It's funny this news just came out, because I've been looking for decent fares from London to DC, and United has had most of them. Luckily my aversion to United has meant I've put off purchasing anything, and now BA (and Virgin will likely follow) is having a fare sale. yay!
You raise an interesting point about the food. See, the smell of airline food makes me sick. I feel nauseated and I haven't eaten anything supplied by an airline in years. Sometimes I bring food from home, sometimes I eat lots and lots of peanuts to help absorb the alcohol.
But I prefer to just go hungry for those 10 hours, because the smell of planes is so nauseating to me. I thought that getting rid of airline food would make it better, but then there is your point about the chinese and the McD's and everything else. What the hell will that be like on the plane? Dear god.
I've been on the plane when people nearby have had McDonalds with them, and the smell lingered for ages, hence my worry there. I can sympathize with the smell of the cooking airplane food, though, as I can't say it always smells appetizing, even to someone who eats it. I'm just cringing at the idea of the fast food smells + the gourmets (one commenter mentioned how much they just love bringing olives, old cheeses, pates, crackers, and other similar items to make a nice picnic on the plane. Yes, it sounds lovely. to eat. Not to smell secondhand in an area where you can't open a window.)
I've brought salads in the past, and other cold food items, so if for some reason tomorrow every single airline stopped serving food, I'd get over my bad self and pack accordingly. I still wouldn't fly United. Maybe the Scooby Doo thing really did scar me for life. :)
In addition to the smells, a big part of my problem with eating while flying is that I view planes as big petri dishes. The idea of putting anything into my mouth in that germ-filled environment fills me with the heebie-jeebies even while I'm sitting here on my couch.
Not to mention those unfortunate people who, while traveling from country to country, pack fresh fruit in their carry-on and forget about it when they disembark. The spouse saw this happen on a return trip from India. They were getting off the plane in Germany, an Indian woman had an apple in her carry-on which was discovered when they were going through customs, and she was quickly whisked off by security. Don't know what happened to her after that ... probably 20 lashings with a wet noodle or something like that. But I guess this really has nothing to do with your article other than if more people bring their own food to eat on an airplane, they may forget about any fresh fruits and vegetables they bring along and risk getting pulled over by security, assuming they're flying between countries.
Recently I had a friend visiting from Germany. She's vegan and pregnant, so she brings her own food, and in this case she had an apple to eat on the plane. Well, the plane hit some turbulence, pregnant lady got sick, she didn't feel like eating the apple anymore. When she got to Portland it was a HUGE GIANT DEAL that she hadn't put down 'fruit' on her declarations form (which was filled out at the beginning of the flight, when she still intended to eat the apple). And of course just throwing the thing away would be too reasonable a solution for the TSA, or whoever was responsible for letting her in the country. :p They did, but it was a huge hassle.
OTOH I'm diabetic, so I try to have something on hand, but sometimes the sandwich gets squished or it's just not enough or whatever, and I need some freaking food. :p
This is also a good point. I mentioned this below to someone else, but once I was on a charter flight from Jamaica to the UK which ran out of food and most drinks halfway through the flight. Admittedly, it was a smaller plane than the ones United usually fly, but they knew the length of the flight, and somehow I doubt our group was eating twice as much as every other planeload of passengers they've had. I really have no idea how diabetics would cope with it, other than hope that they've packed enough food for themselves beforehand.
And of course just throwing the thing away would be too reasonable a solution for the TSA OF COURSE NOT. People who speak the foreign are not to be trusted!! Cookieman actually makes sure he flies over with me now, instead of meeting me in the US later in my trip, so that he isn't sent through the terrorist queue
( ... )
I pack a bento for long flights. Basically, this started after my last 2 Virgin flights (I hate them) wherein the way to London they only had pork available. (I don't like pork.) So, I was given the tray without the main course...which would have been just ducky if I didn't have to ask for it. "Can't I just have the tray without a main course?!" ::blink, blink:: Maybe I needed to say it in British? LOL This was better than the return flight wherein they RAN OUT OF FOOD ALTOGETHER. /bashing Virgin (I could go on...broken TVs, rude steward staff...)
But, in addition to the smell factor (I am very conscious of it, but my mother isn't so ::shrug:: sucks to sit near us!) there is the US's liquid criteria. So, no sauces, dressings, etc. But, it forces me to be creative. (Lean pockets cut up are a good food! I pack a lunch tote with ice packs.)
oh seriously, I'm just ranting. As I mentioned to a friend below, I actually used to enjoy packing interesting picnics for 2-3 hr flights which came at mealtimes, or whatever. I especially enjoyed it when I was working at a nice Italian place and I could get the salad lady to make whatever sounded good.
I think I wouldn't be happy about doing this again until the liquid ban is lifted (not that I don't know what is allowed and what isn't, but whatever, digging through my lunch at security just doesn't sound fun.) And I've been on flights where they've run out of drinks to sell. It wasn't fun. :/
also, HAHAHA at the FA who didn't want to give you a tray without the main course. I wouldn't want pork, either. My interest in pigs stops at the bacon. mm bacon.
