I like Panda Express's (fast food) Orange Chicken at the airport and am planning on bringing it to eat on the plane as dinner instead of eating the airline food(I have a 5 pm flight). Will the smell be too strong for other passengers? Should I plan on something else? Suggestions?
Thanks!

I say if that is what you want to eat, then by all means eat it. There is always going to be someone that doesnt care for what you are eating, regardless of what it is so bring it on and enjoy!

Angela

I don't know if they will let you take hot food on a plane?

Also, even though airline food tastes incredibly bland when you eat it, this is the effect of the altitude/air (I can't quite remember the science bit) and airline food is actually very highly flavoured to allow for this. If you ate it on the ground it would taste far too strong. So a normal meal would be even more tasteless. In theory anyway, according to a TV show I watched about why airline food is so awful.

Personally, I would plan on something else. I think the smell would be offensive (although not nearly as bad as when people bring McDonald's on board!). And, by the time you buy it, wait to board, get on board and settle in, it's going to be cold...

Hi t,

It is really discourteous to bring highly aromatic foodstuffs on a plane.

How would you feel if the persons next to you decided on limburger and onion sandwiches with a side of kimchi?

Also, as cd pointed out, your orange chicken is going to be cold and gummy when you get to it.

When traveling, I often bring food but I try to stick to 'finger foods' such as crackers and cheese, veggies and dip, mini-sandwiches of smoked salmon, cream cheese etc.

As much as I like chinese food, the smell can be offensive when it isn't your meal.

Altitude affects the taste? Pressurized plane cabins? Eating in the mountains, like Vail and Aspen makes food taste different? Oh, my.

Gretchen, are you from DC?

And, tiaw, no, I wouldn't do it if I were you. Air travel is hard enough for some people with delicate stomachs without having to contend with such strong smells. Even those with stronger constitutions might find it objectionable. It's just one meal -- I'm sure you can buy something less intrusive. Or have the Orange Chicken as a late lunch at the airport and skip dinner.

I don't think the original question can be serious--not because of the smell issue, but because the food would be cold by the time passengers are settled into their seats.

As for the smell--I think food is supposed to smell, and people are different regarding the kinds of food smells they find offensive. For example, I can't stand the smell of institutional-style macaroni and cheese, and when I was in college, I used to avoid going to the dining hall when that's what was on for dinner. Most people loved it.

My favorite food to take on a plane is an orange. That's partly because I love the smell, and everything about it seems like the absolute opposite of the artificial environment of the plane.

I think a sandwich would be a better choice and more courteous to your fellow passengers. I always travel with my own food these days, but the item you mention will be smelly, not to mention messy should it spill or leak.

If you're set on Orange Chicken why not simply eat it at Panda Express before you get on the plane? Much simpler.

I was wondering about food on the plane, also. Our flight leaves Dulles at 5pm. for Paris on Air France. Surely, they would provide a dinner, wouldn't they?

Suzy, I would think so, but this is a question best asked of your airline.

suzyq...Yes,AirFrance will serve a hot dinner and a breakfast of sorts...As to araomatic food....I had an experience at DFW that really changed my mind...It was the 6pm flight to LA.Me and my buddy had stopped at Subway to get some sandwiches and chips.The second we boarded the plane you could smell the food being loaded for First Class, a hot dinner.In the middle 3 setas across from us was Mom and the 2 preteens.Right smack in front of them were 2 travellers both holding styrofoam containers we figured they had gotten some dinner and were ready to chow down.you could smell it all the way to Oklahoma! Egads I mean it was strong....With the smell of the hot food for F/C wafting thoroughout the cabin, the 2 women in front of them, kick in the power of suggestion, well the 2 kids all of a sudden were starving and very restless.As soon as we levelled off, I turned to Mom and told her we had some extra food.She said she just hadnt thought about food and they were planning to go out for dinner once they got to LA.Yes, there was food for purchase but what the heck.We had plenty and enjoyed the midair mini picnic.From then on I have always remembered that people around you will definitely take notice of what you bring on board.Be respectful.

I agree with Carol that Tiaw might be pulling our leg (for one thing, he/she hasn't returned).

We like Panda Express at the airport in Newark, so we have dinner there before boarding.

I, personally, would not feel kindly toward a fellow passenger who brought an aromatic meal on board, the smell of which would probably linger for the 7 hour flight.

One approach to reducing &quot;jet lag&quot; used to be known as the &quot;Forsyth plan&quot;, and there were various variations, (for what it's worth, its creator. Steven Forsyth has chosen to no longer give this or any other advice on jet lag control) - - and the main tenet, still practiced by a number of travelers, was to basically eat <i>nothing</i> on the plane - - in fact, really, to eat nothing all day on the day of travel (except perhaps some fruit, and keep up generous water intake) - - until you see the sun come up over Europe.

For what it's worth, I think that this &quot;method&quot; is helpful (but only if combined with a really concerted effort to sleep); I routinely ask the flight attendant to hold my &quot;supper&quot; until the time that they serve the (&quot;mini&quot;-) breakfast, typically, about the time you make landfall over Europe (and see the sunrise). I always ask politely, make it clear that I do not care what supper selection is left for me, and I do not expect it to be rewarmed for me (and yet, at least half the time they have rewarmed it anyway). I have never gotten any grief from any flight attendant about this request.

Airline supper meals are about the same quality whether served hot, rewarmed or not warm at all. Hardly <i>that</i> bad - - but of course, hardly that <i>good</i> either!

If you are erally such a fan of Panda Express Orange Chicken, perhaps it would make sense to buy it, bring it, and eat it once you have deplaned in Europe.

It won't be any worse at &quot;1 am&quot; (body time) - - though I actually strongly discourage thinking in terms of &quot;body time&quot; when you arrive - - than it would be 2 hours after your departure from the US.

Best wishes,

Rex

I think the fact that you think it could be offensive should raise the flag to you that there is a good chance someone else will not like it. Eat early or take something less arromatic on board!
J

Darn. I clicked on to this thread thinking I was going to find out about an airline that has switched to rolling dim sum carts in the aisles instead of plastic plates of blender lasagna.

Seated across the aisle from me on my last flight home from Europe, the couple had the best gyro and meatball sandwiches and beer. I wanted to grab it away from them, not because of the smell but because I wanted them myself.

I wouldn't be able to eat cold, yucky orange chicken on the plane, so I vote with the others, eat it before you board or get something that is cold to eat.

I try to eat at the airport before I board for the 13 hour flight! This way I am not crabby and waiting for the lousy lunch or dinner served on the plane.

I participate in any meal the airline serves on a long haul flight. It's not about the food, it's about passing time. Not sure how long your flight is but I'm assuming it's from the U.S. to Europe (since we're talking Panda Express and this is on the Europe board)?

Sometimes I also eat at the airport before I get on the plane, since it is oftem several hours before food is served.