ed

I've heard that American airlines dont't have food on transatlantic flights. Is this true?

Secondly, do European airlines have meals on transatlantic flights ??.

How about flights from the West coast to Europe?? :-B

rkkwan

All American airlines serve two meals on their US-Europe flight. Even in coach. Free. No charge.

AAFrequentFlyer

How long before wally chimes in?

US based airlines still serve 2 meals, but alcoholic beverages are $5 in economy cabin.

wally34949

Time to Chime

Interesting articles on www.airlinequality.com about food on American Airlines from New Delhi to Chicago. Appears during the 16-hour flight, they received only one full meal and two snacks.

And crossing the Pacific, people in coach were only served one full meal and one snack.

Don't get me wrong, if the price is right, go for it, but bring a Power Bar or something else to eat.

Here is the link:
http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/am_aa.htm

When was the last time you cross the pond in economy, AA?

BTW, I was really impressed with the food in economy on my last flight with BA. Smoked salmon in the salad, chocolate cheese cake and when I asked for a third bottle of wine instead of coffee, their response was "certainly." Full free bar in economy with BA.

As for rkkwan's comment about two meals. Flying to Europe is a night flight and the second meal is a continental breakfast. If your expecting a "Grand Slam" stay home and go to Denney's or find a cruise ship.

But again, if American can get you from point A to point B for $80 less, go for it.

The U.S. airlines have spent so much money advertising their credit cards. Now that people have one, they one to get miles. 25,000 miles for a free flight--no make that 50,000.

AAFrequentFlyer

Wally,

The question was NOT about AA, it was about US based airlines vs. European airlines.

Regardless, if you want to make a big deal about economy meals on either, you are really off your rocker....

Sorry, no such thing as a good, nurishing economy class meal on ANY airline these days, I don't care what country it's based out of....

The answer still stands. 2 meals. If it's an overnight flight, there is a dinner and light breakfast in the morning.

If it's a day flight, it's lunch and light dinner.

rkkwan

I recently flew Air France IAH-CDG. It's one of the longer trans-Atlantic flight on an European airline known for pretty good food. So what meals did I get serve? Well, the same one dinner and one continental breakfast as any US airline.

Yes, the quality and quantity is better than US airlines, but it's still just bread and cheese. Certainly no meat and no eggs for breakfast.

Flying to Asia on N. American airlines - UA, NW, AC, CO, AA - always get me two meals plus a midnight snack. If one of those meals is a breakfast, it always has omelette or perhaps Chinese buns.

wally34949

I'm not off my rocker, I just think people should know that there have been some cutbacks on food in economy on U.S. airlines. When I flew on Qantas and they came by with the food cart, I thought, I'm still stuffed from the last meal. `

People flying from New Delhi to Chicago were used to getting four meals and a stop in (usually) London. Now it's 16 hours with just one meal and two snacks. That's quite a change. Hopefully someone out there will appreciate my warning about bringing a Power Bar.

But why would American start a new route with such drastic cutbacks? One would think they would cutback later--after they had great reviews.

Time to vote. Is a half of a turkey sandwich a meal? Normally, a meal is three different courses.

rkkwan

If people want more meals, they just need to schedule more stops on their way. You don't need to eat 4 meals in 16 hours.

And I believe AA and CO flights to India depart the US very late, past normal dinner time. Therefore, it's not unreasonable to cut back on some meal service so people can go to sleep quickly. It's the same stuff for red-eye in the US or from Hawaii back to the mainland.

xyz123

Past month...forced onto AA for a variety of reasons to do trans Atlantic not based on fare. What do we have in comparison to BA or VS?

1. Dinner was a scrawny piece of pot roast with mashed potatoes (chicken available too), sald, no cheese, forgot what dessert was. Meal was quality they once served on a NY-ORD domestic flight.

2. Of course the asinine $5 for wine (or beer)...free on VS and BA.

3. VS and BA both serve a continental breakfast...nothing to write home about but usually includes yogurt and on LHR-JFK they serve a tea with small finger sandwiches. AA gives out their snack pack they charge $3 for on domestic. No yogurt, no food just chips, power bar or whatever.

Just a disgrace and a symbol of the contempt they have for their customers. Given my choice, I wouldn't fly them across the pond ever again.

wally34949

With food being so cheap, I think the U.S. airlines are just cutting their own throat, and BA and Virgin are sitting back laughing and adding more routes to the U.S.

Can a U.S. airline fly a 777 across the pond with only 18 people in first class? I suppose they could fill the rest of the plane with cargo.

