Airplane snacks / food

CaptainWales

I have never been a fan of airplane food - the quality nor the price. Anybody got any good tips or suggestions what to take? 

comeandgo

Surely you would take what you like to eat, I could suggest items you loathe.  If you are having to pay for food then I’m assuming it’s not long haul flight, so sandwiches or wraps.

la531983

Yes. Either eat before you get on or when you get to your destination.

The last time I came back from Vegas I went for a breakfast buffet and then went in the paid lounge at the airport, and ate absolutely nothing on the plane because its usually terrible.

Emmia

And you should avoid contravening any phyto sanitary rules or liquids restrictions...

Exodi

I brought a load of baguettes from Greggs in my carry on luggage and had no issue taking them through security, much cheaper than paying £6 for one from Pret or whatever. Just take whatever you like.

Obviously there are restrictions on liquids so you're somewhat forced to pay £3 for a bottle of water from WHSmith if you get thirsty.

DullGreyGuy

CaptainWales said:

I have never been a fan of airplane food - the quality nor the price. Anybody got any good tips or suggestions what to take? 

Remember that being in the dry low pressure environment of a plane you lose a significant proportion of your sense of taste and smell and so what you like on the ground doesnt necessarily equate to what you like in the air. 

Your second issue will be what you can get through security else you are limited to what you can buy airside. 

Things also depend on who your travel with and how, there is no "price" on most flag carriers, especially on long haul flights, and higher class cabins tend to have better food. Still won't compare to a top meal on the ground but it's materially better than the curled sandwich sold on Ryan Air. 

The other option is to eat before getting on the plane and plan to eat again once you're off the plane and just avoid the issues of taste on a flight

prettyandfluffy

Exodi said:

I brought a load of baguettes from Greggs in my carry on luggage and had no issue taking them through security, much cheaper than paying £6 for one from Pret or whatever. Just take whatever you like.

Obviously there are restrictions on liquids so you're somewhat forced to pay £3 for a bottle of water from WHSmith if you get thirsty.

Take an empty water bottle and fill it from the free water points after security.

Exodi

DullGreyGuy said:

CaptainWales said:

I have never been a fan of airplane food - the quality nor the price. Anybody got any good tips or suggestions what to take? 

Remember that being in the dry low pressure environment of a plane you lose a significant proportion of your sense of taste and smell and so what you like on the ground doesnt necessarily equate to what you like in the air. 

I'd piggyback off this by adding that while there is an old stereotype that plane food is rubbish, I refute that it's still the case today.

Every meal I've had on a plane for at least the last decade I've been impressed by.

One variable to this that I accept is it depends on the persons fussiness. Here's a picture of the meal on one of the last flights I went on...



I don't think you could throw that into the 'airplane food = bad' camp. While I loved it, my sister was mortified at the 'rabbit food' they were serving us and was disappointed they didn't offer chips!

If you are someone like my sister that deems chips, biscuits and crisps as 'real food' then absolutely bring your own food.

prettyandfluffy said:

Exodi said:

I brought a load of baguettes from Greggs in my carry on luggage and had no issue taking them through security, much cheaper than paying £6 for one from Pret or whatever. Just take whatever you like.

Obviously there are restrictions on liquids so you're somewhat forced to pay £3 for a bottle of water from WHSmith if you get thirsty.

Take an empty water bottle and fill it from the free water points after security.

You're totally right, why do I never remember to do this.

born_again

Depends on what class you are flying in. Pay more for better class & the food is a lot better.. But is better food worth the extra cost.

Exodi

born_again said:

Depends on what class you are flying in. Pay more for better class & the food is a lot better.. But is better food worth the extra cost.

Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the food in economy class, but to the point I was making, I certainly wouldn't describe it as bad, quite the opposite. Oftentimes my only frustration is it seems they put the butter in the freezer so it's nearly always impossible to spread unless you warm it up.

Brie

@Exodi
You were obviously on a quality seat flight!  I'm usually thankful if I can get a almost ok tea in a cheap takeaway cup.  Recently I was in a premium seat and the food was served on china and the cutlery wasn't plastic (eco disaster) or bamboo (horrid to use).  But still a good portion of the food was barely edible.  Thankfully like others we'd splurged on the lounge before hand.  And the airline had a "snack wall" where you could help yourself to packs of dried fruit, crisps etc as well as help yourself to juice and water whenever you fancied it.  

As for the OP when on a flight where I truly know in advance the food won't be grand I pack a chicken sandwich or a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel.  Or even buy something from M&S before I go through security.  Usually it's nicer.  There was one airport overseas that I've flown through regularly for the last 20 years and there was a chicken restaurant just outside of security (no, not KFC).  I had learned that the restaurant beyond security were almost as bad as eating on the plane as well as being stupidly expensive so would stop and get a "double leg dinner" eat the chips and and the legs which would leave me with at least one thigh to make a sandwich with the bun they also served.  Wrapped up that was a nice treat on board.  

And I do suggest that if you do want a hot drink don't have the coffee unless you're in first class.  It normally tastes well stewed to me which is why I go for the tea option.  A bad cup of coffee is much much worse than a not grand cuppa.