I graduated college in 1996 and earned elite status with United Airlines for the first time in 1997. The very first time I was upgraded was on a Los Angeles – Washington Dulles flight and lunch was served in courses. I had an almond dusted shrimp plate as an appetizer followed by a steak for my entree and then dessert.
Come spring 2001 United was making cutbacks in their inflight catering spend and I remember the controversy among frequent flyers over their ‘gourmet’ cheeseburger being served at lunch. It was a good and substantive burger, not like what customers think of as an onboard burger today.
Prior to the US Airways merger here was an American Airlines dinner served onboard the 919 mile Washington National – Miami flight.
That was before meal service on American was US Airways-ed in September 2014. Things got so bad the airline started investing a little more in its meals less than a year later. I stopped eating inflight.
After several cuts to meal service, in 2018 United Airlines tried to eliminate meals altogether on flights under 4 hours outside of dinner hours. They rolled that back after just two weeks.
- Airlines want to spend less on food
- But what if they’re missing a real revenue opportunity?
A dozen years ago American introduced the ability to pre-order meals in first class. You’re just pre-selecting what they’d otherwise have onboard and assuring you get your meal choice. Then they added the ability to choose ‘special meals’ and those were higher quality than the rest of American’s domestic meal service. I recommended the Muslim meal, before they removed protein from them. (These meals were worth it even if ordering one meant the government would think you’re a terrorist.)
Airlines are scrounging for revenue, United raised first checked bag prices before the pandemic and isn’t doing anything more for customers in return. Why not look for opportunities to earn more money in ways that also add more value?
Airlines should offer paid buy on board in first class. Let you pre-order a premium meal for extra money. That way airlines can make more money off of customers who may be best-positioned to pay, a better strategy perhaps than higher checked bag fees for infrequent leisure flyers traveling in coach.
I’d happily spend for a meal that was actually good on a 3 hour flight. The only worry is that airlines would cut ‘included’ meals even further. And that’s certainly possible, but doesn’t have to be the case and really how much worse could they get? American Airlines serves $1 shelf-stable pasta in first class.
I’d rather have a good meal that cost me something than what’s served today without extra cost. And U.S. airport caterers are clearly capable of pulling off good food. The food served on many Asian airlines, and on some European ones, can be quite delicious – even when the flights are departing the U.S.
ANA Ramen
Singapore Airlines Lobster Thermidor
Etihad salmon biryani
Singapore Airlines Dim Sum
This is logistically possible. Twelve years ago Austrian Airlines introduced paid pre-order meals in coach from caterer DO & CO at the 15 euro price point.
Czech Airlines offers paid meals even in economy which myriad choices as well as paid premium wines, such as Moët and Chandon Imperial Brut Rosé champagne. airBaltic has a good looking paid premium meal selection program as well.
It should be:
- easier to do this in first class with fewer passengers to manage
- possible to invest more in food at a lower price since customers would opt for this instead of a first class meal — the airline generates revenue and saves cost at the same time.
Raising more money for airlines by delivering a better product to customers is a better and more sustainable business model in a competitive industry than trying to charge more for the same or lesser product.
Do you agree – should airlines make this change? Would you buy a premium meal in domestic first class?
Most of the time you don’t get a good menu of food choices on a plane at all
Food service on domestic flights is a complete anachronism and adds needless complication and expense to air travel. Long past time to get rid of it. Only the long hauls over 10 hours really need catering – otherwise just let passengers bring a snack.
Mak, I disagree. Food service even post-budget cutbacks is the highlight of domestic first class. Otherwise it’s just a Big Front Seat which I don’t even need because I’m slim and fit.
Yes I would buy a decent quality meal in First Class. The price would be a round-off error in the price of the flight.
I wouldn’t pay for a meal on a flight. In FC it should be included. Just go back to the early 2000s for good domestic meals.
I’ve gotten a good hot meal in Coach flying on a 1 hour RJ flight in Europe.
Really great meals on EK with 3 hour flights.
As the steak and chicken got tougher on US flights, I carried a sharp pocket knife to cut it. TSA fixed that and eliminate my options for a knife. The airlines felt bad and eliminated the food so I wouldn’t need a knife.
Fly Alaska instead. Their F meals are usually surprisingly good.
I’m parked with *SFO/EWR, slightly revising the term “Food Service” to “Food & Beverage Service”. As for a direct response to Gary’s question, time and again I’ve seen these things evolve: If they did offer Pre-Paid meals in 1st Class, the existing meals that are bundled and included with the price of the flight would vanish.
What makes you think they wouldn’t start cutting back the paid meals and making them worse and worse, while keeping the prices the same. They did that when the food is included in the fare. So, why wouldn’t they do this with food purchased separately.
For Gawd’s sake, bring a pizza. That’s what the airlines should serve anyway, at least in First class.
