Decent airline food is finally taking off
EVERY week our Holiday Hero NEIL SIMPSON takes an in-depth look at a brilliant holiday topic, doing all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week he discovers how to get the finest food and drink on offer at 35,000ft. AIRLINE food has never had a good reputation. In her novel Sky High, flight attendant and author Jennie Jordan describes passenger meals containing ‘violently yellow, shrink-wrapped cheese that could survive nuclear war, and a chocolate brownie that could break a window’. But while there are still plenty of culinary horrors up in the air, there are sweet spots as well. Here are TEN tasty treats to enjoy this summer.
High standards from TV cook
Celebrity chef James Martin has spiced up Thomas Cook’s in-flight menu. His new meals include Somerset cider chicken with dauphinoise potato and roasted root vegetables – free on long-haul flights when you can also expect banoffee caramel latte mousse for dessert. On shorter flights, meals start at £6.50 and end with Belgian chocolate mousse, plus a slice of millionaire’s shortbread with coffee.
BA’s cream-tea treat
If you’re flying short-haul on British Airways, the ‘Best of British’ menu includes an afternoon tea picnic box containing a sultana scone, Tiptree strawberry jam and clotted cream from Devon. It’s £5, or pay with Avios. Fly long-haul in premium economy and enjoy a new range of free cocktails: top choice so far is the gin fizz.
Full Irish breakfast
Aer Lingus is offering a £9 Irish breakfast including sausages, bacon, tomatoes and hash-browns plus black and white pudding, McCambridge brown bread, Irish butter and marmalade. Or choose a £5 Guinness pasty or a £4.50 can of Pure Brew, the brewer’s new alcohol-free beer.
Ryanair meat-free offering
Even Ryanair is keeping up with culinary trends this summer with a new vegan lasagne for £5.35. Or try a spiced chai latte for £2.60.
Meal deals that are just Wizz
Meal deals are as common in the air as they are on the high street. Pick any sandwich and any drink from the Wizz menu and get a snack such as a KitKat for free. With a soft drink it’s £5.35, with beer or wine it’s £7.50.
Nando’s at altitude
Can’t resist a cheeky Nando’s at home? Jet2 keeps the flavour flowing at altitude by offering the new PERi-PERi Flight Bites snack box with pita chips, houmous and Nando’s drizzling sauce. It’s £4.
Say it with champagne
Loved-up travellers can add romance to flights by pre-ordering champagne and chocolates with Tui. If the £34 price tag is too high, try comfort eating instead. Tui has chunky chips and ketchup for £2.50.
Start saving before take-off
Whatever you eat on board, get more of it on easyJet by pre-paying for snack vouchers. Buy online and get £5 of vouchers for £4, though you won’t get change if you don’t spend the full amount. Top easyJet offering? A bacon roll with HP sauce for £4.50.
Personalised snack bars
Fly on Norwegian’s Dreamliners and you’re promised a ‘personal snack bar’ for food and drink. Open it by swiping a credit card underneath the seatback TV screen, make your choice and the crew bring it to your seat. Top choices include classic ham and cheese toasties for £5.50.
Coffee with a clear conscience
After your inflight meal enjoy coffee with a clear conscience on Virgin Atlantic. The airline’s new blend is from Change Please, a charity offering barista-training and educational opportunities to rough sleepers in the UK. The brew has won taste tests and is served from economy to Upper Class.