Hot market: Airline food??

[domustachesgrowinhouston]

I took a flight from Houston to DC last week.  It was a 3 hour flight so no meal service.  But they announced they would be selling meals to those that wanted them.  I though, "yeah right, who's gonna buy that?"  But there was a whole lot of people buying food.  Somewhere along the line we went from, "airline food sucks" to "gotta have that, where's my credit card?" and I missed it.  It seemed kinda surreal - ITS A 3 HOUR FLIGHT!  It kinda reminded me of the old days where as soon as the little no-smoking light went off, every single smoker whipped out their cigs and started chain smoking. Maybe its a psychological thing?

[Clever Name]

To be fair, if you were flying out of Houston a large percentage of people on the plane were probably on the second or third leg of a longer journey (Houston is a hub), and they might not have had enough time in between flights to eat in the airport.

[domustachesgrowinhouston]

To be fair, if you were flying out of Houston a large percentage of people on the plane were probably on the second or third leg of a longer journey (Houston is a hub), and they might not have had enough time in between flights to eat in the airport.

That would make sense.  It doesn't really matter to me either way, it just seemed weird.  On another flight, Houston to Denver, we were really delayed about 3 hours and they announced that they wouldn't be charging to watch their programming for that flight.  That also seemed strange to me that people would pay for TV on a relatively short flight, but I suppose there will be.

Another strange one is the bag thing.  The airline I usually fly charges for checked bags.  So everyone typically crams their stuff in their large carry-ons to avoid the charge.  But then it seems like every flight they say they have a full flight, won't have room in the bins, and will courtesy check carry-on bags for free.

[Gimesalot]

On my 3 hour flight from New Orleans to LA, I brought a ton of food and snacks with us.  The entire point was to avoid buying overpriced airport or plane food for 9 hours.  People looked at us like we were crazy.  It was "normal" snack food, beef jerky, chips and guacamole, raisins, etc.  People kept whispering to each other and pointing at my husband and me. 

[10dollarsatatime]

Another strange one is the bag thing.  The airline I usually fly charges for checked bags.  So everyone typically crams their stuff in their large carry-ons to avoid the charge.  But then it seems like every flight they say they have a full flight, won't have room in the bins, and will courtesy check carry-on bags for free.

I went on tour as the Lighting Designer last year, and I would bank on the free checked carry on.  It didn't pay as well as some of my other gigs, and if I didn't have to pay to check the bag, that was more money in my savings.  If the flight wasn't full, then there was plenty of room for my bag.  I considered it a win win.  (I also traveled light.)  I would also usually be able to save 90% of my per diem by finding a grocery store and picking up some bread, pb, and fruit.  Between that and hospitality services, I did ok.

[JoJo]

On my 3 hour flight from New Orleans to LA, I brought a ton of food and snacks with us.  The entire point was to avoid buying overpriced airport or plane food for 9 hours.  People looked at us like we were crazy.  It was "normal" snack food, beef jerky, chips and guacamole, raisins, etc.  People kept whispering to each other and pointing at my husband and me.

Because of you, the airlines are all going to go movie theater on our a55es... no outside food & drinks.

:)

I never buy food on the airplanes.  I usually try to bring food and eat it in the airport as opposed to the plane.  Nobody probably wants to smell my hard boiled eggs on the plane.

[Eric]

On my 3 hour flight from New Orleans to LA, I brought a ton of food and snacks with us.  The entire point was to avoid buying overpriced airport or plane food for 9 hours.  People looked at us like we were crazy.  It was "normal" snack food, beef jerky, chips and guacamole, raisins, etc.  People kept whispering to each other and pointing at my husband and me.

I always do this too.  Carrot sticks, granola bars, apples, almonds, and other filling food.  I doubt the people looking at you thought you were crazy at all.  I don't see how bringing food places would ever get a "you're crazy" response.  We live in the age of dietary restrictions.  They probably thought your guac looked good and were jealous.

