Have you ever noticed that airplane food tastes like crap?
Like honestly, you're paying close to a thousand dollars to see your relatives in Russia, and all they can give you is meat that looks like cardboard and a bag of peanuts? Imagine how you'll feel at the end of that trip.
My initial thought was airplane food is so crappy because good food is difficult to heat up when you're on a plane serving tons of people. This aligns airplane food with school food on the list of crappiest meals of all time.
I was, however, talking to a friend recently, and he got upgraded to business class on a flight to Korea.
What this meant was having his seat go all the way back, getting a three-course meal (and a sundae!), and sporting a free pair of slippers.
Let's focus in on the meal. His meal was delicious!
It's just the economy class that gets left out! I understand that it takes a great deal of money to fuel the plane, but I think for that kind of money, you could include some decent pasta on the menu, or bread that doesn't have that sickly crumby texture.
What do you think -- why does airplane food taste like crap? Have you ever been on a flight with good food? Which airline was it?
Comments (61)
I wish airplanes had better food. United has absolutely gross meals. I don't suggest their turkey dinner.
I like airplane food. People think I'm insane for it, but I do hahaha. Mostly their muffins and cake and such. Continental has the best muffins :]
This summer, I flew to Germany via Luftansa (I have no idea if that's how you spell it) and the food was so good! I usually hate airline food, but theirs was great. I can't remember what the meal was, just that it was outstanding.
I think most airline food isn't great quality because they're making it for so many people at once. Usually when things are being cooked in bulk like airline food, cafeterias, etc, they just don't taste as good.
When I flew to Thailand, I actually had good airplane food. I went with Korea air and their Korean food option was actually quite delicious. But for the most part, airplane food does suck.
Airline food does suck, sometimes it has been known when we have booked the holidays we have to pay extra for the meal, we opt out of this and use the money to have something to eat at the airport.
Like my parents say it something to keep us going for a few hours until the next meal.
sometimes i hate it, and sometimes it's really good.
Business Class food is definitely a lot better than economy class. When I flew Austrian Airline, they have a chef on board, and we ordered breakfast the way we want it. That was surely nice! Singapore airline and Cathy Pacific business class are delicious. The worst airline food I have are from any airlines from China (China Eastern, Air China, China Air, China Southern). They are surely gross. I love Chinese food, but those airline food are just horrible.
1. Every airline provides different food, but it seems international airlines provide better than American ones. I went on ANA and they gave a nice seafood meal, with sundae, a cookie, and all you can drink wine and beer. I went on Hawaiian Airlines (small airline) to Las Vegas and they gave me some pasta that tasted like it came out of the frozen food section.
2. 1st class gets better food? Maybe. How much better you can't say though -- for all we know, coach was served the same food on Korean airlines when you're friend went.
3. The cheaper the ticket, the cheaper the food. Ryan Air in Europe provides ridiculously cheap airfare and part of the reason is to make food a separate purchase while on board. It makes sense because otherwise, food is overhead and all passengers share in the purchase, refrigeration, as well as wasted food expenses.
I think airline food tastes okay. It is almost just like the food from the cafeteria at school.
Maybe because I eat at school so much, I have fewer taste buds than non-students...
i think i have low standards or something, i usually never have a complaint with airline food, even when flying economy (my family usually flies first class nowadays). i actually miss the cafeteria food from my hs, and most of my classmates said it was bad
Flew USAir to England and Spain, and the food sucked.
Then this past summer I went back to England on Delta. So much better, it was amazing! Then again, Delta was better in just about every category...
I am apparently insane. I don't hate either school lunch food nor airline food. the reasons are sometimes because it doesn't actually suck (entirely) but most often it is from a sense of gratitude...I'm simply happy to milk what good there is to be found in the offering. I like making pig-in-a-blanket which is admittedly fun only for the beginning schoolers which I have none to care for so i'm insane again. airline food in the two times I've had any is limp largely due to having to be held at tempature far too long...but sometimes...sometimes its actually pleasing to look at and by far- this is the thing most people like about food. sometimes its just the joke on you- sometimes its knowing I need to eat something and the joke's on me that this is all there is....I don't reccomend trying to drink your dinner (the adult beverage kind) on a plane....you will pay dearly for trying.
same reason why frozen dinners taste like crap!
singapore airlines has good food, great service, actual legroom and pretty flight attendants. i think the level in which you reserve the seat (business, economy, first class) has a lot to do with what kind of food you get and how you get it but i never complained about singapore airlines food. it was decent.
maybe there will be a kitchen if future airplanes are big enough hence good, heated, fresh or on the spot food.
I love Singapore Air. The food, the service....but I do find that US airlines royally suck compared to international airline companies. They're just cutting corners as usual, doesn't surprise me.
i like airplane food!
Sometimes it's not that the food itself is so bad, but that someone did a crappy job of heating it up. For instance: On one flight, I was served this little sandwich made on a bun, with a slice of turkey (not lunchmeat) and some pesto sauce. First bite: Yum! Second bite: ICE. They DIDN'T HEAT THE SANDWICH ALL THE WAY THROUGH. No joke, the turkey in the middle was ice. Sick.
I think airplane food quality is getting better now. If you take longer flights, they usually serve better food. : P
The best airplane food I had was when I was flying Air France from Los Angeles to Florence, Italy. They had a couple of different options and I picked veal. I was in the economy seats and the veal was actually pretty good. Some of you probably cringe from the thought of veal, but I'm still going to say it was good.
AirFrance had OK food. Like, the main part of it was good.
But the other stuff they give you... like their bread was impossible to bite. The dessert was atrocious.
The most absolutely repulsive thing I had was this like... salsa cake they handed out for breakfast. I really wanted to throw up. But my dad liked it? God, it was awful.
But their chicken was good. Their ravioli was good.
The side dishes were not.
And the breads were not.
I figure it's because they have to find a way to preserve shit...
Oooh, and one time, Lufthansa gave us Toblerone with our breakfast.
That made my life.
I don't remember what their main was like, though.
Air Transat is the worst--they once served me two slices of bread with a slice of processed cheese--not even warmed up--I kid you not.
My best experience is with Cathay Pacific on their Vancouver-JFK route--it's actually a stop over from Hong Kong so it's a nice big jumbo jet with personal tvs/consoles and in economy class you are served a choice of hot meals, and alcoholic drinks like wine or Heinneken are included.
@lilacros3s@xanga - I've flown Singapore before too--it was great! =)
i know huh...im glad somebody agrees as well.
Never had any airline food that could be considered bad. As with all previous comments - international airlines provide superior food quality. My favourites:
Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific and British airways. When flying an American airline then the only choice is Continental with the added advantage that their service is exceptional in all other categories.
for whatever reason do not fly china air. they suck and personally i think their cursed cause every 4 years *whistles* the plane goes down or makes an emergency landing. one time i flew china and there was absolutely no legroom whatsoever, food sucked, service was bad and mean rude flight attendants that werent even that pretty. i want my money back. especially when you have to fly long hours cramped up in coach or economy