Airline Food

Jonathan · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 185

OK, from a few posts by both Laura and cocodrilo I take it that business and first class airline food isn't all that bad... but what about the rest of us? One thing i learned a long time ago was to *always* order a special meal. The special meals typically cost 2-3 times the standard economy airline meal... and taste like it too! Actually, I'd started ordering vegetarian meals years before I became a vegetarian, just because the lighter, fresher fare felt lighter in my stomach while I was traveling and helped me not feel as jet lagged upon arrival. *

* Actually, given the physiological stress of flying I've found vegetarian meals, in conjunction with avoiding both alcohol and caffeine, to really help keep me going in tip top shape while flying.

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

I've read elsewhere that it's a good idea to order a special meal. I sometimes order the diabetic one. It does help a lot in terms of being a little fresher and arriving hot, especially since some airlines serve the special meals first before rolling the trolley through coach.

The best food I've ever had on a plane was in First Class on British Airways going from London to Barcelona. (I forgot about that one when I was listing my "getting an upgrade" tip. This one also falls under the "the airline messes something up" category.). The plane was oversold because an entire soccer team was trying to get to Barcelona, and they bumped us. However, when they bumped us they (1) put us on the next BA flight in four hours later (2) upgraded us to First Class, even though we weren't frequent flyers and were travelling on discounted Coach tickets (3) had us hang out in the Business/First Class lounge which had free Internet and free snacks while we were waiting (3) gave us CASH compensation at a level set by the EU -- we ended up getting more money back than what we spent on the tickets in the first place! Now how's that for service? I've never been bumped in the US, but usually you get put on the next flight and get something meager like a $200 COUPON to use toward a future flight. Anyway, the BA food included a fresh salad of mixed baby greens and frisee', and it was crisp and fresh and not wilted at all. There was also a bit of yummy liver pate', and I don't recall the entree' but I'm sure it was just was good or I would have remembered.

So many domestic US airlines have stopped serving food on the plane that I can't even remember the last time I had "airplane food." I'll eat before I leave home, and grab something small at my connection. The truth is, on a lot of flights the meal is more of a form of entertainment than something actual necessity. I can go four hours without eating, which covers most domestic flights in the US.

My mom flies Southwest a lot, which encourages you to bring your own food, and has a great time making "plane picnics." She's met a lot of people that way because she and my dad will bring things like home-made smoked salmon, fancy cheeses, and so on. People get curious as to what they are eating and so strike up conversations.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Laura wrote: I've read elsewhere that it's a good idea to order a special meal. I sometimes order the diabetic one. It does help a lot in terms of being a little fresher and arriving hot, especially since some airlines serve the special meals first before rolling the trolley through coach.

The best food I've ever had on a plane was in First Class on British Airways going from London to Barcelona. (I forgot about that one when I was listing my "getting an upgrade" tip. This one also falls under the "the airline messes something up" category.). The plane was oversold because an entire soccer team was trying to get to Barcelona, and they bumped us. However, when they bumped us they (1) put us on the next BA flight in four hours later (2) upgraded us to First Class, even though we weren't frequent flyers and were travelling on discounted Coach tickets (3) had us hang out in the Business/First Class lounge which had free Internet and free snacks while we were waiting (3) gave us CASH compensation at a level set by the EU -- we ended up getting more money back than what we spent on the tickets in the first place! Now how's that for service? I've never been bumped in the US, but usually you get put on the next flight and get something meager like a $200 COUPON to use toward a future flight. Anyway, the BA food included a fresh salad of mixed baby greens and frisee', and it was crisp and fresh and not wilted at all. There was also a bit of yummy liver pate', and I don't recall the entree' but I'm sure it was just was good or I would have remembered.

So many domestic US airlines have stopped serving food on the plane that I can't even remember the last time I had "airplane food." I'll eat before I leave home, and grab something small at my connection. The truth is, on a lot of flights the meal is more of a form of entertainment than something actual necessity. I can go four hours without eating, which covers most domestic flights in the US.

