Are there meals/food on 5 hour flights?

[Imzadi]

Or they just an antiquity of the past?

As in, "What's a meal?"
"Do you consider a bag of peanuts food?"

I have two coast to coast flights coming up and need to know what I can and should pack for food. (I know no liquids.) I haven't flown in a couple years.)

Airlines are: Continental, American Airlines or Delta.

Thanks for any help.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My DH flies all over the place and the only time the food is edible seems to be on international flights &/or in Business Class. When he travels domestically he will pick up a sandwich, a bottle of water and a roll or 2 in the airport after the security checkpoint and keep them in his carry-on. You can call the airline to see what they will give you on the plane but I keep reading all sorts of weird stuff about airlines and food these days so I wouldn't trust them with my comfort.

 

[Imzadi]

Thanks. I'm hypoglycemic. I need substantial foods to keep my blood sugar balanced. A bag of peanuts or worse, a bag of pretzels (all carbs) or processed "mystery" foods will not do.

 

[LindaR]

Coach or first class?

If you are in coach, then nothing. In First, you will get a "snack" (which is like a light meal) or a meal.

However, I ALWAYS have stuff like granola bars in my purse. I learned the hard way. We were stuck on the tarmac in Chicago one time several years ago and my daughter got very sick because there was no food, of course nothing gets served til you are off the ground.

Bring your own to be safe!

 

[AKL_Megs]

I am a flight attendant. Where are you going from and to? On which exact airline? I can answer for you what will be available for you.

Unless you are flying first class, you won't have free food domestically. Just the typical peanuts and pretzels, and other snacks for purchase. Depending on WHERE you are going and where FROM, I can try and tell you if sandwiches will be available for purchase.

You'd be better off hitting a fast food place before you board. You'll get more and better food, AND save money.

I am also hypoglycemic, so I can relate.

 

[DebbieB]

I've flown Delta cross country, they offer sandwiches or salads for sale (around $7).

 

[laurie31]

We flew from Alabama to California last summer. This took alllllll day. We brought "snacky" things, but the kids wanted a sandwich when they were brought around. They were wraps, and surprisingly quite decent, but they were $7! Next time, we'll bring our own sandwiches, too.

Stuff no one tells you: You CAN bring on water/drinks as long as you get them AFTER the security point. This means that you can buy overpriced bottled water in the airport, or you can bring your own container and fill it up yourself at a water fountain. I bring those Camelback spillproof cups, but you could also bring a plain emply water bottle. I fill mine up and add a packet of Crystal Light on the go (or something simliar) for flavor. I can only drink plain water if it's really cold, and water fountains usually aren't.

Don't get on the plane without something to drink! Who knows when the beverage cart will be around, and that 6 oz. of soda they give you does not last 5 hours! Also, if there's turbulence, you might not get even that.

 

[pppiglet]

We bought the $7 sandwich also and it was very good! We flew Delta this time. One way they ran out of sandwiches before they got back to us though, so book a seat up front!

 

[flying_babyb]

Thanks for the reminder. Were travling in june and I have blood sugar issues so i need to think ahead

 

[maelstrom]

I just flew EWR-PHX (and back) on Continental (steerage ), which is about a six hour flight, and we got meals.

 

[Imzadi]

I am a flight attendant. Where are you going from and to? On which exact airline? I can answer for you what will be available for you.

I will most likely be flying (economy/coach/baggage class) EWR -> PDX on Continental, non-stop.

Coming back might be with
Delta: PDX -> SLC, then change planes: SLC -> EWR
or or American: PDX -> SEA, then change planes: SEA -> EWR

 

[bballmom56]

We just flew Continental in July from EWR-Tampa and back and on the flight down we had a muffin and beverages and on the way back, it was a sandwich, beverage and dessert. This was in coach and it was free. And this was only a 2 1/2 hour flight.

 

[LindaR]

Just keep in mind that regardless of whether any food is served/available for purchase, THAT only happens well after takeoff (without turbulence). I recommend packing stuff of your own to keep your blood sugar level.

 

[edandcolleen1995]

I learned the hard way. We were stuck on the tarmac in Chicago one time several years ago and my daughter got very sick because there was no food,
Bring your own to be safe!

How does your kids get sick from not eating

If you know there is some medical issue with your child, pack your own. Sorry but if you are counting on an airline to provide your dietary needs, that is asking for trouble!

 

[hillview]

Unless in first / business class you will want to pack a full meal and a snack plus once in the terminal before the flight buy some water or other beverage. Food varies and is rarely what you want and is always worse then what you'd bring from home or even worse than what you'd find in the terminal. I always have a granola bar in my bag in case we are delayed etc.
/hillary

 

[AKL_Megs]

Wow! Sounds like Continental treats its pasengers well! Looks like you willhave some real food offered to you!

But like others have said, come prepared. Pack a PB&J just in case, or a candy bar.

Airline food isn't all that great at all if what Continental offers is tray food. Now, food for PURCHASE is usually pretty decent.

