Air Travel

Question:

   Lastly, many of my fellow business travelers have found that it is    really difficult to eat "light" while on travel.  (It’s not like    making dinner at home.)  If I can limit my calorie and fat intake on    some of the meals, it really makes a difference. Back when I was carnivorous and flying a lot, I usually ordered the veggie meal.  It tasted good, was more interesting, and wasn’t as heavy as the usual rubber chicken or mystery meat.  If they forgot it, it was also a good clue that the travel people at work had also forgotten to give them my frequent flyer number — #                               Pray for peace;      Bill # I’m moving to NCR in Pleasanton CA around Oct 15, so my mail delivery # will be pretty unreliable for a few weeks after that.

Response:

>The meal you have on an airplane is just one meal, not a change in your >overall eating habits; eating a steak once in a blue moon, for example, >isn’t going to hurt you regardless of how little red meat you normally >eat.  So why not just take the standard airline meal?  Why introduce >unnecessary complication into the meal service equation just to exercise >an option?  

        It wouldn’t matter that much if airlines offered a choice.         However, I’ve increasingly seen them offer only one selection         for a given meal, or, if they do offer a choice, by the time         they’re back to me, only one choice is left.         Sometimes the selections is OK; sometimes I hate it.  Therefore,         the airlines have taught me through experience that I must         not trust them, and instead make my own arrangements… by         ordering a special meal.  Too bad.

Response:

>I can understand ordering a special meal for religious reasons or because >you’re a dedicated vegetarian or have some kind of extreme reaction to >something, but why bother otherwise?

Why order a special meal for other than religious, vegetarian or extreme reaction?  Well, if you fly a particular route fairly often, then you might want something different to eat.  (Do you always order the same meal at your favorite restaurant?)  Also, I really am tired of UAL’s greasy omlette or french toast; I much prefer the fresh fruit plate. Lastly, many of my fellow business travelers have found that it is really difficult to eat "light" while on travel.  (It’s not like making dinner at home.)  If I can limit my calorie and fat intake on some of the meals, it really makes a difference. The MITRE Corporation   voice:  (703) 883-7586 7525 Colshire Drive     FAX:    (703) 883-1397 McLean, VA   22102

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        The meal you have on an airplane is just one meal, not a change         in your overall eating habits; I can’t count on one hand the number of months in the past 7 years where an airplane seat was the place I had the majority of dinners during that month;  Sometimes I think I like to fly because it’s a place where I can get some reading done, some sleeping done, some drinking done, and some eating done. Besides, it’s usually the case that since there are less of them, special meals are of higher quality.  Myself, I just wish they’d hand out lots of water and crisp raw vegetables to snack the hours away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no vegetarian, it’s just if I’m going to eat meat, I’d like it to be what I’d like to eat, and not some sad remnant of a cow. F/A:    "Would you like chicken or meat?" Me:     "What kind of `meat’ is it?" F/A:    "Dunno … it doesn’t say.  It’s just meat." Me:     "I’ll just have coffee, thanks." /jordan

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I can understand ordering a special meal for religious reasons or because you’re a dedicated vegetarian or have some kind of extreme reaction to something, but why bother otherwise?  While I’ve been following this thread I’ve read about people ordering low cholesterol and low sodium meals.  One person even mentioned that the steak and baked potato meals he’d had on American were "far too boring and far to unhealthy."  (Jeeze, you’d think the meat was laced with strichnine, for crissake!)  Some have admitted to ordering these speacial meals just as a lark. The meal you have on an airplane is just one meal, not a change in your overall eating habits; eating a steak once in a blue moon, for example, isn’t going to hurt you regardless of how little red meat you normally eat.  So why not just take the standard airline meal?  Why introduce unnecessary complication into the meal service equation just to exercise an option?   Geoff "just eat it!" Miller Geoff Miller                    + + + + + + + +        Sun Microsystems

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I can understand ordering a special meal for religious reasons or because > you’re a dedicated vegetarian or have some kind of extreme reaction to > something, but why bother otherwise?  While I’ve been following this thread > I’ve read about people ordering low cholesterol and low sodium meals.  One > person even mentioned that the steak and baked potato meals he’d had on > American were "far too boring and far to unhealthy."  (Jeeze, you’d think > the meat was laced with strichnine, for crissake!)  Some have admitted > to ordering these speacial meals just as a lark. > The meal you have on an airplane is just one meal, not a change in your > overall eating habits; eating a steak once in a blue moon, for example, > isn’t going to hurt you regardless of how little red meat you normally > eat.  So why not just take the standard airline meal?  Why introduce > unnecessary complication into the meal service equation just to exercise > an option?  

