Just found this relatively decent flight (and yes I'm aware that USAir may not be around soon), but the itinerary lists no meals. This is an 8 hour flight with my kids. Can this be true?

Most likely there is food, but it will be only available for purchase. The purchased food (which is around 3-5 dollars) is actually pretty good.

Have you called the source directly? US Airways will know better than anyone else. I would be a little surprised if food was not served on a trans Atlantic flight to Venice and I doubt they would charge $3 to $5 as they do on domestic flights.

FYI, I flew LAX to CLT first class on USAIRWAYS recently and the "meal" was a half a pastrami sandwich. Several passengers requested mustard or mayonaise and were told there was none available. Their food service such as it is, is pretty slim pickings. If you are travelling with kids, have something to feed them.

Yes, this could be true. But most of us spend 8 hours each day, during sleep, without eating. Bring some food of your own choice if there really isn't any food served, but check with the airline first. Some extra snacks too will help.

I find it strange that so many expect an airline, especially a financially struggling airline, to provide food. I don't think I ever spend more per mile to travel than by taxi, but I've never been offered a meal on one yet!

Do not fly USAir. Food is not the issue; your safety and sanity is.

Yes, USAirways have lots of problems, but you always get 2 meals on US-Europe flights on all airlines, dinner and breakfast. There are often glitches on itinerary listing meals, and this is one of those cases. You don't need to pay.

[But of course, there can be circumstances like what happened to Delta last month when the caterer in Atlanta decided to not load meals. But that's not the norm.]

I'm sorry, but just because they are in Chapter 11 does NOT mean that US Airways has lapsed their safety procedures. I fly their airlin ALL THE TIME. And am putting my parent on a flight at the end of the week. Safety issues. Be reasonable.

I have just decided to bring food whenever I travel - not a full meal, but nuts, fruit, crackers, etc. I just assume there will be no edible food. Whatever airline, with weather delays, terminals with no food inside security, horror stories of being stranded on tarmac for hours - it just makes sense to pack your own. I am well aware that I would not starve to death without it, but especially when I travel with my kids, life is more pleasant with familiar food.

And not all USAirways flights are horror stories - our son has flown 4 flights in last month, all without incident.

peanut butter sandwiches will do for your kids and some small cartons of orange juice and milk... buy a cheap cooler and leave in the plane one in europe. cheese, crackers, grapes, apples...better than any airline meal..

Quite frankly (and I'm sorry to be facetious), if US Air was able to give me an iron-clad guarantee that they will still be flying in April when I'm due to go to the BVI, I'd be willing to pack lunches for everyone aboard my flight!!!

All right - calm down, deep breaths...... ohhhmmmmm. - I'll be OK.

If it makes you feel better, my parents just had a fantastic trip to St. Barth's via USAir Charlotte to St. Maarten and USAir Partner WinAir St. Maarten to St. Barth's. They said it was in fact one of the least stressful flight experiences they ever had. And, with their cash access extended and all labor negotiations preceding as planned, it looks like they might not only NOT go under, but come out of Chapter 11 a healthier airline this summer. Lets all keep our fingers crossed.

The flight to VCE should be a standard trans-Atlantic flight, so you will get a full dinner after take-off, and then some sort of snack before landing (usually just a donut these days). But bottom line is, you WILL get food (airline food, that is ;-) )

Airline food is so terrible IMHO and also due to having so many flight delays and being told "not to leave the gate", or sitting on the tarmac waiting to depart etc. I have started bringing my own food to. I find that a bag of dried apricots, a few meat sandwiches with either mustard of nucoa margerine, grapes, a peanut butter sandwich (if long flight) perhaps some cookies and bottle water is the way to go. Sure beats starving to death or eating peanuts that makes one terribly thirsty or trying to eat the so called food that the airlines serves (free or not).I bought a nice zippered lunch container from Target and it fits perfect in my carryon. I have wondered what the security exray machine does to the food but I am still alive so assume no problem.

On board I will order a glass of wine and if on board in a.m. coffee and juice.

The airline food is so awful - why not take this opportunity to bring along something more palatable. And anyway - flying with kids you should always bring a bunch of extra snacks and drinks with you.

Nutella on bread or crackers. As a meal or as dessert. Kids of all ages love it.

Nerak, What was your experiene with USAir?
I have reservations at the end of April. They are the only airline that services our local, small airport. That is until May when Delta will be taking over.I dont care about the food only safety.
Thanks, mary
By the way does anyone know what will happen to your existing tickets if the airline goes under? Will any other airlines honer those tickets?

To marykc - do a search here and on US board - lots of discussion about what happens if USAir ceases operation. Summary - other airlines will honor US to US tickets for nominal fee (?25) on standby basis if they fly exact same route.

If Nerak is going to make poor safety claims, I would ask him/her to back it up with something - not just scare people.

Thanks Gail
Mary