Airplane snacks / food

Glad

We get a meal deal from Boots or WHSmith before we board

Pollycat

J_B said:

Pollycat said:

Bennifred1 said:

Never drink tea/coffee  on flights - the water to make them comes from improperly cleaned storage tanks.  Only drink from unopened bottles/cans if you want to remain healthy. Wipe the outside with an antiseptic wipe first! 

Is that all airlines?

How do you know this?

It was on TocYTic - didn't you see it?

No.
I didn't see it. 

Did you see it? 
And believe it? 
🤔😂

jimi_man

Bigphil1474 said:

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. 

What exactly is the difference between long haul and short haul food? BA for example, use Do & Co for their food supplier (from LHR) for both long and short haul and it’s essentially the same food, in the same container and stored in the same manner. Long haul they’ll use local caterers on the return but with short haul generally catering is loaded in London for both the outbound and the return. 

If you’ve found those issues on a short haul flight then I’d imagine the same applies on a long haul flight, especially those coming out of India. However it doesn’t seem to present a problem for most people (and the food coming out of India is very good). 

Helpfulideas

I have allergies so always take a sandwich, chocolate and some grapes. Don't forget to fill a drinks bottle up with water for free at the airport too. 

Sarahspangles

I haven’t flown for a few months, but when I’ve compared costs in airports, Boots are a good choice for water and meal deals as they don’t increase their prices ‘airside’ - unlike WHSmith.

I would only eat a meal onboard if I would be missing one otherwise, usually I juggle mealtimes with the aim of eating something light on departure and my main meal after arrival.

DullGreyGuy

jimi_man said:

Bigphil1474 said:

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. 

What exactly is the difference between long haul and short haul food? BA for example, use Do & Co for their food supplier (from LHR) for both long and short haul and it’s essentially the same food, in the same container and stored in the same manner. Long haul they’ll use local caterers on the return but with short haul generally catering is loaded in London for both the outbound and the return. 

EuroTraveler is just sandwiches and snacks, Long haul is a hot meal.

Interestingly the BA site states that First is made from "finest British ingredients", would imply they are taking their food both ways rather than loading up locally for the return long haul.

jimi_man

DullGreyGuy said:

jimi_man said:

Bigphil1474 said:

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. 

What exactly is the difference between long haul and short haul food? BA for example, use Do & Co for their food supplier (from LHR) for both long and short haul and it’s essentially the same food, in the same container and stored in the same manner. Long haul they’ll use local caterers on the return but with short haul generally catering is loaded in London for both the outbound and the return. 

EuroTraveler is just sandwiches and snacks, Long haul is a hot meal.

Interestingly the BA site states that First is made from "finest British ingredients", would imply they are taking their food both ways rather than loading up locally for the return long haul.

Not quite. Euroflyer don’t use Do & Co as they don’t fly from LHR but are based at LGW and I think Gatwick use Newrest. And Eurotraveler do provide meals in Club. They only provide sandwiches and snacks in ET if you pay for them. 

No, First food is loaded for that flight only, so local catering applies. I think there is one exception which is somewhere in Africa where it’s round tripped (for all classes, not just First) - presumably because the local catering isn’t good enough. 

ThorOdinson

I fly long haul to get away from British food... only Pret seems to do half decent sandwiches. Actually M&S aren't bad, if they have one. 

We seriously lack decent on the go food in the UK.

DullGreyGuy

jimi_man said:

DullGreyGuy said:

jimi_man said:

Bigphil1474 said:

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. 

What exactly is the difference between long haul and short haul food? BA for example, use Do & Co for their food supplier (from LHR) for both long and short haul and it’s essentially the same food, in the same container and stored in the same manner. Long haul they’ll use local caterers on the return but with short haul generally catering is loaded in London for both the outbound and the return. 

EuroTraveler is just sandwiches and snacks, Long haul is a hot meal.

Interestingly the BA site states that First is made from "finest British ingredients", would imply they are taking their food both ways rather than loading up locally for the return long haul.

Not quite. Euroflyer don’t use Do & Co as they don’t fly from LHR but are based at LGW and I think Gatwick use Newrest. And Eurotraveler do provide meals in Club. They only provide sandwiches and snacks in ET if you pay for them. 

No, First food is loaded for that flight only, so local catering applies. I think there is one exception which is somewhere in Africa where it’s round tripped (for all classes, not just First) - presumably because the local catering isn’t good enough. 

https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/food-and-drink

Take it up with BA as it's what they are stating on their website.  "Club" would be Club Europe, EuroTraveller is the economy version, but yes business/club do get meals but economy dont. The above is also where it states that first meals are made with quality British ingredients so would be questionable how they are getting those ingredients to overseas kitchens to cook. 

jimi_man

Apologies, a typo made it more difficult to understand! ‘Eurotraveller do provide meals in Club’ should read ‘Euroflyer do provide meals in Club…. And then sandwiches and snacks in ET if you pay for them’. 

Hopefully that makes more sense. 

I don’t use Gatwick a lot and the last time we were in CE, but the food was very good, despite not being Do & Co. It’s improved a lot from a few years ago when I think it was Gate Gourmet who weren’t great.

in relation to the First food it does say ‘features signature dishes made with quality British ingredients’ which is very subjective. It doesn’t say that they are all made in Britain’. Artistic licence!

I’m only going on what Mrs jimi tells me (her day job till recently) and apparently it’s only short haul that’s round trip catered. (Odd exception aside).