For those who commute in the 21st Century food is obviously of interest. For the British we have our beloved cheese and pickle sandwich served up by ‘British Rail’ (if you’re over 40 you’ll know what I mean). For the modern business person, commercial travel might well mean flying.
And that opens up a whole new world of business, cultural and inter-personal etiquette that leaves you exposed to a pandora’s box of surprises. Take in-flight meals for example. Horror awaits the poor traveller who isn’t prepared:
What is that thing on the right?
This creation comes from Ukraine airlines. What, you’ve never been to Ukraine? Let’s just say they put Hitler in his place and leave it at that. Now these pictures of loveliness come from the seminal airlinemeals.net. Nothing is safe in the era of the world-wide web. Nothing.
You think America is safe? The land of surf ‘n’ turf, gumbo and pecan pie? Think again. How about an omelette in a plastic bag, served up by United:
Yum!
Actually the worst in-flight meal I’ve had was from Amsterdam to London City Airport. Shrink-wrapped mackerel. I didn’t bother teasing open the plastic wrapper. I would have had to use my teeth to tear open the packet.
But lets get back to other areas of the world. What about Asia? They know how to cook, right? All that delicious orienal cuisine:
What the hell is this then? Cathay airlines serving up something that looks like its seen too long in Grandma’s Dutch Oven. And what’s with the embedded carrot?
Well Russia must be able to do better. I mean Aeroflot doesn’t have the best safety record (they average 3 incidents a year) but the food can’t be any worse, can it?
But what the hell is this? It’s worse than something I’ve found in the bottom of the freezer on a Friday night after 15 pints of Stella Artois.
I’m joking of course. If I really had drunk 15 pints of Stella Artois I’d look like the contents of that foil tray rather than someone who was going to eat it.
Ukraine has a great cuisine! Borscht, varenyky, cakes, salads, sausage… It is very cheap and so tasty! When you go to Ukraine you definitely should pay more attention to local dishes: http://ukraine-vacation-guide.com/index/meals_in_ukraine/0-107 Ukrainians also like to drink gorilka, but it can not be called traditional Ukrainian drink
I’ve always wanted to go to Ukraine – especially Volgograd.
Not sure I can remember the last time I had a flight that involved food being served other than snacks.
Some that food looks downright nasty !!
Everyone in my neck of the prairie flies Southwest Airlines. Pretty hard to screw up a bag of peanuts.
Most airlines don’t even bother to offer food. Last time I actually ordered something when it was served we were doing a lottery to see if anyone could identify the type of meat. It was like no other, lacking color,taste, texture and eye appeal. Yum. Too funny,. Unidentified flying food.
Because I have a lot of serious food allergies, I always bring a sandwich and snack with me on a flight and as I look around I realize my meal is probably the best on the plane.
Airlines are required to feed you if the flight is over 4 hours, but you are correct about the awfulness. Great photos and comments! How about a post on the stingy airline “snacks”, like a half cup of water and one cracker (how can they package one cracker)? You no sooner get this delight then they come around shaking the trash bag!
Looks like Ryanair are doing us a favour by not serving anything.
Best,
Conor
I have to admit I love Ryanair – they play a fanfair of trumpets on the PA when they land – A kind of ‘hey shit we actually made it!!! The irony was lost on those on the plane not from these green and pleasant lands
Yes, we are off to the north of Spain next month. Two of us return for an all-in total of €129.00. It costs that to fill my car with diesel. One needs to prepare for all their crap and expect the worst. It usually is not as bad as all that.
It does make hospital food seem elegant & 5 star. At Logan Airport in Boston there’s some very good restaurants where you can get a good meal – price is outrageous but at least the food won’t kill ya.
My favourite ‘meal’ was the JD and Coke they served up at the bar in the airport in Denver – v nice!
Ah, a very wise choice. With the altitude & winds, that airport can sometimes cause anxiety.
Funny! Funny! Funny! Beautiful images of disgusting “food??” If one could only walk to the UK from here.
Yes I’d still rather fly than take a trip a-la the founding fathers
So funny and scary lol. Nowadays in the US you have to pay *extra* for that cellophane omelet. Food on the flying cattle car is now considered optional which probably isn’t such a bad thing altho I sort of want to know what that embedded carrot roast tastes like….
Yes I looked at it again and it didnt look too bad – worrying!
Love it! When I fly Lufthansa to the UK we usually just get a “sandwich”… very dense and very dark thickly sliced bread (or is it in fact cardboard), with some unidentifiable filling (last time it was sort of pastey with red bits in it…). I looked for the ingredients on the packet, and next to the word “ingredients” was a blank space….
Yes I can imagine – rye bread and pig trotter terrine or something like that
Haha! So funny! I love that website. It’s hysterical!
And also kind of sad to think that probably every single one of those meals got eaten. I don’t know about you, but there is something about airline travel that makes me drastically lower my standards in terms of what I will eat!
Its the wine that lowers standards on a plane – apparently the effect of alcohol is doubled at 30000 feet
Seriously?! Wow. Cheap date alert!
Ha! This post didn’t exactly whet my appetite. But yes, what mysterious things we hapless travellers are served (that is, when you’re ‘lucky’ enough to actually get a meal these days). I have had some decent meals, whether on a plane or Via Rail here in Canada, but it’s pretty hit and miss, with more emphasis on the ‘miss’!
Business class on United is good and Virgin was okay too. Or maybe the wine just made it seem that way
Always, ALWAYS, bring your own food on the plane. At the very least, pick something up at a semi-decent airport restaurant. It will be better than what you get on the plane.
I sat in the middle of an extended family going from Canada to Israel once – they had two huge bags of peanuts – i mean they bought on the plane about 3 pounds of the things
Looking at your pictures, I’d have to agree with you. However, I fly with British Airways and I’ve always really enjoyed their meals. They are very tasty and nutritious.
Yes British Airways is good – as is United, so long as its a continental trip
You won’t get much better from airlines that operate in Oceania either.
I bet – and you do enough flying to know!