Food on SWA

[Cruisin]

We are flying SWA for the first time. It is a long flight from Detroit to San Diego with a stop in Phoenix (no plane change, we do not get off the plane),a 6 hour stay onboard the airplane. Our flight starts mid morning and therefore goes across the lunch part of the day. I was wondering where I can find out what food might be available onboard the plane. I've not been able to find any good information on the SW website.

Just wondering if there will be something to purchase for lunch or should we pick something up before we board the plane?

 

[rszdtrvl]

Southwest does not serve food on the plane. Peanuts or pretzels will be all they serve.

Your best bet is to either bring something that is TSA safe from home or grab something at the airport to munch on the plane.

 

[Cruisin]

Southwest does not serve food on the plane. Peanuts or pretzels will be all they serve.

Your best bet is to either bring something that is TSA safe from home or grab something at the airport to munch on the plane.

Okay. Thank you for the information. I appreciate the input.

 

[DisneyWitch]

I'm a frequent SWA flier and often fly from the east coast to the west coast. I hope you don't mind the length of the post, but I hope to share some of my experiences, and also hope to share some tips!

Previous posters are correct - SWA does not offer food on their flights other than pretzels, cookies and peanuts. Hardly something that will last you for so many hours.

You have some options.

1. Bring an insulated lunchbag as a carry on with sandwiches, raw veggies or other appropriate foods with you. Make sure it's TSA safe - salad dressing, jelly, pudding, etc., should be left at home. Do not bring drinks, even sealed water bottles - they will get confiscated. Trust me.

I bring my own lunch all the time and it works out great. I also bring an EMPTY filter bottle and fill it with water at the airport after the TSA fiasco, er, search. It saves me about $4 a bottle on water. If you choose to do this, make sure you fully loosen (almost open) the top of your bottle during the flight. You see, the air pressure will squeeze the water OUT of the bottle's filter straw during the flight and your lap / purse / carryon / seatback pocket will get wet. Again, learn from my mistakes! LOL

2. You can always purchase food for the trip at your departure airport, after you pass security. There are many restaurants and delis that will pack stuff up to-go. Be aware, however, that they know they have a captive audience and will charge an arm and a leg for the convenience. For example, the last time I was in the Las Vegas Airport, at Burger King, a simple Whopper meal cost nearly $15. Same in California, Phoenix, Nashville, etc.

3. Depending on how long your layover in Phoenix is, you might be able to sneak out into the airport and get some fast food, though there's not an awful lot of the fast food variety at PHX (I was just there 2 weeks ago), at least not in the terminals I was in. Your crew may not allow you to exit though, so that's more of a chancy thing.

Personally, I'd pack my favorite foods the night before, pop it in a soft insulated bag, and keep it in my purse or other carryon. Some good foods that travel well are carrot and celery sticks, nuts, sandwiches on hardy bread (ciabatta rolls are excellent for this, but refrain from using mayo as that could spoil), apple slices (spritz them with lemon juice to keep them from browning), raisins, dried fruits, beef jerky, lunchables (careful that they don't have liquid in them!!), and cheeses (remember the funk factor, though). Avoid items like tuna fish or other "smelly" foods (no limburger!!!) that could get you a lot of dirty looks and maybe a mean comment or two.

If you absolutely need mayo on your sandwiches, go for the little packages that are found at many sandwich joints.

I've brought my own foods on SWA flights quite a few times. Not only does it give me the freedom to eat when I need and want to, but I can stay on any dietary restrictions. Moreover, I'm saving a bunch of money this way, rather than selling my firstborn for a lukewarm hamburger.

I wish you luck and a delightful trip!

 

[Cruisin]

DisneyWitch, thanks for all of the wonderful tips and no I definitely don't mind the length of your post.

We fly often but we don't usually do such long haul flights and have never flown on SW before. This time we are heading out for a Panama Canal cruise on the Disney Wonder out of San Diego

We fly out of Detroit but we also have the added fun of crossing the US/Canadian border first.

I think bringing a lunch from home might be the best option. I will have to check out not only what I can fly with but what I can also easily bring across the border.

Thanks again.

 

[tjmw2727]

There is no TSA restriction on food as long as isn't liquid or jell and in fact a sandwich with mayo is fine, pb&J sandwich is fine, bagel with cream cheese petc. However if you want to bring the mayo, jelly, peanut butter, cream cheese or even salad dressings separately you can pack them in containers less than 3.4oz and put them in your 3-1-1 bag.

We always pack a lunch with sandwiches, snacks, fruit, raw veggies etc. I use frozen grapes in a couple zip lock bags as an ice pack.

