Airline food is almost universally panned and derided, but most of us want more of it
when we fly.
Maybe it's stress or boredom, but eating is part of flying.
When you learn the secrets of airline food you won't be able to look at your tiny bag
of pretzels the same way ever again.
So here are 10 secrets about airline food you never realized.
Fly The Veggie Skies
I think we can assume that most travellers don't want to spend too much time thinking
about airline meals because they are more worried about making their connections or
getting through the long TSA lines.
However, if you are inclined to give airline fare some effort, you might find there are
some choices you'll actually enjoy.
In addition to the usual chicken or pasta entrees, many airlines offer specialty choices,
including vegetarian, as well as meals that conform to various religious practices such
as offering Kosher meals.
Airlines receive many requests for all kinds of specialty meals, so they tend to offer
a fairly extensive menu to cater to a range of issues including allergies, gluten intolerance,
diabetes, low sodium diets and several different forms of vegetarianism.
Most airlines also offer different food choices to appeal to children, so it might be worth
checking these out if you're not happy with the adult meal choices.
While there is no guarantee an airline will offer a meal you'll like, it can't hurt to
take a little time to investigate an airline's menu options.
Who knows?
You might be pleasantly surprised with the results.
On the other hand, if you just think airline food leaves something to be desired, you can
always pack your own food for the flight.
Have Snacks, Will Fly
Perhaps there are a few people who aren't sure if they can bring their own food onto
a plane.
While it's true you can't get bottles of liquid through security, you can bring your own snacks.
Most airline food is not very good and the food available in airports is usually just
expensive junk food.
Your fellow travellers might not appreciate you hauling a stinky fish dinner into coach,
or a hearty supply of hardboiled eggs.
Most snacks that travel well will be fine such as trail mixes that include an assortment
of dried fruits and nuts, protein bars, crackers, and even sandwiches.
If you're going to bring fruits and vegetables, its best to prepare them first: cut them into
manageable, easy to eat pieces and carry them in resealable containers or plastic bags.
Although some might recommend foodie choices like chickpea salad pitas and other sophisticated
fare, it's probably a good idea to keep your selections simple - you can have the pita
when you land.
Airplane air is very dry, so hydrating fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, are always
good choices for a flight.
Of course you can also bring onboard any liquids you purchased after you passed through security.
Take Off On Snacks
Airline snacks look pretty good, but the reality is these tiny treats are often more of an
unsatisfying tease than a satisfying snack.
If you do find an airline snack that you like, however, you can often see to it you get more
than one.
The airlines tend to want you to think that the supply of snacks is limited and precious,
but flights usually have plenty of these little snacks to go around.
So whether your flying pleasure is a little bag of peanuts or a package of salty pretzels,
you can have several servings to satisfy your cravings.
Ask the flight attendants nicely and you might get a handful of snacks that will last you
throughout the entire flight.
Not all airline snacks are created equal, and there might be some you actually look
forward to getting on your flight.
Delta Airlines, for example, sometimes gives out a package of two Biscoff cookies.
These might not be the best cookies you've ever tasted, but when you're trapped on an
airplane at 30,000 feet, their sweet crunchiness will be a welcome diversion indeed.
These sweet treats do go well with a cup of hot coffee and if you can get a second package
- than so much the better!
Glutton For Punishment?
Complaints about the quality of airline food are more than cliches, they have become axiomatic.
However, it seems not everyone has gotten the memo because there are people who ask
for and often receive a second meal.
Maybe they really are famished or maybe they're simply bored and want kill some time.
But whatever their reasons might be, some people do in fact want a second helping of
airline fare.
How do these passengers get a second helping of very mediocre airline food?
They simply ask for it.
Particular airlines or flight attendants may be less willing to honor these requests, but
it is generally understood that if you ask politely and quietly, you’ll have a good
chance of getting a second meal on your next flight.
Why shouldn't cramped, put upon passengers get extra helpings of exquisitely mediocre
food?
Why indeed.
The airlines don't want passengers to know this, but any food that isn't consumed during
the flight will be thrown out as soon as the plane lands at its destination.
This policy doesn't just apply to regularly completed flights, but even applies to flights
that are simply delayed on the ground.
If a plane sits on the runway too long, the food is dumped and a new shipment is loaded
onboard.
Isn't it better that passengers eat the food instead of it all simply going to waste?
Final Destination
Unfortunately, the final destination for tremendous amounts of food flown around by airlines is
too often the dumpster.
Airlines usually pack extra food on their flights in the form of free snacks, first
class meals and snack boxes for purchase.
A lot of this food is never consumed during the flights and much like restaurants, the
airlines discard leftover food rather than serve it to customers.
However, there is at least one charity that is known as a food redistribution organization
in Australia which is trying to make a difference.
Called OzHarvest, this charity is working to change the airlines' wasteful and expensive
food policy.
OzHarvest has teams of employees go to airports and gather up the airlines' leftover food
including entrees, snacks and sandwiches.
These volunteers often gather nearly a thousand pounds of food a day from the airlines.
The airlines are eager to get rid of the food and the charity is able to offer it to people
in need on the same day it was collected from the airlines.
