Posted on: Sunday, July 22, 2007
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SAVVY TRAVELER
Know in-flight meal plan, menu before booking flights
By
Irene Croft Jr.
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American Airlines offers snacks at $3 each on select domestic flights.
Advertiser library photo
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Coach passengers have extra considerations when choosing their carrier and itinerary: Will they be served a meal or snack and will it be complimentary or offered for a fee?
Many airlines are pursuing an irksome, cheapskate trend of "flying a la carte," where they are implementing — or planning to impose — charges for services and amenities that have always been included in the price of a ticket. Fees for telephone bookings, stiff penalties for overweight luggage and charges for in-flight food service are at the top of their targeted list for sources of increased revenue.
If you're an infrequent leisure traveler, you may not know that most of the airlines, including many of the majors, no longer provide meals to coach travelers on short-duration domestic flights. Short usually means under three hours. (First-class passengers are still served meals at appropriate times, and flights between Hawai'i and the Mainland continue to provide complimentary meal service in most cases.) Ask your carrier in advance regarding the offerings for your flight, and be prepared to purchase onboard or to bring your own food.
Alcoholic beverages are now, virtually uniformly, sold onboard at $5 each while soft drinks and juices are still provided gratis. Some airlines do accept charge cards for food and beverages, but most require cash and, of course, prefer exact change.
Take a look at what's being offered to coach passengers on some of the major players:
Alaska Airlines: On morning and early evening flights 2 1/2 to three hours long, Alaska serves free snacks or a breakfast pastry. Hot sandwiches are provided on flights more than three hours long.
American Airlines: American Airlines offers individually packaged snacks for $3 each and bottled water for $2 on U.S. and Canadian flights that are three hours or longer and depart between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. On transcontinental, Alaska and Hawai'i flights, sandwiches and wraps are also available for $5. "Snack packs" are sold for $4 on American Eagle and American Connection flights in the continental U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
America West: Snacks at $5 and meals at $7 are sold on flights longer than 3 1/2 hours that depart between 6 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Continental Airlines: On domestic flights longer than two hours, Continental serves a complimentary breakfast between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. If your flight is not during the scheduled meal hours, a light snack may be offered in coach on flights longer than three hours.
Delta Air Lines: On segments less than 450 miles (about 1 1/2 hours), Delta offers one complimentary snack of its choice. On flights ranging from 450 to 1,550 miles (about 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours), you'll be given your choice of snack. On flights of more than 1,550 miles, wow, sky's the limit: You'll be presented both the standard snack and a choice of snack. Complimentary meal service is provided on Alaska and Hawai'i flights longer than five hours.
Midwest Airlines: This innovative carrier serves free snacks on all flights and is phasing in "Best Care Cuisine," an in-flight meal-purchasing program with food from a local Milwaukee restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options range from $5 to $10 and are for sale on flights of at least 1 1/2 hours. You can check out the menu before you go and decide whether you'd be better off bringing your own. Be aware that the menu is not available on all departures. Complimentary warm chocolate chip cookies are served on flights departing after 10:30 a.m.
Northwest Airlines: Northwest offers a snack mix for $1 on short, beverage-only flights, and snack boxes for $3 on domestic segments more than 600 miles. On planes to Hawai'i, Alaska and most of the Caribbean and Mexico, sandwiches or wraps can also be purchased for $5. Your preference must be pre-ordered by phone or online at the Northwest Web site at least 13 hours before your flight.
Southwest Airlines: On flights less than two hours long, Southwest serves complimentary peanuts or pretzels. If your flight itinerary includes any nonstop flight longer than two hours, you will be served a packaged snack. Southwest Airlines does not serve sandwiches or meals on any flight. Beer and wine on this no-frills airline are available for $3 and cocktails for $4.
United Airlines: On North American flights — including flights to the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawai'i, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, and everywhere in Mexico except Mexico City — of 3 1/2 hours or longer, snack boxes are available for $5. The carrier's newest snack box, called "Right Bite," is aimed at health-conscious passengers; it includes items like tuna, organic crackers, hummus and raisins. Fresh sandwiches and salads also are offered for $5 on most North American flights over five hours that depart before 8 p.m.
US Airways: This carrier offers an In-Flight Cafe on most segments longer than 3 1/2 hours and departing from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Snacks and meals are priced between $5 and $7.
Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.