Now really, how much does it cost to take a piece of whole wheat bread and put a piece of cheese or slice of turkey on it.

Who wants to fly in U.S. Economy anymore. More Americans are switching to cruises. If the U.S. airlines treated people a little better on these long flights, more people would travel. Even the Charter flights from Europe offer a free alcholic drink in economy. You want the customer to keep coming back; not turn them off.

If American Airlines can spend millions running ads for their Advantage card (and how traveling to Paris was free and wonderful; always had to wonder why they picked Paris after 9-11) they can afford to invest in their product and economy is where most people sit.

Good thing AAFrequent Flyer is using his miles. I predict this airline will be history soon.

BA's economy was fine. I watched the movie and forgot about the tiny seat. And after a few glasses of wine, I drifted off. But a U.S. airline? Only when their Business Class seat matches the prices of BA's (or Virgin's) economy seat.

ed

Yep, I didn't mean just the company American Airlines but any company based in US e.g UAL.

From LAX to CDG is about 10 hours. Eating( ?) is something to do.

IL agree the $5.00 beer esecially if it is Budweiser is atrocious.

:-B

snealfleeba

To compare economy on any US-based carrier on a transatlantic flight to their European counterpart is absurd. Having flown multiple times on American, USAirways and Continental to Europe (in addition to BA, Virgin, Air France and even Alitilia) there is simply no comparison. It's not just the free drinks but the quality of the food, professional quality of the flight attendants and frankly, even the cleanliness of the aircraft. It is entirely wrong to say there are no quality, nourishing meals on economy class--just fly BA, Air France, etc. and you'll see my point.

wally34949

BTW, since they are selling these $5.00 beers and drinks and no receipt is given, is this income for the airline "off the books?" I suggest that the next time one pays $5 for a drink, request a receipt and hold on to it. Make sure the airline is paying taxes on the 500% to 1000% profit. It might be enough to get this country out of debt.

Gavin

Based on experience flying from Toronto on Air Canada's trans-atlantic flights you get two meals. A hot one served after take off and a smaller cold one before landing. In addition there is a mid-flight snack such as ice cream. Beer and wine are no extra charge. On most flights it is not difficult to get three drinks but some crews are more parsimonious than most. Drinks with hard liquor will cost extra.

wally34949

When you book a flight with British Airways, the following appears before you purchase the ticket.

31 in seat pitch, lumbar support and adjustable headrest
Non-stop entertainment: blockbuster movies, TV and audio channels
Complimentary 3 course meal and drinks

A half of a turkey sandwich is NOT a three course meal.

suranyi

I don't know if European carriers are so great. I've had some pretty bad meals on Lufthansa, KLM, and Air France transatlantic flights.

And I don't drink alcohol, so I don't care about the charge for wine.

Last week I went to Germany on United. Got two meals both ways. Nothing spectacular, but it was fine.

Ed

simpsonc510

I fly frequently to both Europe and Asia. I usually fly on UA. Food in economy is nothing to write home about, but it's enough to eat considering I'm sitting for hours and hours. I've also flown on BA, Air France, Swiss, Lufthansa, the old Pan Am, and numberous other airlines over the years. I'll stick with UA because I'm a premier exec flier and I like to maintain that status with them.

If I go to the FA and ask for wine, I get it FREE. No, they don't necessarily offer it from their cart when they come through the cabin. If you ask politely, you should get a glass or two (served from little bottles). It's not the better reds I get in business class, poured from the larger bottle, but it will do.

To Europe, I typically am served dinner after take off and breakfast before landing. To Asia, it's lunch, mid-flight snack, and then breakfast from ORD to NRT and another two meals (one is a snack) from NRT to BKK. I'm not one to take all the meals. Too much eating for so much sitting time!! I can't think of a single time when I've eaten everything they served on these long flights.

evecolorado

Wally: British Air always serves a three course meal on all their transatlantic flights, plus a light snack about an hour before arrival. And the meals are delicious, even in cattle car where I usually fly (except when I've been lucky enough to be bumped up to a higher class--wish that would happen all the time, love the extra room).

wally34949

evecolorado

I agree! And great entertainment; good movies and free wine in coach. Those U.S. airlines are going to need to lower their prices by $100 to get me to come back to $5 wines, poor entertainment, fasten seat belt signs that never go off, and poor food. And I won't even go into the rudeness of the staff and needless threats the U.S. flight staffs make.

Intrepid1

And I can just imagine the rudeness level, not to mention the whine level, of some of the passengers!!!