Airline food is looking better!
Could it be better?
We know that food tastes bland at cabin altitudes up to 8,000 ft/2,400 m, and low humidity, typically 5-10%. Additionally, thousands of meals prepared industrially up to 12 hours before departure and then reheated on board can't possibly compare to a freshly made dish in your favorite restaurant. Add to that weight, cooking limitations, and above all, food safety that must be flawless. Considering all these factors, good airline food is nothing short of a miracle!
The convergence of game-changing technology and market trends has greatly improved airline meals. On the tech side, the new generation of airliners, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350, made mostly with composite materials instead of aluminum, feature lower cabin altitude and higher humidity. Although the 20% humidity provided on the Airbus A350 is still far from the optimal 40%-60% environment, the meals will taste much better!
You can upgrade your meal
With the option to purchase a better meal at booking, airlines are likely to offer increasingly better meals to compete in the market and to increase revenue from economy class passengers. In very competitive markets, the premium meals profit could even exceed the net margin.
Keeping in mind that the free basic meal is merely included in the ticket price, I like the choice of buying a simple or fancy meal from the airline, or not! On a night flight, I might prefer to eat before leaving and go right to sleep while, on the hand, on a long day flight, a premium meal would be a nice extra to break the monotony. Or, if the selection offered is unattractive or a poor value, I might just pick up a fresh salad box before boarding as airport food selection and quality has also greatly improved ... Gatwick Airport comes to mind where so many choices are available.
One more tip: Don't waste your money on fine and expensive wine. At 8,000 ft cabin pressure and 5% humidity, a strong-bodied everyday red will probably have more taste, and it will put you to sleep a little quicker!