[degan]

After an accupulation of problems with US Airways which included delays, missed connections as a result, deception by US Airways staff, and horendous overbooking of flights I was finally placed on a flight to continue the journey. I was in the second last row on the plane....the food cart began to make its way down the isle...at the halfway mark....the attendants announced WE ARE OUT OF FOOD...NO SOUP FOR YOU! This was not a one hour flight but rather a cross country flight philadelphia to LA. I can understand decreasing food service on puddle jumpers but there needs to be a ruling made that consummers are entitled to nourishment on flights over 3 hours. Diabetics, children, elderly beware of US AIR....NO SOUP FOR YOU!

[Corbel]

airlines only put so much food on, they dont cater for all 130 people on board, not everybody buys the food. the last part of you post you say "Diabetics, children, elderly beware of US AIR....NO SOUP FOR YOU! " most people (if diabetic or the parent) would bring snacks...i always bring my own food. its funny that you also mention..."there needs to be a ruling made that consummers are entitled to nourishment on flights over 3 hours" my coworkers and i were talking about this the other day, when there use to be food on most flights...people complained because the quality sucked, then when airlines cut back on the food, people complained that there is no food...what do they want!!!! i get the catering sheets from my company all the time, and its no wonder the airlines cut back on food. for 3 hours, bring your own....3 hours isn't that long of a flight, but if you need something to eat, eat before you get on the flight or bring snacks....always the best way to go, never rely on the airline having enough for everybody

[countrynewsman]

Originally Posted by degan

I can understand decreasing food service on puddle jumpers but there needs to be a ruling made that consummers are entitled to nourishment on flights over 3 hours. Diabetics, children, elderly beware of US AIR....NO SOUP FOR YOU!

I do not agree. If you're diabetic, etc., make sure you bring a sandwich, snacks, whatever, before you board. Airports have fast food, sandwich shops, and places to buy snacks. Even our little regional airport in Killeen, Texas has a Subway sandwich shop. I am not interested in airline "cuisine"...I want to get where I'm going safely, on time, and have my bags arrive on the same flight. The days of entree choices in coach on a domestic flight are long gone. Get used to it.

[jimworcs]

Corbel, I kind of agree that 3 hours is not that long to go without food...and believe me, I like my food!

However.. there is a curious attitude hidden in your post...

my coworkers and i were talking about this the other day, when there use to be food on most flights...people complained because the quality sucked

then when airlines cut back on the food, people complained that there is no food...what do they want!!!!

These two statements are very revealing about the attitude of airline employees to quality. The customer complains about the quality of the food and doesn't eat it. The airline response.. lets cut back on the food. Did it occur to them to improve the quality of the food? Not at all.

Many passengers complained about the handling of the luggage, both in terms of it not arriving with the customer or getting lost or stolen. Solution most quality oriented companies would adopt.... improve luggage handling. Solution the airlines with their abusive monopolies adopted.,... charge for the luggage and warn them not to pack valuables and see if we can discourage them from taking luggage.

That tells you all you need to know about quality and the attitude of airlines and their employees to quality improvement.

[Corbel]

but one thing to also remember is that the airline doesn't make the food. a catering company (skychefs etc.) make the food. some airlines contract with great catering and good food (Lufthansa, at least from ORD-FRA) others not so good (air india) the catering my company gets at our base is ok, in germany its amazing, depends on who we have at each station. as far as baggage....agreed 100% that this needs to be improved, i still say if the airline charges people for luggage and the luggage doesn't arrive with the customer, give them a refund on the cost of checking luggage...i think its wrong for the airline to keep that money, they didn't hold their end of the deal.

[degan]

The comment referred to flights OVER 3 hours. International flights which are longer provide food. Cross country flights are LONG>>>>4 to 6 hours. They should not run out of food on long flights.

[Leatherboy2006]

After visiting for Easter, I put my diabetic, elderly aunt on a American Eagle flight from Dallas/Love Field to Chicago. Even for this short flight (about 2 1/2 hours). My partner and I made sure she had with her, a sandwich(leftover Easter Ham makes great sandwiches), some chips and other things in a lunch bag for her. Due to her being in a wheelchair I was able to get a gate pass to go to gate with her and even at little old Love Field I was able to purchase her a bottle of OJ and water to take with her on the plane.
So its not impossible to make sure you have stuff to eat.
Also I seem to remeber back in the day when airlines serviced food comics and even night show talk hosts use to make fun of the food. No everyone is crying cause its gone, at least you can bring on stuff that you would like and want to eat.

[exexpat]

Agree. Skychef has 2 menu items on long flights. Chicken with rice nasty item or Beef with rice type nasty item. I remember when people complained about how bland the food was back in the 70's and 80's. If you can't warm up something that is playing to be upscale - I'll take the plain ham and cheese sandwich. There should be enough food on the plane to feed all those aboard. They've been in this business since the late 40's - it should not be rocket science by now.