What Airline Has The Best In-Flight Food?
What Airline Has The Best In-Flight Food?
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Colorado, USA
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Isn't this more of a question of which airport catering group is the best? I have only seen Sky Chefs at Denver Int'l. Granted, I usually only fly United so I don't know if there are other catering groups who service the other airlines. Is it the norm to have multiple catering groups servicing an airport?
Now back to the question. Meal service, when it is offered, stinks on United, even in First Class. Combine that with me being a vegetarian, and I generally find it's best to BYOF.
That being said, I have had the best meals on international flights out of Denver. Mexicana had a great vegetarian meal in First and Lufthansa also was pretty tasty in business. But these are both gimmes because of the class of service.
SLF
Now back to the question. Meal service, when it is offered, stinks on United, even in First Class. Combine that with me being a vegetarian, and I generally find it's best to BYOF.
That being said, I have had the best meals on international flights out of Denver. Mexicana had a great vegetarian meal in First and Lufthansa also was pretty tasty in business. But these are both gimmes because of the class of service.
SLF
Paxing All Over The World
Well, it ain't Lufthansa! Mainstream food in Eco and Biz leaves a lot to be desired. No attempt at considering the palate of non-German taste buds!
For 18 months, I was working in Munich and used LH a great deal. On one occasion, the chap next to me had requested a veg meal and the crew did not have it. They plonked a regular heaped plate of meat in front of him and were surprised when he protested loudly and was very upset that they should have placed it in front of him. The CC really had no idea why he was upset. The Germans find vegetarianism a curiosity.
I have done long haul with LH in both Y and C - makes no diff to the food, perhaps one has to be in F for that.
For 18 months, I was working in Munich and used LH a great deal. On one occasion, the chap next to me had requested a veg meal and the crew did not have it. They plonked a regular heaped plate of meat in front of him and were surprised when he protested loudly and was very upset that they should have placed it in front of him. The CC really had no idea why he was upset. The Germans find vegetarianism a curiosity.
I have done long haul with LH in both Y and C - makes no diff to the food, perhaps one has to be in F for that.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: STN and HPN
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SLF: Also being a vegetarian I have experimented with different meals. I've done the vegetarian, vegan and fruit meal; but have found the best meal to be Asian Vegetarian meal (AVML). Maybe it's just my like of curry, but this always seems to be the best veggie option for me. Try it!
Join Date: Jul 2001
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DB
Do nott experiement with AVML and hope to get lucky if you ever fly SQ or other far east carriers.. AVML as per officialdom is "Vegetarain Meal Asian Style" and atleast as per SQ, "Asia" has a lot besides India. SQ was having a big problems with lots of complaints from South Indian passengers headed for long haul US (SFO/LAX) who found they had to sit through a 14 hour flight unable to eat anything as SQs definition of "Asian Style" was Oriental rather than Indian. To SQs credit they got around the problem by modifying a SPML code. And making all the travel agents aware of the same! Good example of the extent to which an airline which cares for its passengers will go to satisfy their requirements!
(By the way I have never flown in SQ, but I worked in travel industry in India when they implemented this and ws naturally very impressed).
My favorite meal - SFML (Sea Food Meal) in MH.
Worst - Vegetarain Breakfast in Indian Airlines (although they have improved since then),
Cheers
Do nott experiement with AVML and hope to get lucky if you ever fly SQ or other far east carriers.. AVML as per officialdom is "Vegetarain Meal Asian Style" and atleast as per SQ, "Asia" has a lot besides India. SQ was having a big problems with lots of complaints from South Indian passengers headed for long haul US (SFO/LAX) who found they had to sit through a 14 hour flight unable to eat anything as SQs definition of "Asian Style" was Oriental rather than Indian. To SQs credit they got around the problem by modifying a SPML code. And making all the travel agents aware of the same! Good example of the extent to which an airline which cares for its passengers will go to satisfy their requirements!
(By the way I have never flown in SQ, but I worked in travel industry in India when they implemented this and ws naturally very impressed).
My favorite meal - SFML (Sea Food Meal) in MH.
Worst - Vegetarain Breakfast in Indian Airlines (although they have improved since then),
Cheers
Business Class Transatlantic. Hard to choose westbound between BA and AA, while in economy, BA win. Eastbound, in Business Class, BA have bacon butties for breakfast!!!!! (or did DFW - LGW the other week) That's a winner.
Business class in Europe: I prefer BA to Finnair or SAS.
Business class in Europe: I prefer BA to Finnair or SAS.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Best I've had was on Cathay, except on one occasion they let themselves down on a longhaul to Vancouver from HK and all we got was the instant noodles in a cup/just add water. But besides that episode they are my favourite.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: N Yorkshire, UK
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All Business Class
bmi (UK) - used to be OK but now YUK;
LH (Europe) - fair
LH (Africa) - APPALLING and in both cases they can't make TEA
EK (to UK) Good and yes they can make Tea;
bmi (UK) - used to be OK but now YUK;
LH (Europe) - fair
LH (Africa) - APPALLING and in both cases they can't make TEA
EK (to UK) Good and yes they can make Tea;
mostly harmless
Among Yoorpean airlines, it has to be AF Business class longhaul. No doubt.