In Second class (and lower) they should push a huge, gas fired pot of chile, spooning out copious amounts into disposable bowls complete with plastic spoons.
Want topping? Sure. We have cheese, chopped onions, tomato bits and croutons.
It’s followed by a full-size keg of Arrogant Bastard Beer and very (VERY) large paper cups. All of it included in the price.
@SFO/EWR “Food service even post-budget cutbacks is the highlight of domestic first class. Otherwise it’s just a Big Front Seat which I don’t even need because I’m slim and fit”
Comfort is all I want. I don’t need or want airplane food and I don’t understand why anybody does on a 5 hour flight. The worst meal on the ground is still better than the best in the air and a bag of chips better than anything any US airline will serve. Few want airplane food and fewer need it, but everybody will eat whatever junk is put in front of them despite the fact that they’ll be on the ground long before they’ll starve to death.
What did we sardines & cattle do to deserved to be treated this way by the US Airlines?
Meals that make K-rations & MRE’s look appetizing….
Remember when FF miles were worth something?
Remembers when airlines cared about customer service and competed on amenities instead of selling big banks billions of miles?
This is why I fly with Asian or Mid-east carriers if I can.
This is what happens when the bean counters and cost Accountants are running US airlines
Just set your expectations low and prepare to be disappointed.
At least if I’m driving 8-10 hours I can get a good meal along the way.
I never believed food and flying should go together. I mean, even restaurants have a hard time giving us real, wholesome, healthy food (even grocery stores!) So forget about airplanes and airports.
Why would you buy food from an airline?
They are having a hard time just providing flying bus service.
If you want to eat well or at least decent- BYO
J6 Mint Service is still very good. Just sayin…
A 5 hour flight is only a 5 hour food fast. You all should try going without food or drinks for at least 12 hours and give your body a break once in awhile, drinking only water. This will improve your health.
On AA I would like to pre-order FA’s who don’t exude the air that they would rather be anywhere else than serving pax.
Domestic flights are like riding a city bus. It gets you from point A to point B. nothing more.
At least on a bus you don’t have flight attendants with a bad attitude.
I’m with Mak. You’re paying for that garbage food whether you know it or not. It’s a significant expense, and the cost relative to quality for onboard food will always be high. In addition, that extra food weight requires more fuel. So if you’re not going to do it well then just don’t bother.
Besides, you don’t need to eat every 3 hours. I’d say around 5 hours is the cutoff when a meal should be served. Airlines are pretty transparent about whether a meal is served on a flight, so you can plan your meals accordingly. Less farting and belching passengers would also be a bonus.
@Gary: Inventory issues make this questionably viable. However, what would be a much simpler, less ambitious change would be to sell the first-class wine list in coach.
Imagine the complaints when a preordered and expensive extra charge vegan, low sodium, kosher, or halal meal doesn’t show up on a 5+ hour flight; the airlines have a hard enough time just delivering baggage.
Folks complain about bundled cable service, and unbundled airline service. Whatever you give them, they will find something not to like about it.
People seem to prefer discounts for not using something to extra fees for something added. They are effectively equivalent, just framed differently.
Judging from other responses, different people want different things. Some airlines could offer this while others don’t. Or, an airline could offer a bundled service that includes premium food for people who want it and doesn’t for people who don’t.
There is no reason why premium food couldn’t also be sold to us back in steerage if any of us wanted it.
You get nothing or hard tack for $15.99, or $25.99 for flights over 5 hours.
5 hours is about right. If the flight is 5 hours or more include one meal.
I actually love the big pot of chilli rolling down the aisle idea. Must have 2 pots though, one vegan. No other food preferences are accomodated. If oyu don’t like what is being served bring your own.
If there was a Pret A Mange in every airport at multiple locations that would solve everything.
Don’t forget for a flight of 5 hours, I am already at the airport a good 2, 2 1/2 hours before flight time, sometime 3 depending on the airport, so I will want a meal on a 5 hour or 5 hour+ flight, but I don’t need anything more than one meal and a snack if it is transatlantic.
Oh yeah. A buy-on-board snack box of prepackaged commercial snacks is going to go over really well for people who pay thousand$ for a 1st or b-class seat.
I think the problem for you Gary is that you value food on airplanes more than most people. If domestic airlines could command a revenue premium by serving better food, they would. I think there is enough history to show they can’t.
Or the could use Do&Co. Heck, I’d prefer Pret and Manger.
Except for Alaska, the US carriers have bad food and service, domestic and international. I do avoid them for international because of that.
Better that the free first class upgrade ones on domestic US airlines should pay for premium cabin food while the regular paid first class passengers get better food included as part of being the premium fare passengers.