 

[Imzadi]

Just keep in mind that regardless of whether any food is served/available for purchase, THAT only happens well after takeoff (without turbulence). I recommend packing stuff of your own to keep your blood sugar level.

Yes, I plan to bring plenty of my own protein snacks - and now a healthy sandwich or two. Hearing about the recent planes that were held on the tarmac for hours upon hours causes some anxiety, foodwise. (It would just piss me off otherwise. )

How does your kids get sick from not eating

When a person is hypoglycemic, if their blood sugar drops excessively, a number of symptoms may happen. Usually, it starts off with crankiness, becoming real irritablility. Then for me, verbally I can't think of the right words I want to say. This is the first red flag to me. Because I may be cranky or irritable for a number of reasons. But, I am usually very articulate, so when the right words elude me consistently for a bit, I know I should get something to eat.

Then body tremors start. I feel them slightly inside first. Then it shifts to my hands. (Pres. Clinton was recently filmed at a funeral with a trembling hand. The press went crazy saying he might have Parkinson's - when probably, it was only hypoglycemia. It's not like he could whip out a bag of peanuts and start chewing at the event, if they went crazy over a trembling hand. )

If don't get something to eat then, I start getting fuzzy or faint.

By that point, my body is on high red alert. My body is in survival mode then. I have been unintentionally quite nasty to a McDonald's employee if they are a little too incompetent right then and take too long, because I NEED TO EAT!!! Every second counts.

(If you've ever seen a kid have an absolute meltdown for not being able to eat something right away, they are probably having a real blood sugar drop. People think, "Oh come on, you brat, you can't need to eat so badly that you can't wait another moment or two." Actually, it IS that bad if they have low blood sugar. Their bodies know they need to eat.

I have never gotten to the point of being nauseous, though I've known others have.

My dad was diabetic instead of hypoglycemic, at that point, he might become extremely confused, disoriented or incoherent, seeming like he was drunk or intoxicated. Diabetics may laspe into this state without realising it. Once, my dad was stopped on the road in this state, the officer made him take a sobriety test. If he was admitted into a hospital in this condition they would also do a sobriety test in addition to a glucose level test, even if he had a medic alert bracelet saying he was diabetic.

That's why a kid would scream to eat and/or get nauseous. They have to get the message across that they need food before they get into the incoherent/disoriented stage. The body is really about survival at that point.

After that, is the possibility of passing out, (like if you saw Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias.) Then, lapsing into a diabetic coma.

 

[Imzadi]

Wow! Sounds like Continental treats its pasengers well!

Yes, she got a muffin! I don't ever remember getting a muffin when airlines were "serving" food. A wierd thing that passed for a faux bagel was usually the best pastry-type thing I got.

Unless in first / business class you will want to pack a full meal and a snack plus once in the terminal before the flight buy some water or other beverage. Food varies and is rarely what you want and is always worse then what you'd bring from home or even worse than what you'd find in the terminal. I always have a granola bar in my bag in case we are delayed etc.
/hillary

So I CAN bring a sandwich from home? I remember reading things like: you had to open up mayo packets just before heading to secutity and smearing them on your sandwich before going though through security, and such.

I might make a pitstop at Subway and get a couple subs (no mayo) that might last through the trip and any unforeseen delays. I would need a second sandwich if I was delayed another four hours after eating the first sandwich. ... then I would work my way through all my snacks.

 

[AKL_Megs]

When a person is hypoglycemic, if their blood sugar drops excessively, a number of symptoms may happen. Usually, it starts off with crankiness, becoming real irritablility. Then for me, verbally I can't think of the right words I want to say. This is the first red flag to me. Because I may be cranky or irritable for a number of reasons. But, I am usually very articulate, so when the right words elude me consistentlyfor a bit, I know I should get something to eat.

Then body tremors start. I feel them slightly inside first. Then it shifts to my hands. (Pres. Clinton was recently filmed at a funeral with a trembling hand. The press went crazy saying he might have Parkinson's - when probably, it was only hypoglycemia. It's not like he could whip out a bag of peanuts and start chewing at the event, if they went crazy over a trembling hand. )

If don't get something to eat then, I start getting fuzzy or faint.

By that point, my body is on high red alert. My body is in survival mode then. I have been unintentionally quite nasty to a McDonald's employee if they are a little too incompetent right then and take too long, because I NEED TO EAT!!! Every second counts.

I am the EXACT same way, only my body skips the tremors and goes right from slurring speech/having no clue what I am talking about RIGHT TO total attitude meltdown! LOL!!! I also get a SEVERE headache and fatigue.

Oooh, it's no fun!

 

[edandcolleen1995]

Well Imzadi, I have been an EMT-D for over 20 years. I understand what you are talking about....

The question is how you would travel and expect airlines to handle your needs? That is the main thing. You are paying them to fly you from point A to point B, not take care of your dietary needs.

You can manage what you need by packing smart and/or planning ahead and eating before the flight. You understand that, I am sure.. To blame the airline like you did was silly though.