[domustachesgrowinhouston]

They probably thought your guac looked good and were jealous.

Ha!  No doubt.  I remember eyeballing one guy's subway sandwich that he brought on the plane.

[DSA]

On my 3 hour flight from New Orleans to LA, I brought a ton of food and snacks with us.  The entire point was to avoid buying overpriced airport or plane food for 9 hours.  People looked at us like we were crazy.  It was "normal" snack food, beef jerky, chips and guacamole, raisins, etc.  People kept whispering to each other and pointing at my husband and me.

Because of you, the airlines are all going to go movie theater on our a55es... no outside food & drinks.

Haha, I was thinking the same thing!

I never get on an airplane without a baggie of almonds and Craisins. Almonds are a great appetite suppressant, so not only do you end up not overspending on in-flight food, you're less prone to needing to use the cramped lavatories!

[sol]

I think people are more likely to indulge in an $8 bag of airline chips after spending $300 on the seat.  Like if you're already spending hundreds of dollars to generate thousands of pounds of CO2 while sitting on your ass, what's another few bucks?  You've already decided that you're going to be fat and poor and environmentally destructive, so why not really enjoy yourself?

[Eggman111]

Another strange one is the bag thing.  The airline I usually fly charges for checked bags.  So everyone typically crams their stuff in their large carry-ons to avoid the charge.  But then it seems like every flight they say they have a full flight, won't have room in the bins, and will courtesy check carry-on bags for free.

One reason airlines charge for checked bags is to reduce the number, which then means they have to hire fewer baggage handlers. It reduces the usage of the airport system. It's quick and easy for them to throw a couple bags underneath if the carry on bins are full. The crew needs someone to do that anyway, since they hop quickly from airplane to airplane.

[Beric01]

I pack a lunch/dinner when I take flights (when for personal travel, not business). I'm not paying $10 for a sandwich in the airport, let alone on the plane.

I can't believe the amount of people who will pay for overpriced food.

[frugalecon]

Taking one's own food can go too far. On a Hong Kong to Chicago flight, I was seated between two sisters who had a giant Tupperware container of shrimp and rice. They passed it back and forth through me, both early in the flight and again about 10 hours in. It was pretty odiferous by then.

[chicagomeg]

Airport and airplane food sucks, except the Rick Bayless sandwich shop at O'Hare. I'll starve for several hours to take advantage of that place!

[Beric01]

Taking one's own food can go too far. On a Hong Kong to Chicago flight, I was seated between two sisters who had a giant Tupperware container of shrimp and rice. They passed it back and forth through me, both early in the flight and again about 10 hours in. It was pretty odiferous by then.

That's not considerate at all!

I pack a sandwich and a banana for minimal smell.

[beltim]

I think people are more likely to indulge in an $8 bag of airline chips after spending $300 on the seat.  Like if you're already spending hundreds of dollars to generate thousands of pounds of CO2 while sitting on your ass, what's another few bucks?  You've already decided that you're going to be fat and poor and environmentally destructive, so why not really enjoy yourself?

I can't tell how serious this is.  Are all people who buy airplane food fat and poor?  Are there faster, perhaps human powered ways of traveling a few thousand miles?  Is all airplane travel wrong because of CO₂ emissions?

Or is this obviously satire, since there are no bags of chips that cost $8 on an airplane?

[Seppie]

Yup, this. I usually do carry some almonds or other small items with me, but often my flights are scheduled in such a way that I have no choice but to eat on the plane. And I'm not paying for the food myself, since I'm traveling for business. Not that this is a reason to waste money, but a meal on the plane is usually as cheap or cheaper than one at the airport. I could pack a full meal (in fact, when I'm flying to a food desert, I sometimes try to pack food for the whole trip) but usually I choose not to do so, and I still end up making money on my per diem

To be fair, if you were flying out of Houston a large percentage of people on the plane were probably on the second or third leg of a longer journey (Houston is a hub), and they might not have had enough time in between flights to eat in the airport.