I order special meals because they TASTE better.  A fresh cold seafood platter on United is a joy — and far preferable (to my taste) than a reheated meal.  Furthermore, it’s predictable.  I’m not a health fanatic. But I do like the nice fresh fish in the United cold seafood platter. United has been quite reliable about boarding the meals, when requested.

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>The meal you have on an airplane is just one meal, not a change in your >overall eating habits; eating a steak once in a blue moon, for example, >isn’t going to hurt you regardless of how little red meat you normally >eat.  So why not just take the standard airline meal?  Why introduce >unnecessary complication into the meal service equation just to exercise >an option?  

Although I consider myself someone who will try to eat just about anything once, I have to defend those who order special meals on airplanes.  It is very difficult to eat in even a reasonably healthy manner when you’re traveling on business. The vast majority of restaurants, from fast food up to gourmet, serve meals that have far too much fat in them, be it a side order of french fries or that special cream sauce on your $25 plate of pasta.  Airline meals are extremely high fat (even the lowfat airline meals, which I order, can be as high as 35% of calories from fat, which is above the 30% recommendation of most doctors and dieticians for all people). If you make a roundtrip coast-to-coast flight in a week, connecting each direction, four of the meals you are subjected to that week may be airline food.  Do that two or three times a month, which is common for frequent flyers, and you are talking a substantial amount of your diet coming from airline kitchens. Eeeks, it’s giving me shivers just thinking about it. | The opinions expressed above are my own and do not necessarily          | | represent those of The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA.           | |                                                                         |

Response:

>I can understand ordering a special meal for religious reasons or because >you’re a dedicated vegetarian or have some kind of extreme reaction to >something, but why bother otherwise?  [deleted] Some have admitted >to ordering these speacial meals just as a lark. >The meal you have on an airplane is just one meal, not a change in your >overall eating habits; eating a steak once in a blue moon, for example, >isn’t going to hurt you regardless of how little red meat you normally >eat.  So why not just take the standard airline meal?

Although I haven’t done it in ages, I used to order a special meal as a lark.   I’m not the world’s most frequent flyer, and I *don’t* eat more meals in seat 16C than at my own supper table.  You’re right–one airline meal isn’t going to kill me.  So why did I do it? Well, airline travel and I don’t get along too well.  I don’t get airsick, don’t get me wrong, but… –  Air travel is very tiring –  I hate sitting in airports –  Airline timetables are rarely compatible with my stomach’s timetables, so    it gets kinda upset –  The variety, selection, and quality of airport food (not airline food)    doesn’t help my stomach much –  It takes forever to get your car (whether you rent a car or parked your own) –  Coach seating is way too crowded, and I can’t afford first class and other assorted complaints.  (Yeah, I know–whine, whine, whine )  By the time I stagger to the motel/home, I’m worn out. So I take steps to minimize problems, and to…well…pamper myself.  I used to know the "best" parking spot in the Phoenix airport Park-and-Ride lot– rarely congested, close to an exit, and adjacent to the second bus stop in the lot.  (And then Phoenix moved Park-and-Ride, somehow making the lot closer *and* more inconvenient at the same time.)  I always arrive at the airport at least an hour before the flight (which drives my wife crazy, but hey, it circumvents Murphy’s Law).  Whenever possible, I always eat a full size meal before going to the airport, just in case.  For a while, I ordered a special meal, just to add a little twist to the standard airline service.  I know that sounds a little strange, but I’ll try just about anything (within reason and the range of my checking account) to keep me sane when I fly. Jeff K. —

