New rules for eating on planes. What kind of food is available on the plane? Special meals at Etihad

Airlines are cutting food costs for passengers. Hot meals are no longer provided on flights that last less than two hours.

Some carriers have stopped feeding travelers even sandwiches. The range of drinks has also decreased. “Food asceticism” has not yet penetrated only into business class and international flights, where airlines are still trying not to lose face.

Just three years ago, to pamper passengers, carriers ordered French cakes and red fish on board. Some even poured red and white wine in economy class. Now there is no trace of this. This year, some of the few carriers that still fed passengers on short flights sandwiches abandoned this as well. Just as they gave up coffee and juices, limiting themselves to tea and water.

With the start of the winter schedule (from mid-October), passengers may have to eat even more heavily on the ground: according to tradition, airlines are revising the on-board menu for the new season. It is unlikely, given the situation, that there will be any changes for the better. Moreover, more and more carriers are striving to transfer food into the sphere of additional services that are provided for a fee.

“Now many carriers have become “low-cost” airlines, which has affected both the quantity and quality of food on board,” states Oleg Panteleev, executive director of the AviaPort agency. Compared to 2012-2013, portions, according to him, have already been noticeably reduced, and there are quite a few routes without food at all.

You don't have to look far for examples. If we take the most popular short flight route Moscow - St. Petersburg, then passengers there were previously offered buns and sandwiches; a number of carriers had tortillas and sandwiches. Now many people only offer water.

It turns out they don’t break the rules. “In Russia, for two years now, there has been a rule according to which food and hot drinks may not be provided on short-haul flights if the passenger was notified about this before purchasing a ticket,” recalls Sergei Izvolsky, a representative of the Federal Air Transport Agency.

Passengers on long flights must be fed every four hours during the day and every six hours at night.

In practice, however, not all airlines focus their customers’ attention on this when selling tickets. General information about meals on board can be found on the official websites of carriers. When purchasing tickets online, knife, fork and plate icons may be used to indicate that meals are included. But only those who are especially attentive notice them. As a result, it happens that passengers, purchasing the most affordable tickets and expecting to have a snack on board, receive only cold drinks, that is, water with or without sparkling water.

As for flights that last more than three hours, the carrier is obliged to provide hot meals, says Sergei Izvolsky. There are also clear rules in this regard: passengers must be fed every four hours during the day and every six hours at night. In this case, the airline cannot sell lunches. Everything is included in the ticket price.

It is on flights lasting more than three hours that an option such as special meals appears, when the passenger can choose food taking into account medical indications, age or religious beliefs.

But even here we cannot do without savings. In-flight catering factories (there are such in every major Russian airport, there are at least 10 of them in the capital’s air hub) are now developing a more affordable diet for passengers. This means that, figuratively speaking, cutlets contain more bread and less meat, and side dishes contain fewer expensive products, although they try to maintain the weight and calorie content of hot dishes. In order for the passenger to have a good impression of the flight, the meal kits are still attractive in appearance.

The trend of saving on passenger meals is observed not only on regular flights, but also on charter flights. Here, too, the diet has been simplified, notes Oleg Panteleev. Of course, there are still hot meals available on long flights. But previously you could find cold cuts of meat and cheese, and two types of bread in economy class. Nowadays, cold cuts may include inexpensive ham and boiled sausage, while cheese is replaced with a cheaper processed cheese product.

As for alcohol, it is no longer offered for free. Some carriers offer wine and beer on board. The wine list is limited to this. Although previously the menu included both cognac and whiskey.

If we talk about food in business class, there has been no radical deterioration in the menu. But some airlines have simply abandoned business class on domestic routes. They rearranged their cabins to carry only economy class passengers. There are at least three such carriers in Russia. But on international regular lines, even in economy class, the food is still good. Often there is a more diverse range of products. And sometimes even better than that of foreign carriers. So, on flights of Russian airlines to New York, for example, travelers can be offered snacks, an omelette, at least two types of meat with different sauces with side dishes and vegetables, fish, two types of bread, cheese and butter, as well as cakes or pancakes for tea or coffee.

Infographics RG / Anton Perepletchikov / Yulia Krivoshapko

Study

We don’t make a cult out of food

Russians prefer to fly in comfort, but food on board is far from their first priority. This is evidenced by data from a study of the international tourism metasearch Momondo.

It turned out that what is most important to Russian passengers is comfortable accommodation during the flight. For example, the ability to adjust the back of the chair to suit you. This was stated by 30 percent of respondents. And 9 percent of respondents from Russia prefer seats on airplanes with more legroom.