I then purchase drinks at the airport after security and add them to the lunch bag so we have the brands we like and don't have to wait for the FA's to serve..

TSA org has all the info you need on the TSA restrictions.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.... I was wondering where I can find out what food might be available onboard the plane. I've not been able to find any good information on the SW website.

....

Maybe you were looking in the wrong place; it's right on the website:

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/inflight-experience/index.html


Peanuts and pretzels are complimentary as well as an assorted selection of non-alcoholic beverages.
Cocktails, beer, and wine may be purchased at a minimal charge.

 

[Cruisin]

Maybe you were looking in the wrong place; it's right on the website:

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/inflight-experience/index.html


Peanuts and pretzels are complimentary as well as an assorted selection of non-alcoholic beverages.
Cocktails, beer, and wine may be purchased at a minimal charge.

Yes I saw that on the website but most airlines offer some sort of food for purchase, whether it is fresh sandwiches etc or just boxed up packaged snacks. I wasn't seeing that on the website so I was just wondering if I was missing something.

Thanks for the link though.

 

[Cruisin]

There is no TSA restriction on food as long as isn't liquid or jell and in fact a sandwich with mayo is fine, pb&J sandwich is fine, bagel with cream cheese petc. However if you want to bring the mayo, jelly, peanut butter, cream cheese or even salad dressings separately you can pack them in containers less than 3.4oz and put them in your 3-1-1 bag.

We always pack a lunch with sandwiches, snacks, fruit, raw veggies etc. I use frozen grapes in a couple zip lock bags as an ice pack.

I then purchase drinks at the airport after security and add them to the lunch bag so we have the brands we like and don't have to wait for the FA's to serve..

TSA org has all the info you need on the TSA restrictions.

Thanks for the help.

 

[NotUrsula]

There is no TSA restriction on food as long as isn't liquid or jell and in fact a sandwich with mayo is fine, pb&J sandwich is fine, bagel with cream cheese, etc. However if you want to bring the mayo, jelly, peanut butter, cream cheese or even salad dressings separately you can pack them in containers less than 3.4oz and put them in your 3-1-1 bag.

We always pack a lunch with sandwiches, snacks, fruit, raw veggies etc. I use frozen grapes in a couple zip lock bags as an ice pack.

I then purchase drinks at the airport after security and add them to the lunch bag so we have the brands we like and don't have to wait for the FA's to serve..

TSA org has all the info you need on the TSA restrictions.

Yep; you can bring all the gooey mayo or cake icing you like as long as it is already spread on the bread when you take it through Security.
If you want to put it on at the last minute, your quantity is limited as above. I find that restaurants that have these small condiment packets will often be willing to sell them to you for $.15 cents or so if you need several. Caterer's trick, btw: if you find that condiments make bread soggy if applied too soon, try spreading a VERY thin film of butter on first to "waterproof" the bread so that the dressing will not easily soak into it.

One trick you may want to be able to use: if you are traveling with family you can have one person carry all of the 3-1-1 baggies; just put names on them so that the TSO's can tell that each one is for a different passenger.
That way, you can fill one of the baggies with nothing but condiments, mini-yoghurts, cheese and cracker packets, etc, if you like, and then just pop it right back into the lunch cooler once past TSA.

If you don't like frozen grapes and such, you can always bring a doubled ziploc full of ice from home to keep your lunch cool until you arrive at the airport. At that point, dump the ice alone into the trash or a bathroom sink, keep the ziploc, and go to a food counter air-side to buy drinks and have the ice bag filled up again.

Oh, one other thing: be careful of items that leave debris behind that holds an odor, such as cold fried chicken with bones, garlic salami, or tuna packages, etc. Also, it's best not to bring PBJ, because there is always a chance that someone has asked ask that the flight be declared peanut-free, in which case the FA's will ask you not to eat it on the plane, though they cannot insist.

Our favorite local deli will pack up boxed lunches to go for airline travel; we pick them up the evening before or on our way to the airport, prepaid. (We have sometimes had other passengers offer us rather substantial amounts of money for them, too. )

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yep; you can bring all the gooey mayo or cake icing you like as long as it is already spread on the bread when you take it through Security.
If you want to put it on at the last minute, your quantity is limited as above. I find that restaurants that have these small condiment packets will often be willing to sell them to you for $.15 cents or so if you need several. Caterer's trick, btw: if you find that condiments make bread soggy if applied too soon, try spreading a VERY thin film of butter on first to "waterproof" the bread so that the dressing will not easily soak into it.

One trick you may want to be able to use: if you are traveling with family you can have one person carry all of the 3-1-1 baggies; just put names on them so that the TSO's can tell that each one is for a different passenger.
That way, you can fill one of the baggies with nothing but condiments, mini-yoghurts, cheese and cracker packets, etc, if you like, and then just pop it right back into the lunch cooler once past TSA.

