Plan ahead and pack your own snacks before jetting off on your
next trip
I was starving, and all I had was a plastic cup-full of Diet Pepsi and a tiny packet of slightly stale pretzels.
Given that I was hurtling through the air at 30,000 feet in an airplane meant my only option was to ask the flight attendant for another bag of pretzels. They had run out. So, I sat there on my flight from Phoenix to San Jose, starving.
If you’ve flown anywhere lately, you know the feeling. As if there aren’t enough details to keep track of when traveling, airlines are now forcing their passengers to plan one more thing: food.
Since 9/11, most major airlines have been forced to make significant budget cuts, many of which started with meal services. Every airline handles it differently – some carriers offer meals, others may only have a snack. Some airlines charge you for food, others don’t.
Figuring out what you may or may not be eating is like solving an advanced calculus equation. Your meal service depends on what airline you fly, how far you are flying, in which class you are seated, whether you have correct change, if food is available in the airports you’ll be visiting, what you’re willing to eat and if you’ve planned ahead.
A couple of coins can be crucial
Having correct change can mean the difference between enduring hunger pains for almost six hours or having something to eat. On a recent flight from San Jose to Washington D.C., “SnackPacks” were available for $5 each. It was a small flight, and many people had brought food from home with them for the trip. The man sitting next to me wanted to purchase the airline’s food, but he only had a $100 bill. The flight attendant told the man there wasn’t enough change, but he was hungry enough to tell the flight attendant he was willing to accept as little as $85 in change instead of the $95 he was owed.
After an announcement was made on the loudspeaker, a first-class passenger was able to break the $100 bill and he was finally able to eat.
If you don’t plan ahead and pack food to bring on your trip, know that you’re taking a gamble. Some terminals at San Jose International Airport have food retailers, such as bagel shops and soft pretzel stands, but others don’t. For example, one of the Delta commuter terminals offers no food options once you go through security.
Also, the trip that eventually led me to the meal-less Phoenix-to-San Jose flight originated in Tucson, Ariz. The airport there has restaurants, but from what I saw, none of them offered fare that could easily be wrapped up and brought on board. I thought I’d wait until arriving in Phoenix to get food. I got into Phoenix around 10:15pm, and all the food venues had closed promptly at 10pm. So, I was forced eat my pittance of pretzels, drink my Diet Pepsi and wait until I landed in San Jose before I could grab something substantial.
When in doubt, bring your own
If you’re unsure you’re going to be able to eat while en route, pack your own meal – just keep in mind the food must keep for several hours. Debra Potosky, a registered dietitian with Kaiser Permanente Santa Teresa Medical Center, recommends peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit, boxed fruit drinks, crackers, mustard, carrots or celery sticks, and cheese for longer flights because they won’t spoil. Foods such as mayonnaise and tuna will not keep well, nor do they smell pleasant – another factor to consider when packing a meal.
Most lunch meats will keep for a while, but on particularly long flights it’s best to avoid them, Potosky said.
“Think about it this way: When you pack your kids’ lunches, the food stays fresh until it’s lunch time,” she explained. “So, if your flight is just a few hours, and you get to the airport a few hours early, lunch meats are fine. But if you’re on a long flight and it will be a while before you eat, try and stick with nonperishable items.”
Though some snack options available on flights aren’t exactly the healthiest foods, it’s important not to vilify the airlines, she added.
“If you wouldn’t avoid these foods elsewhere, such as at work or at home, then don’t complain about the selection on the plane,” she said.
Here’s What You Get…
To help other South Valley residents who are planning to fly somewhere, we’ve done some homework on what to expect on various airlines. Most of the menu options and price lists are available on the carriers’ Web sites. However, if you or any of your travel companions have any food allergies or special dietary needs, it’s important to call the airline directly to check on accommodations.
JetBlue
Shorter/Commuter Flights: unlimited free snacks including chips, cookies, nuts, biscotti, soup cups and crackers
Transcontinental Flights: unlimited free snacks as available on shorter flights, plus a free snack pack of cheese, crackers and raisins
Southwest Airlines
Flights 450-1,120 miles: free peanuts or pretzels
Flights 1,121-2,089 miles: free peanuts or pretzels and a Chex-Mix pack or breakfast bar
Flights 2,290 miles or more: free peanuts or pretzels and a free snack-pack that includes cookies, crackers and cheese
United Airlines
Flights 3 1/2 hours or longer:
Economy class: Four different SnackBoxes are available for purchase. Each SnackBox is $5, cash only. SnackBox varieties include: fruit bowl, bagel chips, trail mix and cereal bars; salami slices, crackers and cheese spread, applesauce, cookies and potato chips; beef jerky, tortilla chips, salsa, cookies and cheese snacks; or tuna and crackers, pita chips, cheese slices, raisins and chocolate.
First class and business classes: free chilled salads topped with either shrimp or beef, a piece of cheesecake, warmed nuts, seasonal fruit, aged cheeses, and choice of entrees
International flights and flights 5 hours or longer, economy class: Menu items available for $5 include various wraps, salads and fruit selections.
American Airlines
First class, all flights: free steak, seafood and poultry menu items including low-carb options, dessert
Economy class, flights 3 hours or longer: SnackPacks, Snack Boxes, and wraps or sandwiches are available for $3-$5 each. SnackPacks include oatmeal bars, raisins, crackers, cheese spread and cookies, Snack Boxes include crackers, cured meat sticks, cookies, raisins, cheese and nuts. Wraps and sandwiches include club sandwiches, turkey pesto wraps and egg salad wraps.
