United adds Boston to premium cross-country service

United is adding a new route to its premium transcontinental service and offering meals for passengers in upgraded coach seats on the flights. Service between Boston and San Francisco will join the lineup of premium cross-country markets, which also include routes from Newark, New Jersey, to Los Angeles and San Francisco, United Continental Holdings Inc. said in a statement Wednesday. Fliers who pay extra for Economy Plus seating will get free hot meals and a complimentary alcoholic drink on the updated transcontinental service, which starts July 1. United is playing catch-up to Delta and American Airlines in expanding or upgrading its offerings on highly competitive cross-country routes. United is dropping the name p.s. Premium Service and will refer to the product as premium transcontinental service, said Maggie Schmerin, the airline’s director of brand public relations. Unlike Delta and American, United won’t provide complimentary meals to passengers in regular coach seats on premium cross-country flights.<br/>