Airplane snacks / food

prettyandfluffy

Exodi said:

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.

Stick an empty water bottle in the rucksack/bag you take as hand luggage and keep it there.  I may be (probably am) odd but I generally like airline food, and it's one less thing to plan ahead for.  When I've had a flight of short duration with no included catering I pack my own, usually something that's a bit of a treat like a bagel with smoked salmon and a bag of nuts and raisins.

Sovereign_Hunter_999

Crisps! cant go wrong

TheShape

Exodi said:

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.

As has been said previously, that isn't an economy class meal but I have personally been happy with every economy class meal I've had on the likes of BA, Cathay Pacific and Emirates.  

I had a meal in a short-haul business class seat for the first time yesterday. It was with KM Malta Air and was certainly a cut above an economy class meal in long-haul.

TELLIT01

Anybody who's main flights have been on European holiday packages will probably still be laughing at the photos of meals posted above.  Many of the offerings are really only identifiable by the name on the packaging.  Possibly a slight exaggeration, but not much.

Neil49

Just buy a meal deal from Boots (air side) for around £5. You get a sandwich, a snack and a drink. 

TheShape

TELLIT01 said:

Anybody who's main flights have been on European holiday packages will probably still be laughing at the photos of meals posted above.  Many of the offerings are really only identifiable by the name on the packaging.  Possibly a slight exaggeration, but not much.

I was clear to point out that Exodi's post and mine were not economy class offerings and indeed, on short haul economy flights you'll get nothing unless you purchase something.

Forgive me, I was also still enjoying the buzz of my first business-class (not long-haul business class) experience and at a cost of only £34 above the economy fare.

Personally, I usually partake of a Wetherspoons breakfast at the airport and a coffee and a Twix on the plane.

jimi_man

Without lounge access, Wetherspoons is fine, as is Wagamamas. But making sandwiches at home and taking them is also fine and a lot cheaper. We have lounge access and even if we travel in premium cabins - especially on short night flights - will often just eat in the lounge so we can go straight to sleep. 

We are travelling on Thursday to the US by way of three (business) flights so with all the lounges as well I'd imagine by the end of it we'll be thoroughly fed up with airline food!!!

cantbelieveit23

It would seem to me that the key issue is the length of the flight.  If you are flying short haul (which is probably the case as you mention the price of food), just adjust your meal times if necessary and avoid buying anything on the plane, or indeed airside at most airports.  To be honest, I have never found Economy food on long haul too bad, even if not as good as I might hope for: it's unlikely to be worse than something you might take with you.  Not meaning to be frivolous, but have a couple of drinks, and you might find the food more to your liking?  Food on a flight is never likely to be a highlight.
By the way if you are the well known Captain (Harry) Wales, they should be able to fix something decent for you up in 1st.
If you decide to take a picnic, take care not to take anything which might be against regs. to important in the arrival country (another benefit of Brexit)

Bigphil1474

I've flown long haul quite a lot over the last 10 years with my better half, and we always choose different options on the main meal just in case one is a bit duff. I'd say that 9 times out of 10 the food (in Economy) is absolutely fine.

I've not had a meal on short haul flights for years, just don't trust them. Around 20 years ago, as part of my job, I looked at the food and water safety of airplanes based at our local airport (which is all short haul flights). Really put me off. Pretty much like Ice Cream vans. Never drink anything that hasn't come out of a bottle or a can, and I wouldn't eat any airplane food on a short haul flight. 

Pollycat

As the OP gives no details of how long the flight is, who it is with or what type of things they like to eat, it's just a 'how long is a piece of string?' question.

If you are going to an EU destination, be aware that you are not allowed to take in any meat or dairy products - and that means the contents of your uneaten sandwich.

We take black and green olives, cornichons, pickled onions, Aldi thins (savoury biscuits) and spread cheese.
Our flights are usually short haul maximum of 4 hours.