But only 8 and 3 percent of Russians, respectively, care about delicious food and free drinks on board.

Now, for the comfort of tourists, airlines offer a variety of paid and free services, the availability of which can be found directly on the carriers’ websites, says Irina Ryabovol, Momondo representative in Russia. Some amenities can be taken care of at the booking stage. For example, you can specify the desired location of the seat: by the window or by the aisle, and during online check-in, which, depending on the airline, begins a day or even a week before the flight, reserve a specific seat.

Also, if you notify the company in advance, travelers can receive for free the food option that they prefer: dietary, vegetarian, kosher, fruit, children's.

What could be more romantic than lunch in the clouds?! Perhaps just a good lunch. But rarely can anyone boast of having enjoyed oysters and suckling lamb fillet during a flight.

What does food on airplanes depend on, and how to pack a snack yourself?

Meals on the plane - what airlines offer their customers: Aeroflot, Russia, S7, TransAero, UTair

The menu on an airplane depends on two factors: what class you're flying in and how long you're flying. Typically, airlines offer their passengers cold snacks and drinks if the flight lasts less than 3 hours, hot meals if the flight lasts more than 3 hours, and two hot meals a day if the flight lasts 7 hours or more.

But this is not always and not always the case. Many airlines, in order to interest customers, try to make the ticket price as low as possible. And first of all, this happens due to the exclusion of food from the price.

But if lunch is expected, then the menu itself may differ among competing companies.

This sample menu, which varies depending on the time of year, and sometimes on the destination: many airlines offer their passengers (both in business and economy class) where the plane is heading.

How to select and order individual meals on an airplane in advance

All companies offer special meals. You can view it on official websites and then order by phone. This is done in advance - usually no later than 36 hours before the flight departure, but the timing may vary depending on the airline's policy. This service is provided only on those flights where hot meals are provided.

Note: Most airlines do not charge an additional fee for the order itself.

For ease of ordering, special menu codes have been introduced, consisting of 4 Latin letters.

What types of customized menus do airlines offer?

1. Meals taking into account religious beliefs: Lenten food, halal menu, kosher food, Hindu menu.
2. Special food for people with food allergies to fish and seafood, nuts, lactose and gluten.
3. Vegetarian menu: only vegetables, vegetables and dairy products, only raw vegetables and fruits.
4. Dietary foods that are low in salt, high in fiber or low in cholesterol and fat, special foods for diabetics different types, protein foods and so on.

As you can see, the choice of individual menu for a comfortable flight is quite rich. And in order to figure out what to order and whether you need a special menu, you need to know what you can and cannot eat during flights.

Black list: who and what foods can and cannot be consumed during a flight?

Since the choice of food on an airplane does not always include what is considered healthy food, many passengers on a diet prefer to take food with them. Pregnant women do this especially often, because their diet should be balanced. In addition, you need to eat foods that do not cause (and sometimes even suppress) attacks of nausea.

It is important to monitor your blood sugar levels and eat on a schedule. If a long wait at the airport and a flight do not allow this, you should always have a snack with you: pear, apple, raisins, cheese, crackers, carrots.

• Any exotic fruits.
• Dishes where at least one ingredient is unfamiliar.
• Fatty food.
• Deep-fried food.
• Tough meat.
• Smoked products.
• Cabbage and legumes.
• Mineral water with gas.

The last two points should be excluded due to the fact that at altitude pressure affects everything internal organs, and increased gas formation can cause unpleasant consequences.

If you are not sure that on the plane you can be offered meals that exclude such products, then it is better to take food with you.

Is it possible to take your own products on the plane and what kind?

There are special rules for transporting food in hand luggage. First of all, they relate to the transportation of liquids. All yoghurts, preserves and jams, jellies, honey, caviar and even pate are equated to it. There is only one condition for their transportation: the liquid (in this case, all the listed products) must be packaged in 100 ml packages, the total volume should not exceed 1 liter. But more often than not, a variety of drinks are offered on board, so you don’t have to take them with you.

As for products, they are less strict, and therefore you can choose the snack that suits your taste best:

1. Sandwich with products that do not have a strong odor (that is, without eggs, fish, etc.).
2. Pieces of cheese (only with a neutral smell).
3. Pieces of boiled meat or poultry.
4. Hard fruits ( better apple or pear than plum or peach).
5. Crackers and bread that don't crumble too much.

In general, when choosing food for an airplane, you need to ensure that the food can remain fresh for quite a long time. And, of course, special attention should be paid to what to feed your child on the plane.

