Csavel From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1332 posts, RR: 5 Posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 2061 times:
As a vegetarian, I've always been curious about this.
I figure since they *pay* the crew instead of getting paid, if they have special dietary requirements they are on their own. Esp, since there are times when flight crew go on short notice.
I suppose on El Al, everything is kosher and on Airlines from Islamic countries they would be halal.
I may be ugly. I may be an American. But don't call me an ugly American.
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6203 posts, RR: 43 Reply 1, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1985 times:
Same as passengers. However, the flight crew do not eat the same entree. Safety reasons. You wouldn't want all the flight crew with food poisining at the same time. They can request special meals as can paying passengers.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
ILOVEA340 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 2100 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1950 times:
Critter_592 From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 279 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1937 times:
I heard the cockpit crew doesn't get to eat til after all pax, and they get whatever is left over.
Ambasaid From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1912 times:
It depends on the airline, I used to do charter work for different airlines. Some would give us First Class food for the crew including a special meal for the captain. Others would just give you a loaf of bread and some cold meat!!!
A number of low cost carriers in Europe dont supply crew meals at all.
TriStar From Belgium, joined Oct 1999, 848 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1894 times:
Flightdeck crew get meals that are different from those of the pax, and both get different meals from one another, too. If special dietary needs are in order, one had better take his or her own food along... Such is life.
As side information; I used to be vegetarian myself, too. On doctor's advice, however, I gave up on it. Apparently, flying over 30.000 ft causes the iron level in one's blood to drop drastically. (At one point, I had the numbers to prove it.) When not trying to regularly boost it by eating some meat, one would need additional "iron injections" in order not to grow too weak. (Tablets appear not to be an option, since they may cause an ulcer in the long run.)
I thought you might be interested to know this. Remember, this is what my doctor told me - I didn't make it up, myself. For the record: my doctor is somewhat of an authority when it comes to the rather specific combination of medicine and aviation.
Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1857 times:
I've seen flight crews enjoying meals of different types. I've seen them get something from the concourse resturants; I've seen them bring a sack lunch, and I've seen them served the leftovers from the Business Class cabin.
Rey777 From France, joined Apr 2001, 170 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1851 times:
It depends on the airline... My girlfriend is a crew member in Crossair. Sometimes they eat what pax dont eat. But they always have the same meal as pax. By the way, sometimes she brings me some stuff and that's pretty cool !
Braniff727 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 686 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1845 times:
On NWA they get special crew meals. There is usually a choice of two entrees, with bread, salad and dessert. They are often disgusting, yes worse than passenger meals. Additionally, they sometimes do not have enough if there is an FA add on the pattern.
I once had a crew meal on a flight that was left over (I was non reving with my BF). It was some sort of beef-esque product with barbeque sauce, salad and chocolate cake. Aside from the beef, it was pretty good.
Give it a GO From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 138 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1816 times:
No crew food at all at Go - unless you buy a sandwich
AAR90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3410 posts, RR: 50 Reply 11, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1818 times:
At AA, pilots receive first class pax meals when scheduled for a crew meal. There are no special meals available; however, upon captain's request additional pilot crew meals will be provided on flights not scheduled for one on an "as available" basis. FWIW, I have never been refused additional crew meals when providing the airport operations folks at least 30 minutes prior notice.
Flight Attendants receive a "snack pack" that contains "health food" style breakfast or lunch snacks. No longer sure of when their contract provides for these and the ones I've seen are not too appealing to my eye. I have on numerous occasions purchased "lunch" at airport resturants for my flight attendants provide we have enough sit time between flights to receive the food prior to boarding the next aircraft.
*NO CARRIER* -- A Naval Aviator's worst nightmare!
CALPilot From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 995 posts, RR: 15 Reply 12, posted (11 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 1783 times:
There is no rule in the US that requires the flight crew to eat different entrees!
Anawat From United States of America, joined May 2001, 87 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (11 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1755 times:
Must be nice to be SIA flight crew. Their food in first class is superb and a lot of variety too.
At least the flight crew don't get to drink Dom Perigeon
with their meal... blah... ha.. at least not when they're on duty.
Southern From Australia, joined Jul 2000, 198 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (11 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1735 times:
While I was working as a pilot aboard Southern Australia Airlines (now QantasLink) Dash 8 service from MEL to CBR return, I was served a J class meal (from MEL to CBR), where as all the pax were given the normal Y class meals. On return we were given a whole bunch of nicknacks from peanuts to sweets! Plus free drink previlages!
Csavel From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1332 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (11 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1734 times:
Hey, tristar thanks for the info.
How often did you fly, were you an F/A or a cockpit crewmember?
If a passenger flies about once a month, is this an issue?
Sorry if this seems a bit OT for the other posters.
I may be ugly. I may be an American. But don't call me an ugly American.
TriStar From Belgium, joined Oct 1999, 848 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (11 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1706 times:
Hi Csavel,
Since I'm (still) a F/A myself, you could say I fly practically on a daily basis. From a pax point of view, I would say the vegetarian lifestyle can be combined with flying, say, once a month, just perfectly.
Aside from the flying activities, you had better make sure you have a varried menu, though. However, getting into that would really be off topic, I'm afraid. Mind you, there are plenty of good resources on the Net that will provide you with lots of helfpful information on vegetarianism in general.
IAHERJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 677 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (11 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1698 times:
I can't speak for all U.S. carriers but Continental Express crews eat the same food as the PAX. The PAX normally have some sort of choice of breakfast bagels/cereal etc and the crew is given much of the same. The Captain can authorize free liquer for maintenance delays or really anything at all. Normally the crew meals are delivered by the catering truck but sometimes they come down the jetway seperate if the pax are not eating but crew meals were requested by the crew.
Skyhawk From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1065 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (11 years 11 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1667 times:
Flight crews(both cabin and cockpit) eat the same thing as the passengers usually. Pan Am used to increase the catering in first class to accomodate the number of crew members of board that particular day. For instance going to Tokyo we naturally had much more of a selection for the crew since we fed the passengers two meals and one snack going out of New York(the flight was scheduled for a non-stop 12 1/2 hrs.) than we would have had say on London(about 5 -51/2 hrs.).
As far as the pilots eating different meals goes, it really depended on the captain. If he insisted, then it happened, if not then it was whatever the three guys wanted.
Us330 From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 3745 posts, RR: 14 Reply 19, posted (11 years 11 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1656 times:
CALPilot, although there is no law stating this, carriers often provide their flight crews with meals that are different from what their passengers are eating. This is just a "play it safe" move, and the effects of what can happen when this doesn't occur is illustrated by the movie "Airplane".
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From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1332 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Belgium, joined Oct 1999, 848 posts, 
From France, joined Apr 2001, 170 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 138 posts, 
at least not when they're on duty.
From Australia, joined Jul 2000, 198 posts, 
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