If you don't like frozen grapes and such, you can always bring a doubled ziploc full of ice from home to keep your lunch cool until you arrive at the airport. At that point, dump the ice alone into the trash or a bathroom sink, keep the ziploc, and go to a food counter air-side to buy drinks and have the ice bag filled up again.

Oh, one other thing: be careful of items that leave debris behind that holds an odor, such as cold fried chicken with bones, garlic salami, or tuna packages, etc. Also, it's best not to bring PBJ, because there is always a chance that someone has asked ask that the flight be declared peanut-free, in which case the FA's will ask you not to eat it on the plane, though they cannot insist.

Our favorite local deli will pack up boxed lunches to go for airline travel; we pick them up the evening before or on our way to the airport, prepaid. (We have sometimes had other passengers offer us rather substantial amounts of money for them, too. )

1. Anything frozen solid is allowed through security.

2. Peanut butter sandwiches are fine. Over the past 6 years, my husband and I have flown over 1 1/2 million miles on UA alone and not once have either of us been on a flight where a peanut allergy was announced. Even if you are, you aren't going to affect anyone with a contact peanut allergy unless they are sitting next to you. (I will not engage in further discussion of allergies on planes; this has been discussed to death).

3. No need to label 311 bags.

4. I hate sitting next to someone who brings on McDonald's. Disgusting smell!

 

[Cruisin]

Yep; you can bring all the gooey mayo or cake icing you like as long as it is already spread on the bread when you take it through Security.
If you want to put it on at the last minute, your quantity is limited as above. I find that restaurants that have these small condiment packets will often be willing to sell them to you for $.15 cents or so if you need several. Caterer's trick, btw: if you find that condiments make bread soggy if applied too soon, try spreading a VERY thin film of butter on first to "waterproof" the bread so that the dressing will not easily soak into it.

One trick you may want to be able to use: if you are traveling with family you can have one person carry all of the 3-1-1 baggies; just put names on them so that the TSO's can tell that each one is for a different passenger.
That way, you can fill one of the baggies with nothing but condiments, mini-yoghurts, cheese and cracker packets, etc, if you like, and then just pop it right back into the lunch cooler once past TSA.

If you don't like frozen grapes and such, you can always bring a doubled ziploc full of ice from home to keep your lunch cool until you arrive at the airport. At that point, dump the ice alone into the trash or a bathroom sink, keep the ziploc, and go to a food counter air-side to buy drinks and have the ice bag filled up again.

Oh, one other thing: be careful of items that leave debris behind that holds an odor, such as cold fried chicken with bones, garlic salami, or tuna packages, etc. Also, it's best not to bring PBJ, because there is always a chance that someone has asked ask that the flight be declared peanut-free, in which case the FA's will ask you not to eat it on the plane, though they cannot insist.

Our favorite local deli will pack up boxed lunches to go for airline travel; we pick them up the evening before or on our way to the airport, prepaid. (We have sometimes had other passengers offer us rather substantial amounts of money for them, too. )

Thank you for all of the great information. Lots of useful stuff here.

1. Anything frozen solid is allowed through security.

2. Peanut butter sandwiches are fine. Over the past 6 years, my husband and I have flown over 1 1/2 million miles on UA alone and not once have either of us been on a flight where a peanut allergy was announced. Even if you are, you aren't going to affect anyone with a contact peanut allergy unless they are sitting next to you. (I will not engage in further discussion of allergies on planes; this has been discussed to death).

3. No need to label 311 bags.

4. I hate sitting next to someone who brings on McDonald's. Disgusting smell!

Thanks to you too for your help.

I have been on planes where they have announced peanut allergies before. I actually have a son who does have a peanut allergy but we never asked for special concessions when he flew or cruised or went to school. He's 30 now. He was more on the beginning fringe of when such allergies were becoming more common.

 

[Iamthequeen]

Make sure you take at least a bottle of water on the plane - bought after you go through security. On my last flight to Chicago (from BWI) we flew through a lot of turbulence and the flight attendants had to stay seated - so no snacks or drinks. I was sorry I didn't have a bottle of water with me and I will make sure from now on to take something with me.

 

[Cruisin]

Make sure you take at least a bottle of water on the plane - bought after you go through security. On my last flight to Chicago (from BWI) we flew through a lot of turbulence and the flight attendants had to stay seated - so no snacks or drinks. I was sorry I didn't have a bottle of water with me and I will make sure from now on to take something with me.

Good plan. I'll remember that because we are on a fairly long flight, could be really long without something to drink.

