Food-for-sale menu on airlines: How much would you pay for a Clif bar?

by Jamie Rhein on

Over at Blogging Stocks, Zac’s posted a tidbit about the food-for-sale menu on American Airlines. The carrier is offering special menus through December 17. Each week there are new items. How does a $5 turkey sandwich sound? That’s the sandwich offering Nov. 5–Nov. 11.

Right now, it sounds good to me since I’m a bit hungry and I didn’t have lunch– particularly if it’s a sandwich made with multi-grain bread with a crunchy crust, crispy iceberg lettuce, a slice of juicy tomato, the right sized dollop of mayonnaise and a dash of black pepper–Oh, yes, and toast the bread please.

However, I don’t think I’d pay the $3 for a Clif Bar. First off, I don’t know what it is. I wasn’t willing to pay $5 for a cinnimon roll on Skybus either. Or $2 for that dinky cup of coffee. I was willing to pay for the breakfast sandwich though, although, the airline ran out so I didn’t get the chance. It was a good thing we sneaked food on since the $2 for a granola bar was way too much to ask, in my opinion. The $2 for a whole can of orange juice seemed reasonable enough, so I bought that. Besides, it helped wash down that bagel with cream cheese that I was carrying in my backpack.

As Zac points out, the overpriced food does help keep airfares down if people are willing to pay to quench their thirst and fill up their bellies. In general, I will fork over $5 for a bottle of wine. I don’t know why. Maybe because when I’m up in the air flying somewhere, it feels like a celebration. I get giddy. Plus, those bottles are kinda cute. What are you willing to pay for? If you can’t think of something how about. . .

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Yummiest First Class meals

by Neil Woodburn on

I just knew it would make me upset, but nonetheless, I couldn’t resist checking out a USA Today article entitled, Best First Class Meals.

And, as I suspected, I’m going to glare at the soggy $7 coach sandwich with even more disdain the next time I fly. That’s because those jerks up in First Class are basking in culinary Nirvana–at least on Gulf Air and Cathay Pacific. These two airlines snagged the top spots in an annual survey of the world’s best First Class meals.

And how did they earn such accolades? Try private chefs, caviar, Dom Perignon, made-to-order eggs, multi-course meals, specialties such as “honey glazed quail on a sweet potato cake,” and “Arabic spiced veal ragout,” and meals served on bone china.

If you really want to torture yourself, check out the accompanying Forbes slide show. It’s guaranteed to make your mouth water and possibly cause you to storm First Class in a daring food raid armed only with a stale baguette and a gnawing hunger.

Pilots fall asleep during red-eye flight

by Catherine Bodry on

Here’s another spooky story from the skies — and this one isn’t just an urban legend. Two pilots fell asleep during an all-night flight between Baltimore and Denver. One pilot woke up to “frantic” calls from air traffic control advising that they were approaching the airport at twice the allowed speed. The pilot was able to safely land the plane with no further problems.

The incident was anonymously documented through NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System. Both the airline and pilots are unknown, though the article implies that Frontier Airlines might be to blame.

The airline admits that pilot fatigue is a big problem in the airline industry, but that they have measures in place to help avoid events such as this one.

Read the full article here.

Singapore Airlines asks passengers to “please refrain from sex”

by Catherine Bodry on

Jamie already covered the potential outcome of putting double beds on an airplane. But now Singapore airlines is directly addressing the situation as well.

The airline’s new Airbus A380 flies with two double beds in First Class, which are made private by a screen. But the airline is hoping to quash any funny-business ideas travelers might get when booking a lover’s package First Class bed. In a statement to Reuters, the airline said “All we ask of customers, wherever they are on our aircraft, is to observe standards that don’t cause offense to other customers and crew.” I’d say that statement is open to interpretation, wouldn’t you?

A passenger on the inaugral flight argued, “So they’ll sell you a double bed, and give you privacy and endless champagne and then say you can’t do what comes naturally?” Still, the rooms aren’t completely soundproof or sealed, so you’ve either got to have mad skills or enjoy the fact that you might get caught.
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Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards 2007

by Jamie Rhein on

If “only but the best ” is one of your adages, this month’s issue of Condé Nast Traveler lists the best of everything from hotels to cities to airlines. The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on reader votes. With 100 bests, perhaps you’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed one of them.

I’m feeling a bit puffed up because I’ve been to 9 of the top 10 cities–even if a couple were only a quick run through–some, like New York City, I’ve been to again and again. At the top of the list is San Francisco. Yep, I’ve been there. I haven’t been to Charleston, South Carolina, though. I’ve heard it’s divine.

My puffed upness, however, is dashed by the fact that I have not stayed at one of the top 100 hotels. Sad, sad, sad. Although, I haven’t stayed at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City, number 7 on the list, I have stayed at the one in Singapore. Sweet.

I’ve also taken 5 of the top 10 international airlines. Singapore Airlines is number one. Remember, this is the airline with those double beds I wrote about. Domestic airlines are a different story. I’ve only been on two of those. Southwest with all its wacky dress issues still squeaked in at number 10. There’s much more in the article. Check it out to see how close to the mark you’ve been with your travel choices.