This seems to be a big win, but doesn't it point out just how much food airlines are
wasting?
Perhaps if they weren't wasting so much money on food they end up dumping in the trash they
would be able to charge passengers a little less for their tickets.
Your Taste Buds At 30,000 Feet
We've been blaming the airlines for bland food.
Although it's easy to blame the airlines for pretty much every inconvenience we experience
while flying, it looks like they're off the hook when it comes to the snacks.
The first reason is just the basic fact that we are dealing with mass produced food that
is packaged and shipped for convenience then reheated (safety regulations say that airlines
aren't allowed to actually cook the food in the air.)
We can't expect to have gourmet food at 30,000 feet up - at least when we're in coach.
Beyond the logistical realities of commercial food preparation, there is science behind
our disappointing culinary experiences in the air.
The air in a pressurized cabin at 30,000 feet is dry and at a lower pressure than we are
accustomed to at sea level.
These conditions interfere with our ability to accurately smell and taste the food.
Surprisingly, the constant noise of the engines also contributes to this problem.
The airlines try to compensate for these issues by adding extra sugar and salt to the food.
They’re also guilty of adding too much sauce to most of the dishes.
We're probably not ever going to be happy with airline food, but they are supposed to
fly us safely to our destinations, not run restaurants.
Everyone's A Critic
We have good reasons to be critical of most airline food.
Although we've explored how some of the problems are mostly out of the hands of the airlines,
this doesn't stop us from being amateur food critics.
In this age of social media and self appointed influencers, it should come as no surprise
that there is a growing number of people who have taken on the role of airline food critic.
One example is Nikos Loukas, who operates the web site inflightfeed.com.
His job requires him to fly up to five days a week and he has seized on this opportunity.
For several years now he’s been cataloging and critiquing airline fare.
While he agrees with passengers that most airline food is substandard, there are exceptions
if you’re willing to seek them out.
According to Loukas, one of the best meals is provided by Air France on its first class
transatlantic flights.
And Loukas isn’t the only one doing this kind of work.
A rating organization called Skytrax rates flights, airports, airlines and airline food.
This site invites passengers to write and submit reviews based on their experiences.
It's a good bet that most of these reviews are not very kind to airline food - or airlines
in generals for that matter.
The Exception Proves The Rule
Some photos of airline food look absolutely divine.
Not that we'd fly for the food, but sometimes these look like a meal we'd actually look
forward to eating.
But is it only a mirage?
A unicorn?
Some kind of airline industry urban legend?
There are some travel websites that have ranked some of the best food offered by airlines.
This might sound like an oxymoron to many of us but nevertheless, American Airlines
has received kudos recently for selections like its lentil chili and speciality, seasonal
chocolates.
I don't know about you, but I've never been offered specialty, seasonal chocolates by
an airline.
That's because these are first class meals offered to only a select few passengers.
That's fine, but you'd think they could do a little better than offer the rest us a flimsy
bag of pretzels.
Thai Airways is one of the notable exceptions for receiving good reviews of its food and
service by both first class and coach passengers alike.
Most of us won't choose the airline or flights we take based on the food choices available,
but I suppose it's nice to know there is some airline food up there that is worth eating.
First Class Foodies
Flying first class is considerably more expensive than a standard coach ticket.
For the privilege of flying in the front of the plane you get a little more leg room,
additional space for your carry-on bags and more attentive service from the flight attendants.
But is the food actually any better?
Since the other passengers only get pretzels if they're lucky the answer is definitively
yes.
But what can first class passengers expect for all that extra bread?
Passengers on Emirates Airlines get a fine meal with several courses that can include
caviar and a delicious dessert.
Finnair, perhaps unsurprisingly, offers first class passengers the option of dining on reindeer
tenderloin.
However, you can always make the more conventional choice of healthy fish and vegetables.
Air Canada has made a name for itself in airline culinary circles with choices that include
lobster and barbecue salmon.
Passengers are invited to wash these choice morsels down with a welcome glass of champagne.
Would this make it worth it to buy a first class ticket?
No, but it would be tempting.
Flying On Their Stomachs
It's said that an army travels on its stomach.
Airline pilots need to eat too, but as part of the crew are they subjected to the same
menu as the passengers?
According to the airlines' official statements the crew eats the same meals as the passengers.
They can eat in peace because the autopilot controls the plane for most of the flight
other than take off and landing.This seems a little silly, but one pilot has revealed
that at some airlines the pilot gets the first class meal and the copilot gets stuck with
the business class meal.
Under this scheme, the pilots must make do with whatever meals are left after all the
passengers have made their selections and eaten.
The pilots are subject to some of the same rules and regulations as the passengers, so
on a short flight the crew might not get a chance to have a meal at all.
While the FAA doesn't mandate it, some airlines require the pilot and copilot to eat different
meals to eliminate the risk of food poisoning affecting both pilots.
Some foods are usually avoided such as raw fish - who would want airline sushi anyway?
The pilots, like the passengers, probably aren't big fans of the airline food.
Like the passengers, the pilots always have the option of declining the airline food altogether
and bringing their own food onto the plane.
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