Meals on planes no more
 

On NPR they just reported that TWA and United (I think) will no longer have meal service. It really is no great loss to the consumer and we don't have to argue about having to eat what it would have been with a spoon.

Hi Gretchen! And we won't complain about airplane food. But, I'm surprised...no food, not even internationally?

Like most of the news tidbits of the last week, it bears qualification. The ending of food service is on domestic flights of less than 2 hours in duration. Typically, IMHO, these are the best of the airline meals because they are usually prepackaged sandwiches and cookies. Not great, but on par with 'wrapped in celophane' sandwiches you buy.

I just saw on NBC nightly news that American Airlines just said the same thing, no more meals. They did not specify if they will still serve international flights. <BR>

And no meal service means less flight attendants. No meal service also means more people bring their own food on board (no plastic knives!!). I'm not so sure that that's a good idea.

My husband flew to Europe this week and he tells me there were regular airline food and also plastic knives and forks.

If you can't bring on your own food (after all, another thread said you can't bring on bottled water, so I imagine other food items will be out also), and they don't serve food, diabetics and others who must eat fairly frequently will effectively be banned from international travel. I can foresee another war starting if this happens.

I saw on the news that it was only on domestic flights that no meals will be served. I am sure this is just temporary to cut costs. This really won't affect me because I almost never fly on a US carrier. I also agree with the above that this is not a good idea. Meals help occupy people's time. With no meals, travellers will be more restless and cranky. This is not a good thing. JG

I heard meals will continue to be served in business and first class. Next they will let all coach passengers exit at the back of the plane. Sounds like they are instituting more and more class distinctions. Believe me, fares will rise dramatically over the comming year with less services and more inconvenience. Air travel will never be the same and I guess that's the way it has to be but I think we will wax sentimential for the good old days. <BR>

The only meals these airlines (American/TWA) will serve in coach is on coast to coast flights and international over 4 hrs long. People will be allowed to bring whatever food and beverages (except alcoholic) they want.

I saw on the news the other day that the reason for no meals was the increased security.There are many people involved with meal service and it would be too much to keep track of all the service coming and going with the tightened security.

Of course airfares will rise. Who do you think is going to pay for the sky marshals? <BR> <BR>I will pay the increase gladly but I might travel less frequently or shorter distances.

Yes, they only need to tighten security for the coach meals. First class and business meals involve no security risks. If you're not careful, a coach meal can just burst right into flames in the middle of the flight. <BR> <BR>So cutting service is the way the airlines think they're going to win my business back? Hmmm.

There's an article in today's "salonmag.com" that gives the details of the end of meal service. It's on TWA and American.

The reason you aren't allowed to bring water on is that there are dangerous chemicals that are also clear. <BR>As far as I know, roast beef sandwiches aren't flammable.

If the morning newscasts were correct and the airlines decided to do this based upon last week's attacks, I'm confused why this no-meals policy is for coach class. It was my understanding from every news report that the hijackers were seated in business/first class sections. So, is this just a way to trim costs under the guise of increased security?

But there's a post above that says passengers may carry on food and beverages to be consumed during the flight. Will I be able to carry a bottle of water onto the plane? What gives? Anyone know for sure?

` <BR>Guess we'll all have one less thing to complain about --- at least on those domestic flights who will now only be providing beverages & presumably snacks ? Good point that food service keeps passengers occupied & now we'll only be able to look forward to peanuts & libations. If we don't have a meal to keep us busy, then how about offering free movies to entertain us peons in the back of the plane ???

Here's a report from CNN. It looks like this is a cost issues, not a security issue. My guess is that the policy will differ with different airlines. <BR> <BR>http://www.cnn.com/2001/TRAVEL/NEWS/...ood/index.html

What are you people complaining about? Airplane food has been the butt of jokes for many a year and now you're complaining that they're eliminating it for cost/security? And why does the airline have to keep us "occupied"? Are we infants? President Bush has said that we will all have to make sacrifices and I see this as only a minor sacrifice in light of things to come.