US Domestic on-board "Food for purchase"

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Blackcat

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The family and I will shortly be holidaying through the US, including flights from SFO to Orlando and JFK to LAX (on United and American Airlines). We note that on these flights there will be food available for purchase.

Does anyone know how good/bad/indifferent this airline food is? We'll be travelling at dinner time and will have 2 fussy kids with us.

Will we be better off buying some sandwiches or something and taking them on board in preference to the on-air tucker??

Thanks all.
 
I assume you are flying economy?

If so I would advise buying something beforehand either eating in an Airport restaurant or to eat on board. Just though for the sake of the other PAX - no hot stinky food ;)

my understanding is that the food for purchase is about teh same quality as the food for free in whY on QF - so pretty poor. As an FYI domestic food in F isnt that great either ;)
 
Buying food to take on board in Y is very common on US domestic flights. I have even heard announcements at the AA gate for pax to "buy food now as we will be boarding soon". :-| I think this would certainly be preferable to buying food on board.

I've only ever tried the food on AA domestic J and it was similar to Qantas domestic J, though without the nice touches and Qantas service level.
 
On my last flight, the FA announced the "snacks" for purchase were things like packets of M&Ms US$3), Lays Potato Chips (US$3) and bottled water (US$2.50). If you want real food, purchase it in the terminal and carry it on. Most food outlets in US airports provide "to go" options.
 
I concur,
For the sake of yourself and the kids, eat before getting on the plane or bring it on. Even if your not hungry, stuff a quick cheeseburger in..

AA have a nice habit of saying 'Food for Purchase', then provide nothing. A lovely packet of pretzels, and that’s it.
I was on a an AA flight from DFW-ACA about 3 hours. FFP was advertised.
(It was also advertised on the ATL-DFW, but nothing)
They didn’t mention anything about the change before liftoff and we starved.

The FA's were so embarrassed they handed out another round of pretzels.

You should be ok JFK-LAX, but who knows. Another thing to remember is if this is the connection to fly back to OZ with QF, you will get to LAX about 8-9pm and
food at LAX at this time is hard to come by. Especially if you’re leaving TBIT to fly back to MEL.
Bring lots of snacks for the kids just in case.

Have fun
 
I think this may be a stupid wuestion but if I was travelling on a QF flight number (AA metal with codeshare) LAX-JFK on AA for example, is it the same as Jetstar and I would receive a meal included in Y?
 
No - think yourself lucky that if you fly QF metal on an AA flight number (to do a challenge) you dont get AA meal service ;)
 
simongr said:
No - think yourself lucky that if you fly QF metal on an AA flight number (to do a challenge) you dont get AA meal service ;)

Thanks Simongr, thought that may be the case! :p
 
My Advice,

I have travelled in First (Business Class) in the US as well as Economy. The food for purchase is a bit worse to what they would offer you on a Virgin Blue Flight..

So eat something at the Airport - depending on the terminal you are departing from..

- JP
 
Homer said:
I've only ever tried the food on AA domestic J and it was similar to Qantas domestic J, though without the nice touches and Qantas service level.
The Cheese pizza is always a winner in AA J :!: :rolleyes:
 
Mate, if space wasn't an issue when visiting the USA taking enough food for your whole trip would be wonderful. I have a theory that their abysmal, sugar laden nutrient poor trash that passes as food there is largely responsible for the social decay. I believe the vast quantities of sugar ingested attack the brain either making one very smart or very daft. Having said that it is a great country, just that normal food can be quite tough to track down in many parts. One of the best meals I had was at a Mennonite restaurant, simple but very tasty.

As others have pointed out AA snack 'food' is to be avoided at all costs (unless you crave a sugar rush, chewing the seat cushion would be more nutritious but remeber it is also the flotation device so leave some). Some of the other airlines are just slightly better.
 
Last couple of flights I had in the US were distinctly not food friendly - LA to NYC - flew business class and all I was offered was a turkey roll and a cuppa! Not happy Jan! Declined the turkey roll - just had the cuppa in a chunky mug! NYC to Cleveland from La Guardia (what a hole!) - the flight attendant told us we were very lucky - she had food left over from the previous flight and would happily give it out to us! Then I wasnt sure if I wanted it - how left over was it? I usually travel with small packages of quality snack foods - sesame snaps, dried fruit, those little snack packs of crackers & spread or cheese, Godiva raspberry dark choc bars (from US) etc but making sure no quarantine issues.
 
Homer said:
Buying food to take on board in Y is very common on US domestic flights. I have even heard announcements at the AA gate for pax to "buy food now as we will be boarding soon".

I have generally heard the same thing, but normally also has "as we dont carry much food and the flight is very full today" included in the announcement.
 
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In August 2006 I did a number of domestic flights in the USA and due to previous experience with inflight food I found it better to take my own on board. I would buy fresh bread rolls are the local drug store (and they are everywhere), tubes of cheese spread which doubled as butter, packets of ham etc etc, and plastic knives which stayed in my checked luggage. The night prior to my flight I would make up some rolls, and this alleviated any problem with airport or inflight food and besides being cheap I knew what I was getting.
 
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