In-Flight Menu
An in-flight menu is the food and drink an airline serves you right at your seat - and ten kilometers above the ground, everything tastes a little different than it does down below. The very first in-flight meal in history was a modest affair: on October 11, 1919, passengers flying Handley Page Transport from London to Paris could buy a boxed lunch with a sandwich, fruit and chocolate for three shillings. By the 1920s, though, European carriers were already bringing lobster and foie gras on board.
I fly low-cost airlines most of the time, so I know all too well that free food on board isn't a given. That's why every flight where the in-flight menu is included in the ticket price feels like a small celebration to me.
Why Food Tastes Different on a Plane
An airplane cabin is a hostile place for your taste buds: the lower pressure and dry air dull both smell and taste. A 2010 study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Lufthansa found that in flight, our perception of saltiness drops by 20 to 30 percent and of sweetness by 15 to 20 percent. Food on a plane tastes a bit like it does when you have a cold, so airline caterers make up for it with bolder seasoning. It's also why so many people order tomato juice on board when they'd never touch it on the ground.
The second limitation is time. The food is cooked by a specialized catering company at the airport, goes on board chilled and is only reheated during the flight. On a short flight you'll hardly notice, but on a long one you will. Scrambled eggs made many hours ago just can't compete with fresh ones - I found that out at breakfast on a flight from Istanbul to Mauritius. On long-haul flights, there's practically no fix for this, whatever the airline.
A practical tip: most airlines offer gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, kosher or halal meals, but only if you order them well ahead of departure. Once you're on board, nobody can conjure one up for you.
Turkish Airlines: A Menu I Keep Coming Back To
The best in-flight menu I've had so far was on Turkish Airlines. It's included in the ticket price even on short flights - on the route from Prague to Istanbul, I got chicken curry with hummus and chocolate mousse as well as Turkish köfte with rice and a bean salad. That chocolate mousse with whipped cream, by the way, is the best dessert that's ever landed on my tray table.
Long-haul flights are in a different league altogether. On the way to Mauritius, the crew handed out amenity kits and printed menus after takeoff, so I knew in advance what I had to look forward to: hummus with warm baguette, chicken biryani, and to drink, Turkish wine, beer or tea. The return flight came with a bonus for aviation enthusiasts: we flew on the "Kushimoto", a plane in a special historic livery celebrating 125 years of friendship between Turkey and Japan.
A late-night departure from Istanbul also comes with my favorite ritual of full-service flying: I went straight to the plane from the iGA Lounge, so I'd eaten the first course of the evening before we even left the ground. Airport lounges are a whole other story, by the way.
Low-Cost Airlines: Water for a Fee, Köfte for Loyalty Points
Low-cost carriers play by different rules. Your ticket buys you a seat from point A to point B, and everything else is an extra - even a cup of water. Traditional European airlines are heading the same way: on flights within Europe, it's now common to get no free snacks at all in economy.
You can still eat well on board, though. The in-flight menu on Turkey's Pegasus Airlines took me by surprise: juicy köfte with nicely seasoned bulgur and a sandwich that definitely didn't skimp on the kaşar cheese. Thanks to the BolBol loyalty program, I treat myself to it every now and then with the points I've collected.
Most of the time, though, I take a third approach: I don't buy anything on low-cost flights and spend the money I save after landing - in a teahouse or at a kebab stand, where it goes straight to the locals.
On a long-haul flight, I see the in-flight menu as an integral part of the trip; on a short one, I can do without it. What about you - do you pick your airline based on the food too, or do you board with your own snacks?
Pegasus Airlines In-Flight Menu
Pegasus Airlines is a Turkish low-cost carrier known for cheap flights to exotic destinations. While the basic fare does not include any refreshments, the BolBol loyalty program offers an interesting alternative. You can easily turn points collected for flights into a free hot meal. I recommend betting on their local, Turkish cuisine.
Turkish Airlines In-Flight Menu on Long-Haul Flights
The in-flight menu on long-haul flights is an important part of the overall experience of a long journey. The menu served on Turkish Airlines flights provides a pleasant culinary experience. The complete menu is included in the ticket price with Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines In-Flight Menu (2)
Even on short flights, Turkish Airlines offers an outstanding gastronomic experience in economy class. In my case, dinner included Turkish köfte with rice, sautéed vegetables, and a bean salad, accompanied by a mascarpone dessert with forest fruits, a freshly warmed bread roll, butter, and jam. The breakfast menu featured scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a toast with kaşar cheese and turkey ham, muesli with milk and fruit, Turkish cheeses, and olives. A selection of non-alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, coffee, and tea is available with the meal. The in-flight menu is included in the ticket price.
Turkish Airlines In-Flight Menu
Turkish Airlines offer an in-flight menu even on shorter flights, included in the ticket price. Breakfast often includes scrambled eggs, a roasted tomato, a warmed bread roll, a selection of cheeses, olives, cucumber, brownies, cherry jam, butter, and bottled water. Hot beverages, juices, wine, or beer are also available. The afternoon menu on my flight featured chicken curry with rice and grilled pepper, hummus with an olive, chocolate mousse with whipped cream, and other accompaniments like bread, butter, and jam. The portions are large, and the quality of the food is high for an airline.