I feel like a lot of people I know bag the airlines for having terrible food. I only started flying this year, but the 5-6 meals I’ve had have been good to great. The worst I’ve had has been better than most pre bought meals and fast food (granted that’s not a high bar) as well as some cooking people have offered me. The best has been on par with lower middle class or even superior to some popular restaurants in my area.
In short, it seems people are more critical. While never exceptional, airline food provides a good to great experience.
As a caveat too: I only have flown Delta so results with other providers may vary. It’s very possible a different major airline has consistently poorer quality food.
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It’s truly the only thing that keeps me going on a long-haul flight.
it depends on the airline and also which class you’re flying in
Are you perhaps flying first class?
I do think airline food has improved over the years! I agree, airline food is generally alright. I’ve had some really good food on Emirates, Qatar and Turkish airlines, even in economy.
I fly first-class and the food is generally OK. In the years I flew coach, the food was not good. Airline food is not “pretty good,” it is what it is: overly processed, factory made food. It is what it is.
Is anyone else old enough to remember flight pre-9/11?
The planes had real kitchens (tiny, but real).
They’d serve steak and eggs with real metal cutlery.
I’ve flown with many airlines and I am 50/50 on this. I mean, would I go out of my way to say that it’s pretty good? No. The food is simply allright, it gets the job done at being filling and helping you survive the flight.
Objectively I have only ever found the breakfast nice and the ocassional pizza/sandwich, for the rest of it’s just okay.
I think you nailed it in the title: it’s good. Not great, but usually good.
Altitude and air pressure can affect taste buds too. The food could be the best food you have ever had but when you are in the air it might not taste as good. I guess we will never know.
Depends on the airline. Etihad has wonderful food. I was shocked and impressed when I had it for the first time
I fly frequently, mostly Asian airlines. Food is ok. Something about it is kind of off putting and sometimes makes my stomach uneasy. I wouldn’t describe it as “good”. Though I’ve flown first class a couple of times and it was good I guess. But nothing better than I could get in a cheap restaurant in the city wherever I fly from.
Hospital food is also underrated.