 

[NotUrsula]

1. Anything frozen solid is allowed through security.

Not always. It completely depends on who your TSO supervisor is, as they are allowed to use judgement on this one.. DS normally carries a frozen water bottle with him at all times, and his record through TSA is about 50/50 as to whether or not they will allow it through. (Naturally, he pours all of the liquid water out in front of them, but that still doesn't make some of them happy. Tampa Intl. categorically will not accept the "frozen solid" rule; they make you toss any ice you have.

2. Peanut butter sandwiches are fine. Over the past 6 years, my husband and I have flown over 1 1/2 million miles on UA alone and not once have either of us been on a flight where a peanut allergy was announced. Even if you are, you aren't going to affect anyone with a contact peanut allergy unless they are sitting next to you. (I will not engage in further discussion of allergies on planes; this has been discussed to death).

There are a lot of things in this world that I do not because I must, but because it makes life easier. Avoiding packing a sandwich which is fairly likely to bother a seatmate -- when it is quite easy to choose something else -- is part of that. It's right up there with that Mickey D's smell you hate so much; it's just kinder to avoid items that have the potential to bother other passengers.

3. No need to label 311 bags.

Need? No, but helpful? Yes, if you prefer to put them all in one bin for ease of getting through security with a large party. Labeling them will save time, because IME, there is about an 80% likelihood that the TSO who sees five 3-1-1 baggies in one bin is going to want to know who they belong to and then start lecturing about the limits. If you put names on them then they can see at a glance that they don't all belong to one person.

 

[bookgirl]

I fly SW almost exclusively. I have also never been asked not to eat certain foods on a plane, though I have been on flights where no peanuts were offered.

I always travel with a snack and occasionally in the past a lunch from home or a purchased lunch on the plane. However recently I got diagnosed with a hepton of allergies (but not to nuts LOL) last trip I had only a few things on me and needed to eat or purchase a lunch. I figured out quickly that the airport is probably the least allergy friendly place to eat. I will be traveling with a home packed lunch from now on for longer trips.

I usually take a sandwich with the condiments/peanutbutter already on it. Never had a problem with soggy bread but I only use enough mustard to cover the bread thinly and I don't tend to eat jelly. Bacon tends to be cured so it's actually a pretty good travel filling. (bacon lettuce cheese )

Before a trip I try to remember to check my stash of packaged condiments (I always save them for a few months in the fridge) to see if I have some that I can use for the trip. Sometimes I will make a conscious effort to get something in particular but those things multiply at the speed of sound. As soon as I throw some out I have dozens more within a month or two.

Toasted bread holds up the best, but I'm a big fan of tortillas since you can eat it one handed and you don't have as much spillage.

Water bottle is the most economical way to go. My home airport and every airport I've flown at in the last couple of years either have walk up ice/soda or they will give you a cup of ice water free. Take flavor packets if needed. I never buy soda a the airport, just crazy prices. If I do decided to have a soda I wait until the plane and get it free. (plus I never finish a whole coke since I'm not used to drinking a lot of it normally)

I avoid chips and brittle type crackers unless they are in a hard side container because the seem to get a little more wear and tear in the TSA/juggling luggage/looking for id/boarding pass chaos.

Fruit tends to get smushed same as above. I take dehydrated.

If you have the ziplock divided containers do your own luchables. Peperoni, and salami are pretty stable, add some slices of cheese and crackers some fruit make a nice light lunch, plus it's easy to access and portion out and can be easier than sandwiches on planes sometimes since you don't have a lot of elbow room.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cruisin]

Thanks to all for your help.

 

[rdevine10]

We often travel with our kids (but even before we had them or when we are not with them) we have a large choice of snacks with us.

(Have you ever been stuck on a runway for 3 hours with a 1 year old when you still have to make a 5 hour flight? I have!). Always good to have more than less.

We often find things like this travel well:

granola bars
protien bars
trail mix
rice krispy treats
muffins
apples
bananas
pretzels
carrott sticks
celery sticks

And we always either bring a water bottle to till up after security or buy 1 bottle per adult to have on the plane.

 

[Cruisin]

I can't imagine being stuck on a runway for that long with just me

With a one year old

I always have a few snacks with me too when I travel, you never know when the muchies are going to hit you.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[rdevine10]

I can't imagine being stuck on a runway for that long with just me

With a one year old

I always have a few snacks with me too when I travel, you never know when the muchies are going to hit you.

Thanks for the tips.

And she was a lap baby no less. Thankfully it was my oldest child who napped and was great the whole time. Shortly after that we always bought our kids their own seat. My 2nd could never be a lap baby- she needed to be strapped in her car seat or I would have all gray hair!