Innovative In-Flight Cuisine: When Airline Food is Edible

There was a period when eating on an airplane was a joy – back when air travel was glamorous and passengers actually took the time to put on their Sunday best for their flights. Anyone who’s traveled Economy recently knows that this flight glamor is a bygone memory. Not as many people complain about limp chicken and overcooked mystery meat, as they’re lucky to get anything beyond what they purchase at the post-security ‘deli’ anymore.

Despite the lowering of expectations, some airlines have started to move against the tide of lack of / lackluster nibblies, instead streamlining dining, providing fresh and healthy choices and giving their customers surprisingly good in-flight culinary choices.

Virgin America's Touch Screen - Complete with Beverage Selections!

As a part of their annual “World’s Best” Awards, Travel and Leisure ranked the Top 5 Domestic Airline Food. Virgin America leads the pack (per usual these days) after shaking up the mile-high culinary world in October when they launched a new healthy and regionally focused menu, complete with reformulated cocktails. Utilizing a touch screen or handheld remote, Virgin’s passengers can push a “food button”, allowing them to order whatever they would like to eat or drink during their time in the air. Choices available for purchase include Hibachi Chicken Salad with Soba Noodles, Mushroom and Gruyere Frittata with a tomato and wine sauce, as well as freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for red-eye flights. Their prices are reasonable ($7-9 for Main Cabin, free for Main Cabin Select and above) and choices cater to everyone from the gourmand sophisticate to the discerning 8 year old. Check out Virgin’s menus on flights to New York, Boston, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other destinations.

This guy's motoring towards WestJet's in-flight fare

Notably, Canadian budget airline WestJet comes in at number five. Headquartered in Calgary, WestJet has begun expanding its Mexican and Caribbean coverage (in addition to their numerous Canadian destinations), and it seems that passengers are noting WestJet’s exceptional customer service and simple and fresh in-air degustation selections. Assorted cheese trays and Melba toast mingle with ham and cheese baguettes and bagels and cream cheese.

For those wondering just how airline food can range from barely edible to top notch, check out this Wall Street Journal article, “Cooking Up Ways to Improve Steaks on a Plane”. Not only is the title of the piece delightfully (albeit slightly late) pop culturally aware, the behind-the-scenes insight provided by Hermann Friedanck, leader of Singapore Airline’s food service reminds you that there’s no four star kitchen behind Coach – rigorous research, testing, and re-testing ensures that your steak comes out medium rare when rewarmed midair, not charred and defeated. Enjoy Mr. Friedanck’s hard work on your next flight to Singapore or Tokyo.

Not able to hop a Virgin America flight just yet? WestJet not quite in your city? Singapore Airlines unable to get you home to the prairies? Still suffering horrendous approximations of regular cuisine? Check out http://www.airlinemeals.net/ and see how other airline food is “fare”ing.

Favorites? Disaster stories? Leave your tantalizing airline food comments here!

Photo credits: Airline food courtesy of サンドラ / Creative Commons , Virgin America Screen courtesy of disrupsean / Creative Commons, WestJet plane courtesy of WireLizard / Creative Commons