A passenger shared that they were served their food first on a “long transcontinental” flight because they’d pre‑ordered a special meal. So they started eating when their tray arrived.
A stranger in the adjacent seat snapped at them – that it’s “rude and inconsiderate” to start eating before other passengers had their food, claiming this is a “basic rule” that everyone in the row must be served before anyone starts eating. And since they went ahead and ate before others got their food, they’d “ruined” the flight.
Special meals commonly go out before main service so crews can keep the meals straight. It makes it easier than having to dig for them on the cart (and have the cart stocked with them at the correct rows). But I have never, ever before seen a complaint like this one.
I haven’t located a single thread on Flyertalk or Reddit or even an individual tweet complaining that unrelated passengers should wait to eat their meals until everyone has been served. Now, there are social posts that actually do recommend this as airline etiquette, but that’s usually just the unsourced listicle / meme type stuff.
If you’re not a dining party with your seatmate, there’s no question, it’s fine to eat when you’re served. That said,
- Keep your seat upright during meal service. Other people are using their tray tables behind you.
- Don’t bring strong odor foods onboard.
Now, for a formal hosted meal, sure wait until everyone at your table is served unless the host invites you to start (especially for hot dishes). It’s often preferred to begin a hot course when it’s served if invited to, so it doesn’t get cold.
But onboard? And in coach! “It’s a survival meal. Eat when it arrives.” And, look, you’re seated at a (tray) table by yourself anyway. Besides, the rude thing isn’t eating when a flight attendant serves you, it’s addressing someone else’s manners.
Whoever complained needs to get a life or even better for this scenario, eat S@it and die…
People these days make efforts to make up problems that don’t exist
Oh my, oh my……not waiting until everyone on the row is served? How rude and inconsiderate (clutching pearls)….how uncouth….they should have gave him a parachute (or maybe not) and kicked him off the plane midflight!!
We should all be outraged, angry, hateful, and hostile in our reactions to this story.
Totally unrelated, but, I’m pleased to report that the ‘attention’ economy is doing well.
Smash that ‘like and subscribe!’
@Doug’s “eat S@it and die” comment is a perfect example. *chef’s kiss*
Are there more jerks than ever flying these days or do you do such a good job at “jerk patrol” that it now seems that only jerks are flying now?
@1990
I am not angry or hateful, just amused and was basically saying what I would have said to that passenger
Btw, your comments always have a tone that implies you think you are smarter or superior, it’s getting repetitive…you should discuss with your therapist
Not sure if you are trying still to get the acceptance of your father…
Too many Karens in this world. I would not care when my seatmate ate their meal and furthermore I wouldn’t look over to see had they ate their meal.
Who cares?
Gary…when you provide actual information about travel and points/miles/card offers, your site is very helpful.
This other stuff is so silly and unimportant.
It’s your site of course but, as a frequent “clicker” I thought I’d offer my thoughts
No, (Luke, Doug, 1990) I am your father….
Makes me hungry!
@Doug — “Good, good… let the hate flow through you…”
(Wait, is Darth Vader, Luke’s father? Woah. Spoiler.)
There did used to be a custom, at least in England where I grew up, that you should wait for everyone at your table to be served. . That would not apply to a row in an airplane where nobody is traveling together. It would be nice to wait until your whole group is served, or at least for your parents, if you are traveling with others who are in your row.
It’s only 9am and I am sufficiently outraged for the day. Thanks and see you tomorrow for my next dose.
another Trump voter grievance — therapy will help. When you’re eating in a cafeteria do you wait for everyone before you eat?
Responses such as @Doug and @1990 make this so much less enjoyable when reading the comments. Your vile responses are not always appropriate. Please remember this isn’t your personal chat room.
While the actual tips Gary provides are useful, this sort of thing is starting to outweigh the usefulness of the feed.
I wouldn’t wait if I was sitting next to my wife. I definitely don’t care what a rando thinks.
On a few occasions “I Ruined Christmas” because UPS failed to deliver packages on time for Christmas (as UPS schedules promised). Got those complaints in writing.
Another time UPS picked up 30 packages 12/23 that were supposed to be delivered 12/24 however they sat in the back of the truck unloaded until 12/26. When a customer called 12/24 complaining that his box “wasn’t moving”, I figured it out and contacted 30 people on Christmas Eve to let them know and made Gift Certificates most of the night. All were OK with it.
I’m a Type I Diabetic. I’ll eat when I want.
Life can be tough sometimes, no need to sweat the little things. Hope everyone has a nice start to the week!
Advise the passenger who is upset that they should have also pre-ordered a special meal so that everyone in the row could be served and dine together.
I would no more wait for the person next to me to be served than I would wait for the table next to me to be served were I in a restaurant alone at a table. I would have shot back, “Emily post’s rule for large groups: you may begin eating once two people are served to avoid food cooling excessively”. Or maybe, “Your hairdo is rude & inconsiderate”. Or ignore or say, “I disagree”.
@L737 — “Can’t argue with the little things, its the little things that make up life…” — Hank Scorpio.
Outrage Replaces Baseball as America’s Favorite Pastime
-Babylon Bee
GTFOH lol!
If 13B says that to 13A (or vice versa), and I was in 13C and heard it, I’d feel free to pipe up and say it was OK with me. If Karen pushes back, I’d suggest we poll those seated near us. If you’re going to dispense “basic rule” advice, I’m glad to help you learn it isn’t a basic rule or at least commonly embraced.
Reading this article just ruined my flight.
“aww, sorry, not sorry. you should have pre-ordered too.. not my fault you aren’t up to speed. Besides, first come, first served, you are not family or friends.. you don;’t count. you know the I in DEI that the prez hates? inclusivity? well there you are , excluded.
He should have broken wind in response, aimed in his direction.
The STUPID quotient continues to outpace all descriptors of f’ed up human behavior. Arrrggghhh.
Ah yes, another made up Reddit story to kick off the week.
As we all know, the proper etiquette is obviously to wait until everyone on the plane has their food and the flight attendants and pilots can enjoy their dinners. And ideally an extra 10 minutes after that just in case they missed someone.
Doug: Pipe down, Salieri.
“People these days make efforts to make up problems that don’t exist” Which is EXACTLY what you’re doing.
@Dan the man!! Time for three bean burritos with FIRE sauce. Let’s go!!
In France, one is expected to start eating when served. In my experience waiting is strictly an American ritual.
So what if somebody in the aisle didn’t order food at all does that mean nobody gets to eat?
Hey those are my air molecules stop breathing them in. those are from me and me only.
Derek mcgillicuddy Clearly a libtard reaction just like you who feels it is necessary to bring politics here
@Doug if on a Delta flight, you should also check if Tim has had his dinner at home before you begin your meal. That’s just human decency.
@Jim Mesthene — Zut alors! Here, we call them ‘freedom’ fries.
Well! Where was the mortified adjudicator.seated? The vocal, offended passenger was likely breaking the rules of etiquette, which requires diners to converse with fellow diners to the right during the first course! For shame!
@ Doug. He’s just upset that you were able to make the first comment and beat him by 7 minutes. Next time throw in a movie quote…