My mom flies Southwest a lot, which encourages you to bring your own food, and has a great time making "plane picnics." She's met a lot of people that way because she and my dad will bring things like home-made smoked salmon, fancy cheeses, and so on. People get curious as to what they are eating and so strike up conversations.

A lot of people are bringing their own wine aboard, which is acceptable, and hopefully they won't have their wine openers confiscated before boarding! :shock:

Jonathan · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 185

cocodrilo wrote: A lot of people are bringing their own wine aboard, which is acceptable...
Not legal here in the U.S. as far as I know... :?

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Jonathan wrote: cocodrilo wrote: A lot of people are bringing their own wine aboard, which is acceptable...
Not legal here in the U.S. as far as I know... :?

Hmmm. I believe even I read about wine-toting folks on an in-flight airline mag, and I think they were flying domestic...I will look into it.

Jonathan · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 185

cocodrilo wrote: Jonathan wrote: cocodrilo wrote: A lot of people are bringing their own wine aboard, which is acceptable...
Not legal here in the U.S. as far as I know... :?

Hmmm. I believe even I read about wine-toting folks on an in-flight airline mag, and I think they were flying domestic...I will look into it.
Hmmm, I'm curious now. I was fairly certain that only alcohol served by the flight crew was permitted on domestic flights *and* that they could refuse alcohol service to anyone... both elements being part of controlling undue inebriation and possible belligerence.

Deda · Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 10

Vegetarian meal can work but sometimes you get them raw or over cooked...

for example I like my rice well done and my vegetables raw... and on the plane I usually get, raw rice and overcooked vegetables.
On international flights to and from the U.S. taking food on the plane is not permitted... not so much from the Us... but to the Us... they make you throw it away. So how to survive plane food?

You can barely bring snacks, such as chips and cookies but, even when they give you nuts or pretzel... have you ever realize how much and how often one gets hungry on a plane?
Well, quantity wise there's nothing I can do, so I tend to drink a lot... and actually drinking a lot help your blood stay thin... alcohol and coffe instead could cause severe circulation problems and that is really dangerous.

My salvation is definetely ketchup and mayo... yes...
I bring bagged ketchup and mayo from the airport's fastfood on board, so when they give me chicken fed... I open my two little magic bags, make pink sauce and anything would go down with those...

Unless one does not like ketchup and mayo... which would really make it troublesome.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

On long-haul flights, I bring a huge bag of raw vegetables- celery, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, etc and eat them when dinner is served. The portions of vegetables are way too inadequate. The only time I ever tried a vegetatian meal was on a domestic flight in India. I usually think airline food stinks, but this was a pretty decent curry, with panir!

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

When my hubby came back from his last India trip, he brought me the Jet Airways in-flight magazine, which had some good recipies in it :)

Deda · Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 10

yeah see you cannot bring veggies on the flights to the US. it's illegal to import vegetables, meats and farms products and stuff like that.
You can take crackers and sealed stuff.

But once my friend was coming from UK and she had a tuna sandwich, they made her throw it away.
In domestic flight in Europe they don't serve meals anymore (in the US you have to pay)....

and oh in the US now u pay for the head sets too... I mean that is so dumb, it's 5 dollars, who carries dollars with them on a plane when they are going to europe? I have euros... and it's 5 dollars or 5 euro... now let me tell you... 5 euros is about 8 dollars... i tried to bargain... 3 euro, that's exchange rate, they said no.
So I took my heaset out and listened to the movie in mono.

This upsets costumers... I think what they should do is charge the 5 dollars on the ticket!!! So everybody flying pays it and you don't loose money, you dumb airline!!!! >:( but you give the passengers the illusion that the headset is for free!!!
Now I am no psichologist... but I think I would feel much better if I don't have to bargain with a stewardess!