CX, Thai, Singapore, M-Rats all are very good. Can't really rank them.
any USA airline. Forget it. But CC cheerfulness makes up for
food quality.
Many developing country airlines serve pretty good food.
BA longhaul gives probably the healthiest option; shorthaul allday breakfast probably the least healthy. But why?
answer=42
CX, Thai, Singapore, M-Rats all are very good. Can't really rank them.
any USA airline. Forget it. But CC cheerfulness makes up for
food quality. Many developing country airlines serve pretty good food.
BA longhaul gives probably the healthiest option; shorthaul allday breakfast probably the least healthy. But why?
answer=42
Grim Sleeper
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK
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Once i got bumped up to Business Class on Swissair (RIP). The meal was so classy i didn't know what it was or how to eat it, so i just ate the lot in stages.
Eventually someone nearby pointed out that the chewy bits I'd eaten were actually plate decorations made of wax.
Eventually someone nearby pointed out that the chewy bits I'd eaten were actually plate decorations made of wax.
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Scotland
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Executive first on Air Canada would get my vote for best food & service based on a recent experience. (June03 YYZ/LHR)
-Business Class in Lauda Air an AC * partner is also very good. (Dec 00 MEL/VIE)
-Business Class in Lauda Air an AC * partner is also very good. (Dec 00 MEL/VIE)
Paxing All Over The World
Slim 20: Did you select your PPRuNe name after: "Eventually someone nearby pointed out that the chewy bits I'd eaten were actually plate decorations made of wax."??? Just wondering on the (ahem!) effect that would have had. No - don't tell us.
I agree, Swiss were fabbo. I did a short project in Geneva ans was on SR a number of times in biz, when they were introducing their organic meals - 1997, I think. All round the SR experience was tops.
I agree, Swiss were fabbo. I did a short project in Geneva ans was on SR a number of times in biz, when they were introducing their organic meals - 1997, I think. All round the SR experience was tops.
Paxing All Over The World
Sadly, No. I had been planning to use the SR mileage that I accrued from GVA to make an upgrade on one of my trips to JNB but times and base price for the upgradeable economy ticket - did not work out.
So I used mileage from LH and rode them down to JNB in Biz and it was nothing special. OK but not special. Then Swiss closed. What's the new Swiss like??
So I used mileage from LH and rode them down to JNB in Biz and it was nothing special. OK but not special. Then Swiss closed. What's the new Swiss like??
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: London & Edinburgh
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BA in Europe win any day .... BA Buisness win back from Asia (especially from BOM). In Economy, EK wins everytime. (I've not flown with many airlines). Worst on all counts is AF.
Jordan
Jordan
Paxing All Over The World
BAe 146-100: No. I had expected that routing when I started the booking but it was November 2001 and LH (along with everyone else) was pulling North Atlantic routes.
They started running 340s from MUC on a number of long hauls and, by chance, I was on the inaugural flight MUC~JNB. The cabin was fine but not up to BA biz standards by any means. The food was average (just to get back on thread!) but the cabin service was of a very high standard indeed.
On the southbound, departing over the Alps in the early evening, with a setting sun was very beautiful.
I believe that the MUC originated routes have proved very successful for LH and the need to redeploy a/c post 9/11 has worked out and been a large element in developing MUC from just a regional hub with a few medium hauls to a full scale hub.
As I earnt all the LH mileage toodling in and out of MUC for 18 months, it was inevitable that I would have to go back through there to use them!
They started running 340s from MUC on a number of long hauls and, by chance, I was on the inaugural flight MUC~JNB. The cabin was fine but not up to BA biz standards by any means. The food was average (just to get back on thread!) but the cabin service was of a very high standard indeed.
On the southbound, departing over the Alps in the early evening, with a setting sun was very beautiful.
I believe that the MUC originated routes have proved very successful for LH and the need to redeploy a/c post 9/11 has worked out and been a large element in developing MUC from just a regional hub with a few medium hauls to a full scale hub.
As I earnt all the LH mileage toodling in and out of MUC for 18 months, it was inevitable that I would have to go back through there to use them!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Leics, UK
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Hi
Just come back from a charter flight with Air 2000, and they definately dont have good meals - dont know who their catering company is. All they provided on the way was some pasta sludge and a roll with a drink, and on the way back was beef stew. No starter type thing or pudding
With a charter flight on Monarch last year I went on, they provided a nicer hot meal, starter and dessert, and a roll and drink. Much better service.
I think the catering service for Monarch etc has the best food out of the UK charter airlines.
Tim
Just come back from a charter flight with Air 2000, and they definately dont have good meals - dont know who their catering company is. All they provided on the way was some pasta sludge and a roll with a drink, and on the way back was beef stew. No starter type thing or pudding
With a charter flight on Monarch last year I went on, they provided a nicer hot meal, starter and dessert, and a roll and drink. Much better service.
I think the catering service for Monarch etc has the best food out of the UK charter airlines.
Tim