What to feed your child during the flight: what food is provided for children on airplanes?

- one of the types of special menu that can be ordered in advance - is divided into 2 types: food for infants and for children over 2 years old. Infants are provided with portioned milk and purees in jars (vegetables, fruits, meat), and children from 2 to 10 years old are given food that is easy to chew.

If you are not sure that your little one will like the food on the plane, then it is better to take the food with you. First of all, you need to take care of drinking water - restrictions on transporting liquids in hand luggage do not apply to passengers with children, so you can safely take clean water or juices in the right quantity.

From food you need to choose what your baby likes most. If he starts acting up during the flight, passengers and crew members are unlikely to like it.

What to feed your baby on a plane:

• Pre-boiled pasta at home.
• Fruits (apple, banana, pear).
• Puddings in a jar.
• If the flight is long, it is better to take instant porridge with you, which you can easily mix on board by asking the flight attendant for warm water.

On a note: Experienced travelers with children recommend taking several sets of plastic cutlery (since they can fall on the floor) and a plate.

Important! You should not feed your baby heavily before a flight, as this can cause increased gas, bloating and nausea during the flight.

Otherwise, when choosing food on a plane for yourself or for a child, you need to focus, first of all, on the individual characteristics of the body and not eat everything that is brought, even if you have already paid for it. After all, it is better to fly to your destination hungry than sick.

Economy class meals is perhaps the most pleasant moment during the flight on an airplane and an integral part of it is the lunch offered. This moment leads to the revival of all passengers, and they are happy and look forward to this action. As soon as the plane gains the required altitude and reaches flight level, pleasant smells are immediately heard from the front of the plane. This is where food is heated for passengers in special ovens.

Hot food is served to passengers only if the flight lasts two or more hours. When the flight takes less time, passengers are mainly offered sandwiches or sandwiches, juice and water. Or just muffins with tea or coffee, and, of course, water. When flying for more than two hours, each airline tries to feed its passengers to the full, and some save on providing food.

In-flight meals are prepared by special services that operate separately from the airport. This service is called catering. In catering, everything is prepared, cut and placed in special disposable molds. So, for example, a durable dish for hot dishes made of foil is called a casserole, and the entire spread, equipped with hot food, salad, or pieces of vegetables, cold cuts, or fish, this whole set, is called a lunch box.

The products purchased for cooking are only of the highest quality, as well as the freshest. Catering is strictly liable. This service has to be responsible for everything. Both for the quality of the products and the freshness of the products. The time allotted for preparing food before transferring it to the plane is also limited; it should not be more than an hour and a half. Therefore, please know that if your plane is delayed for more than two hours, the catering service is busy preparing new in-flight meals for passengers to provide you with only freshly prepared food. Meals are loaded onto the plane an hour before the plane departs. A special machine with a lift drives up to the plane, and the food is reloaded into containers designed for this purpose.
And now, the most pleasant moment came when the senior flight attendant announced to the passengers that lunch was provided.

Meals on the plane. Economy class.

Everyone begins to move and get more comfortable in their chairs. The economy class menu usually varies. It all depends on how much the airline paid for the contents of your meal. A hot dish may contain fish, chicken, sausages, and beef stroganoff. Potatoes or rice are usually served as a side dish. A few slices of cucumber and tomato, rarely diluted with a piece of sweet pepper, or a few olives. This is a vegetable menu. But the sliced ​​meat consists of several pieces, among which chicken roll, sausage, or ham, they won’t give you more.

Sometimes the cut is fish. Be sure to include a few pieces of bread and a bun, which comes with a few grams butter, or jam. When serving lunch, flight attendants generally offer several types of juice; their range includes tomato, apple, and less often orange. And, of course, sparkling or still water. While devouring the proposed menu, everyone is busy and forgets that this is a flight.

And some of the passengers, dissatisfied, picking at the contents of the lunch box, defiantly leave the lunch untouched, thereby emphasizing their status, they go to sleep, having first asked the conductor for a blanket. To “warm up”, recently they offer a hundred grams of wine, or a small can of beer, but most airlines try to save on alcoholic drinks, or transfer alcohol to a paid bar service. And, at the end of lunch, you will be offered tea or coffee with a small muffin or cake.

Passengers who, for any reason, need special meals, such as dietary, vegetarian, children's, kosher, or other, must declare this when booking a ticket. Your data must be processed by the airline, and the special food you have chosen for the flight must be ordered. And rest assured, your order will be provided to you personally on board the plane! It's good to fly - most of those who prefer air travel like it, but it's good to fly - everyone likes it!