I bring empty water bottles and fill them up at the drinking fountain (NYC water rules!!!) at home. I cannot live without my water and I refuse to pay $4 for a bottle of water through security.
I have fun getting creative for trips. My China trip bentos were awesome and really got us through the 16 hour flight!
Actually, on Air France flights, all I look forward to is the bread and camebert! It's not top quality, but it makes a great snack!
yeah I agree about the water. I do the same now, but I only pack one bottle for the purpose. I imagine if they start charging for everything on board, my bottle collection will have to grow!
IAD is United's hub for international travel. Is is not suprising at all that they start the program here for that very reason. It's the next step in the lack of customer service that airlines (at least American airlines) seem to be converting to in the name of high fuel prices. The airlines claim that not storing food for 400 passengers saves fuel....not true, because they will be flying the weight of the food you schelp with you, but it does save them the cost of preparing it and distributing it, allowing to reduce their crew sizes. I think it would be interesting if everyone on the flight asked for a snack pack and a bag lunch for the $14 price tag. I guarantee that they will not have enough and someone will be forced to go hungry for 10 hours
( ... )
I think you're absolutely correct. I've allowed this to run back and forth through my mind and your point about them not having enough food should every passenger demand it did pop up. I still remember the flight we had back from Jamaica after the cruise. It was a charter, and much smaller than what United would be flying, but the experience of them running out of everything they had for sale halfway through the flight is unforgettable. Now, this was partially due to some people knowing how it works, and purchasing all of their juice, water, and snacks right at the start and hording it for later. However, this is the way peoples' brains work in these situations, and ffs why don't they anticipate such things? I'm raving again, sorry. :D
( ... )
I've been bringing an empty bottle to fill 'on the other side' and it's been working fine so far. I know it sounds desperately cheap, but since flying isn't a rare occasion for us (considering our own few trips, and visiting his and my parents, it feels like commuting sometimes) I try not to make a habit of spending big bucks at the airport. I am, however, not above treating myself to the odd Cinnabon if I come across one and I've got the time. I'm thrifty, not insane.
I hear you! :) I too try to just fill up a water bottle once through security, but at that point, if I need a treat to cope with the trauma (I'm a really horrible flyer), I'll buy a snack, or a massage, or a grossly inflated Starbucks. Whatever. ;)
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It's funny this news just came out, because I've been looking for decent fares from London to DC, and United has had most of them. Luckily my aversion to United has meant I've put off purchasing anything, and now BA (and Virgin will likely follow) is having a fare sale. yay!
Reply
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But I prefer to just go hungry for those 10 hours, because the smell of planes is so nauseating to me. I thought that getting rid of airline food would make it better, but then there is your point about the chinese and the McD's and everything else. What the hell will that be like on the plane? Dear god.
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I've brought salads in the past, and other cold food items, so if for some reason tomorrow every single airline stopped serving food, I'd get over my bad self and pack accordingly. I still wouldn't fly United. Maybe the Scooby Doo thing really did scar me for life. :)
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OTOH I'm diabetic, so I try to have something on hand, but sometimes the sandwich gets squished or it's just not enough or whatever, and I need some freaking food. :p
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And of course just throwing the thing away would be too reasonable a solution for the TSA OF COURSE NOT. People who speak the foreign are not to be trusted!! Cookieman actually makes sure he flies over with me now, instead of meeting me in the US later in my trip, so that he isn't sent through the terrorist queue ( ... )
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But, in addition to the smell factor (I am very conscious of it, but my mother isn't so ::shrug:: sucks to sit near us!) there is the US's liquid criteria. So, no sauces, dressings, etc. But, it forces me to be creative. (Lean pockets cut up are a good food! I pack a lunch tote with ice packs.)
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I think I wouldn't be happy about doing this again until the liquid ban is lifted (not that I don't know what is allowed and what isn't, but whatever, digging through my lunch at security just doesn't sound fun.) And I've been on flights where they've run out of drinks to sell. It wasn't fun. :/
also, HAHAHA at the FA who didn't want to give you a tray without the main course. I wouldn't want pork, either. My interest in pigs stops at the bacon. mm bacon.
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I bring empty water bottles and fill them up at the drinking fountain (NYC water rules!!!) at home. I cannot live without my water and I refuse to pay $4 for a bottle of water through security.
I have fun getting creative for trips. My China trip bentos were awesome and really got us through the 16 hour flight!
Actually, on Air France flights, all I look forward to is the bread and camebert! It's not top quality, but it makes a great snack!
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I hear you! :) I too try to just fill up a water bottle once through security, but at that point, if I need a treat to cope with the trauma (I'm a really horrible flyer), I'll buy a snack, or a massage, or a grossly inflated Starbucks. Whatever. ;)
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