FrankS

Austrian Air has a 'gourmet meal' upgrade available in economy class. I have a long 2 segment flight via Vienna coming up, so its only an extra $20ish($6ish per meal extra) each way to upgrade. Has anybody had it?

fourfortravel

I purchased one meal last minute because I knew I may be running late to the airport, needed to eat, and wanted more than the regular offering. Do&Co is a very nice restaurant, and their food (on the plane) was good (I had Best of Meze) but to be honest, was really just an overpriced snack. (I believe the $20 price is per meal. I doubt Do&Co would offer a $6 meal.)

If your flight timing works with a layover at VIE, there are two or three grocery stores (Spar Gourmet and Billa) that offer airplane-ready fresh sandwiches and salads and other light fare at a fraction of the cost. There is also a Henry's somewhere that has both a cold and warm buffet of upscale foods that can be packed to go.

Gordon_R

Don't know about long haul economy flights on Austrian, but we have advance purchased one of these meals on a 2-hour intra-European flight (the way it works on short haul is there is no food included and you have to pay extra in advance if you wish an in-flight meal). We thought it was very good - trays with our names on them were brought to our seats and we had a salad, bread, a hot main course in a ceramic bowl (think it was beef stroganof with rice) and a dessert, with some wine then coffee - definitely not just a snack.

FrankS

The economy long hauls come with meals, and the $21(15E)each way is to upgrade one meal to a 1st class 'type' meal with some frills added to others. I was directed to another web site where they have a menu to place an order for specific entrees. Funny, I just googled this and it now USAir offers the same. While I never would think of upgrading w/USAir, I think I will with Austrian to see how it is

dulciusexasperis

Not to put too fine a point on it but 'rubber chicken' by any name or with any garnish remains rubber chicken.

Personally, I never eat the meals on a plane even in First Class. The reality is they are pre-made and heated on board. When they start having a chef (or even a decent cook) on airplanes I'll start eating the meals.

Just keep the packaged nuts and liquor (not wine, doesn't do well in flight, too much shaking up of the bottle) coming and I'm fine.

Peter_S_Aus

"when they start having a chef (or even a decent cook) on airplanes I'll start eating the meals."

Bombe Alaska, anyone? Or a charcoal bbq just behind row 41.