After traveling as a passenger with multiple airlines in other countries over the years and being served a meal — or, at least, some semblance of a meal — should airlines serve meals again in the economy class cabin in the United States for domestic flights?
Should Airlines Serve Meals Again in the Economy Class Cabin in the United States?
At one time in the United States, every passenger who was traveling a certain amount of hours aboard an airplane would be served a meal. If the duration of the domestic flight was long enough, each passenger would have a choice of meals…
…but in recent years, about all that a passenger can expect when seated in the economy class cabin aboard an airplane is a small packet of snacks and a beverage — or perhaps two services of a choice of a small packet of snacks and a choice of beverage. The snacks are usually nuts, pretzels, cookies, or a granola bar.
I would hesitantly agree with people that if the duration of a flight was perhaps five hours long, then a meal should be served. Going five consecutive hours without eating much of anything — six consecutive hours if the time from boarding the airplane to leaving the airplane at the gate at the destination airport is included — might seem inhumane.
Passengers are permitted to bring their own food aboard the airplane in order to stave off hunger during the flight — but some passengers bring aboard food that is not conducive to the comfort of other passengers. Fried fast food or food that is prepared with a significant amount of garlic are two examples of meals that could fill a cabin with an aroma that could be considered expensive.
The advent of basic economy airfares and ultra-low-cost airlines only worsened the meal situation, as those concepts were ways to sell seats for the same price as before but offer significantly less in return — including not permitting the selection of seats prior to one day before the departure of the flight; extra charges to use the overhead storage bin; and with some airlines, no snacks or beverages at all.
Ultra-low-cost airlines are fairly straightforward with what they offer; but legacy airlines do everything they can to lure customers with the lowest airfares possible — but without disclosing up front that the fares are basic economy fares and not the typical economy class fares that give passengers options that used to be included in the least expensive fare…
…and despite the clear and obvious warnings that are displayed during the process of booking tickets about the restrictions that are included with a basic economy fare, passengers still book them because they are the lowest airfare offered.
The problem with reintroducing meals in the economy class cabin during domestic flights within the United States is that they cost airlines money — so they pass on the cost to the consumer plus a little extra for profit. As an example, you will likely get served a meal in the first class cabin during a flight — perhaps even in the premium economy cabin, although passengers who are seated there are usually presented with a basket of their choice of snacks and not a meal — but you will pay a significant amount more money for the privilege.
Final Boarding Call
I would be a proponent of bringing meal service back to the economy class cabin — but I used the word hesitantly earlier in this article for two reasons:
- Fares would certainly increase significantly as a result; and
- Except for dietary reasons, passengers would not be able to choose the meal for which they indirectly paid
Although I enjoyed when meals and food were served during flights while I was a passenger aboard airplanes in other countries, I did find at rare times that I did not like what was served. For example, I cannot bring myself to eat a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread with some mayonnaise or mystery spread simply because I do not like it — but I also do not like to see food go to waste, either.
Plenty of ways exist to get sustenance when traveling — including but not limited to:
- Dine at a restaurant before or after a flight
- Bring a meal aboard the airplane on which to dine during a flight
- Carry nutritious snacks aboard the airplane that will not spoil easily
- Obtain an annual membership to access airport lounges, which often provide an assortment of food, snacks, and beverages
Now it is your turn to opine with your thoughts: should airlines in the United States introduce meals aboard airplanes for domestic flights once again?
All photographs ©2024 and ©2025 by Brian Cohen.
