-New Planes

05.12.2023 - 21:49 / afar.com

A whiff of new plane smell may be part of your next United Airlines onboard welcome. That’s because the Chicago-based carrier is undergoing a massive fleet renewal strategy as part of its “United Next” plan with 800 new aircraft being added between 2023 and the end of 2032.

Last week, United pulled the wraps off of its first Airbus A321neo, a single-aisle, narrow-body plane with a swanky interior and, a first for United economy passengers, a self-service snack bar. In addition to the grab-and-go pantry, on the new Airbus planes, travelers will find a variety of fun new amenities, including wireless charging stations and nifty technology enhancements throughout the cabin.

At least 180 of these jets will be delivered in the coming years, and along with the Boeing 737MAX, will serve as the backbone of United’s domestic fleet. Initially, these planes will mainly fly out of United’s Chicago O’Hare hub heading to and from Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Phoenix.

I was onboard one of the first passenger flights, a 1,400-mile journey from Chicago to Phoenix. Here’s a full rundown of what future fliers can expect.

Go ahead, help yourself. United’s new onboard snack station is available for the duration of the flight.

Courtesy of Marcel Hoy/United Airlines

United is the latest carrier to offer a grab-and-go snack station for economy fliers. An airline spokesperson said a “limited supply of water and snacks” will be available from the aft snack bar, with the current offering including That’s It Fruit Bars, Undercover Chocolate Quinoa Crisps, and a savory snack mix. The amenity is an attempt by United to “uplevel the customer experience for every customer, in every cabin,” according to the airline.

The bar won’t replace any onboard service element, but instead, it’ll be open to passengers on flights of 801 miles or more on a first-come, first-served basis following the cabin crew’s first snack and drink pass-through.

While an economy grab-and-go station is unique to United’s A321neo, it’s not the first time travelers have had access to a snack bar on a plane. In fact, since 2019, first-class passengers on United’s 50-seat regional jet, the Bombardier CRJ-550, could help themselves to a robust array of snacks and soft drinks near the front aircraft door.

Historically, with a pantry-like setup since 2014 for long- and medium-haul flights, JetBlue has been the self-service leader. In addition to a variety of drinks and juices, JetBlue’s current pantry snack selection includes Chifles Plantain Chips, Popchips, Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, and Stellar Vegan Butter Pretzel Braids. (It’s a richer selection than what United offers at the moment.)

When it comes to storing bags, larger overhead bins