EU carriers routinely serve excellent meals on intra-EU flights, showing it can be done. Even on short flights
Seeing people say they don’t need or want food on the plane reminds me of the person who said they preferred the food on UA TATLs to the food on AF because the AF meals were “too fancy”. People have different tastes.
No problem with todays on board food though it’s gotten a little tougher
However I always carry my chainsaw onboard which can through any airline wood or rubber entree
This guy does nothing but bash American Airlines, literally every single article. What a loser.
‘Then they added the ability to choose ‘special meals’ and those were higher quality than the rest of American’s domestic meal service. I recommended the Muslim meal, before they removed protein from them. (These meals were worth it even if ordering one meant the government would think you’re a terrorist.)’
How does one report this Gary Leff for racism as well as incessant American Airlines bashing? Can you make such comments about any other group? It’s been pretty cool to talk trash about muslims recently I guess, just eye opening that the average person is so racist. I shouldn’t be surprised, 90% of humanity is racist, just a different flavor for different times.
Think of the children! Flying with my kids always involved food plans. Domestic flights can be delayed. Kids get cranky and the food they were happy with a day ago is now something they will not touch. So I learned to always carry something palatable. And now they’re grown and for myself (or others) I still bring good stuff. And yes if even if I’m not hungry, it is a survival back up plan. Domestic airline catering is a expensive waste.
I have given up on USA airlines as far as food, even on cross country flights. I’m not sure I would trust any food served by them unless it was packaged like potato chips are. I will continue to enjoy reasonable meals on Asian airlines.
WowGary, what a solution.
Don’t improve things, just charge more!!
I see a bunch of people recommending touristy stuff which is great! The museums are lovely, I think the parks are really something unique about London, try Hampstead… It’s pretty busy but really nice and cute too. I give u a break!
I prefer to avoid relying on airlines for food but it is unfortunately a necessity sometimes when you have a transcon or Hawaii trip that spans mealtime or worse a short connection that requires an OJ dash through the airport.
I have repeatedly suggested that airlines offer Subway sandwiches and salads thru BOB but for some reason airline execs would rather offer crap catering and junk food boxes that nobody really wants.
Rather than hold the airlines accountable, let’s just make pax pay for more things. No thought put into this one
Simple rule – never eat on planes. Not worth the calories for subpar food, even in international F. Just not worth it.
I liked the soup they served on Hughes Airwest.
I forget what kind it was, but I remember liking it.
@ Older Woman “Pret A Mange ” is an unintentionally accurate description of most airline food.
The relatively few times I have flown on US airlines, transcon and transpac in F or J, I have been amazed at how the caterers have consistently tried-too-hard and produced bizzare food combinations and concoctions which are unappertizing if not inedible.
I am certain no-one would choose this rubbish on the ground, so why would they like it at 35000 feet?
Fly AirFrance business (even not First class) and you’ll have a real high standard meal and service.
In the minority. I don’t like to eat on planes, even long haul. All I want is free flowing water and snack.
It isn’t a food issue, I suspect. It is the preparation. I was on a UA flight out of CHC and pre-ordered the standard J chicken dish. It was just fine. It seems the supplier at CHC is good, and the FA doing the reheating was spot on. That’s all it takes.
First class meals today have become what used to provided free to coach class years ago. When flying Delta coach LAX to ATL in 1998 I received a full steak meal including salad, bread, side and desert.
You are paying for premium service, and that includes a meal. Before Covid, the food was much better than now. The airlines were thrilled that they did not have to cater to their customers and keeping the price the same. They never returned to pre Covid service. Ever since deregulation, no one really cares about service anymore. You never hear or read any advertisement where an airline would brag about their offerings. If they offered meals for sale in first, they would be very expensive, and the quality would not change. No one in the airlines care.
I have been using the Factor meal service at home, and it reminds me of what a passable first class meal used to be. It doesn’t look like much in its microwavable plastic, but when plated, it can be presented quite elegantly.
My point is that airlines could co-brand with one of those meal services, which would improve their food quality, and potentially provide some leverage from a business standpoint.
I think it’s coming anyway. We heard Delta talking about unbundling First Class similar to Qatar & Co. Once that is in place – we will see more options. I usually don’t eat the provided food anymore. Most of it doesn’t have any nutritional value and/or is bad for my health.
@Asif – Muslim isn’t a race, it’s a belief system. “Racism” therefore isn’t applicable. The word you are looking for is bigotry, but I seriously doubt Gary intended his comments in such a manner. Also, AA SUCKS and fully deserves to be bashed.
“How does one report this Gary Leff for racism as well as incessant American Airlines bashing? Can you make such comments about any other group? It’s been pretty cool to talk trash about muslims recently I guess, just eye opening that the average person is so racist”
Uh, Gary is pretty clearly not “bashing” Muslims. He’s making a reference to the fact that Muslims are often the *targets* of bigotry.