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Well, on my last trip back from Japan (NRT-SFO) on UA I had a Kosher meal — not my plan.  I had ordered a low-cholesterol meal, but going over they simply didn’t have one for me.  Coming back, I asked to have my special meal at SFO breakfast time (sort of). When I woke up and asked for my meal, the cabin attendant (who had had the meal put aside a few hours earlier) asked if I minded if he opened up the foil to be sure it was cooked.  This seemed strange, but I didn’t mind.  When I got the meal it didn’t seem like a low-chol meal and I noticed the butter was different — labeled Kosher.  Then it hit me!  Yup, it was a Kosher meal! I asked the attendant if this wasn’t a mistake since someone onboard obviously wanted this meal and I didn’t.  Ah well, he said no one wanted it and he thought it was mine — plus it was the only special meal left. Now that we knew it was actually a Kosher meal his question became clear. He was very worried that by opening up the foil it would make the meal traif (sp? it’s late) and a major no-no…   It was quite funny at the time… The Kosher meal was ok, but as salty (or more so) as the regular meals which are far too salty for my taste.  It was chicken, dressing, salad, and something for dessert… When I used to fly on AA (they really ticked me off a year and a half ago!) I used to get their low-sodium meals.  Then, one time going SFO-DFW-DCA I ended up having the exact same meal twice: a big hunk of steak and a baked potatoe.  I don’t eat that much red meat in a week, so it was not something I wanted to do again.  It was the same on every AA flight I had regardless of direction.  Far too boring and far to unhealthy. — Glenn Tenney voice: (415) 574-3420      fax: (415) 574-0546

Response:

>Second attempt to post: >What about United’s special meals on international flights?  Has anyone >had their vegetarian, low cal, low fat, kosher, Hindu, etc?  Are they >better than the usual disgusting coach chow?

The Kosher meal is the same domestically or international.  Basically, it’s either a piece of chicken or some pot roast. Domestically, the low fat chicken meal is really quite good.  (I’ve also ordered it going to Hawaii.)  A safe bet is always the fruit plate.  I got a really nice one coming from Hawaii.  The other time that a fruit plate is nice is having it instead of UAL’s greasy breakfast omlet. The MITRE Corporation   voice:  (703) 883-7586 7525 Colshire Drive     FAX:    (703) 883-1397 McLean, VA   22102

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Agreed!  United’s Seafood platter is great! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Second attempt to post: >What about United’s special meals on international flights?  Has anyone >had their vegetarian, low cal, low fat, kosher, Hindu, etc?  Are they >better than the usual disgusting coach chow? > I ALWAYS ask for special meals, regardless of airlines. One of my > favorites is the "seafood" which is usually shrimp with paste, no > heavy sauce. The vegetarian can be rather indisguishable as they tend > to overcook their vegetables. > — > UH School of Library & Info Studies. "Whatever the cost of our   o|<0_0>——* > libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant      =^-| |_| | > nation." -Walter Cronkite         [r.a.b. FAQer: "Think Ink!"]         _} _}

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– Varda Ullman Novick

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Second attempt to post: What about United’s special meals on international flights?  Has anyone had their vegetarian, low cal, low fat, kosher, Hindu, etc?  Are they better than the usual disgusting coach chow? — Varda Ullman Novick

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>Second attempt to post: >What about United’s special meals on international flights?  Has anyone >had their vegetarian, low cal, low fat, kosher, Hindu, etc?  Are they >better than the usual disgusting coach chow?

I ALWAYS ask for special meals, regardless of airlines. One of my favorites is the "seafood" which is usually shrimp with paste, no heavy sauce. The vegetarian can be rather indisguishable as they tend to overcook their vegetables. — UH School of Library & Info Studies. "Whatever the cost of our   o|<0_0>——* libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant      =^-| |_| | nation." -Walter Cronkite         [r.a.b. FAQer: "Think Ink!"]         _} _}

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Last time, somebody mentioned about special meals on CO(??) Can somebody tell, is there any special meals (for frequent flier) on AA and DL? If yes, how to order them? Thanks —  {~._.~}  Edy Susilo                       | Computer Science Department   ( Y )   P.O. Box 8521, Austin, TX 78713  | The Univ. of Texas – Austin

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You don’t have to be a FF to get spec. meals.  Just call the reserv. # for AA or DL @ least 24 hrs. previous to flight.   Depending on flight length, you can order seafood, vegatarian, hindu, kosher, bland, low sodium, low sugar, low fat, lactose-intolerant… — Edward L. Hildebrand, III

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