MileValue is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer be available. You can view current offers here.


Last week I flew United economy for eight hours from Honolulu to Guam. I shared how I got my own row in economy for a long and comfortable nap.

I also got free food on the flight.

There are a few sure-fire ways to get free food on United flights:

  • Fly first class or business class; Economy Plus doesn’t count.
  • Fly an international route that offers free food in economy.

I didn’t do any of that. I was just given free food from the buy onboard snacks by accident. But the process might be repeatable, so I’ll share it.

  • What did I get for free?
  • Is it repeatable?

I expected United economy to have a free meal during the eight hour flight from Honolulu to Guam since many international flights have free food in economy. (Yes, I know Guam is not foreign.) Instead, we were offered the same buy onboard options that are offered on domestic flights.

United tried to batch the food service by making announcements that they’d be coming around with paid food options early in the flight and near the end.

I slept through the first time the cart rolled through.

When I woke up, I was hungry and decided to order one of the meals. I didn’t hit the call button; I just waited for a flight attendant to pass, and I ordered.

She brought me the chicken, risotto, and asparagus, and I pulled out my credit card to pay.

“It’s on me,” she said. I gave her a fist bump.

IMG_20140905_180420

The food itself was not as good as I usually get from the buy onboard options. The risotto seemed a lot like rice. The asparagus was limp. The chicken a little rubbery and bland.

Later in the flight, I was on the fence between ordering something else and waiting to eat in the Guam airport. I decided not to order again because I didn’t want the flight attendant to think I expected another free meal.

Is my free meal repeatable? Certainly not with consistent success, but I think there are a few things that increase the chances of free food.

I think I got the free food because the flight attendant didn’t want to get the credit card machine, swipe my card, and follow whatever other procedures United has. Since I frequently see flight attendants eating the buy onboard food near the end of the flight, I assume that flight attendants don’t need to account for the unsold food at the end of the flight, which means they might be comfortable giving it away. To increase your chances of success:

  1. Don’t order when the cart comes around.
  2. Don’t hit the call button. Try to order from a flight attendant walking quickly past with a purpose, so they might want your order to be the shortest distraction possible.
  3. Be pleasant.

Will it work for you? Probably not, but you can try and report back.

CKANbanner_300x250_v6b

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!


Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.

The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.