United Food Spending Per Passenger Jumps 80% (viewfromthewing.com)

United spent $1.617 billion on passenger food in 2025, about $11.07 per boarding, up roughly 80% per passenger from $6.16 in 2019. Delta's total bill was larger at $1.657 billion but averaged $9.99 per boarding, and Delta leads on domestic per-boarding spend at $8.06 versus United's $6.36. United tops the Atlantic and Pacific regions at $39.10 and $43.38 per boarding, while Delta spends more per 1,000 passenger-miles at $7.08 against United's $6.34.