snacks Archives - TravelSkills

Meals & snacks in coach: Which airlines are best for you?

December 23, 2016

Delta’s food got healthier with things like wraps from Luvo. (Image: Delta)

A nutritionist rates Virgin America’s and Delta’s main cabin food as the healthiest.

Do you care about the calories and nutritional content of the food and snacks you eat on airlines? Charles Platkin PhD does. He’s a nutritionist with the online nom de plume ‘The Diet Detective’, and his latest annual study of airline food content for economy class travelers has Virgin America and Delta ranked at the top.

Virgin America’s offerings rated 4-1/4 stars overall in his study (on a 1 to 5 scale), while Delta pulled down 4 stars and a “most improved” designation. The bottom-dwellers in the study were Frontier and Spirit, each earning just one star and a “shame on you” catcall.

Platkin says Virgin America – which also took top honors in his 2015 study — continues to do “a very good job of creating interesting, thoughtful food in all categories except for individual snacks.” In fact, he says, “all the airlines could do better with their snack choices – there is no clear leader in this category.” (His data was gathered before Delta’s recent announcement of new snack choices.)

An edamame wrap on Virgin America. (Image: Virgin America)

Overall, “This has been a slow year in general for innovation in terms of healthy foods, transparency, and food consciousness (no GMOs, organic, lighter and sustainable foods),” he wrote. “Airlines other than Delta and Virgin America seem very slow to catch on to the food awareness that is going on around the country and around the world. I’d think it would be good business for them to provide better, healthier and more conscientious food.”

Air Canada matched Delta in earning 4 stars; ratings for other airlines were 3.75 for Alaska (making us wonder whether Alaska’s or Virgin’s menu planners will dominate after their merger); 3.5 for JetBlue; 3.25 for United; 3 for American; 2 for Southwest (peanuts, anyone?), 1.75 for Hawaiian and Allegiant; and 1 for Spirit and Frontier.

Economy class snack items on American. (Image: American Airlines)

For serious foodies, the best thing about the Diet Detective’s research is the comprehensive nutritional information he provides for every individual snack and meal offering on every airline, including calories, fat, sodium, protein, carbohydrate and fiber content, along with the number of minutes you’d have to walk to burn off each item. He also provides caloric totals and general conclusions for each carrier. Click on the above link to this year’s study and you’ll see what we mean.

For instance, here are his thoughts on United for this year: “United is the 4th largest airline in the U.S., they should be thinking about healthy food. Years ago, they were number one in this area. The breakfast, lunch and dinner menu has many new options; however, healthy meal choices fare limited. It’s too bad United eliminated the oatmeal for breakfast; it was a good choice. The good news, nutrition-wise, is that they did put eggs back into the lineup.”

Readers: Do you care about the content of economy class food items? What’s your favorite single snack or meal, and on which airline?

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Delta: Don’t mess with my peanuts!

December 8, 2016

Delta has new snack selections for economy class customers. (Image: Delta)

Delta has new snack selections for economy class customers, including honey roasted peanuts. (Image: Delta)

Delta Air Lines has started toying with some changes in its food offerings for economy class passengers, revamping its snack lineup and experimenting with a return to free meals one some flights.

And for peanut purists, the news may not be good.

The airline said that on December 14, it will eliminate its traditional Delta-branded Main Cabin snacks – except for Biscoff cookies, which it will keep — in favor of a new lineup that includes pretzels from Snyder’s of Hanover, NatureBix apple cinnamon yogurt bars, and Squirrel Brand peanuts.

But here’s the thing: The Squirrel peanuts will be honey-roasted, replacing Delta’s traditional lightly salted nuts. And they won’t be available on shorter flights – only the cookies and the pretzels will be. Coach flyers on trips of more than 600 miles will get a choice of all four snacks. (On international flights, the choices will be pretzels or honey-roasted peanuts.)

As a Georgia-based airline, it’s no surprise that Delta is one of only two major airlines that still serve peanuts. (Southwest does, too.) But honey roasted? Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not a fan. Honey roasted peanuts and flavored coffees are two food adulterations I could live without.

Only two US airlines now serve peanuts: Delta and Southwest (Image: Pixabay)

“It’s good that Delta is looking for ways to spice up the experience. But it’s a bummer that the choices are carb-only for shorter flights. Honey-roasted peanuts are favored by a niche of travelers, but the salted ones probably had broader appeal. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, there’s no more low-carb option,” says frequent Delta flyer and blogger Ramsey Qubein.

Want to try the new snacks in advance? Delta has set up vending machines with free samples at airports in New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. The airline also said that it plans to change the snack lineup more often in the future, “based on direct customer feedback.” So if you’d prefer something else — celery stalks? M&Ms? potato chips? baby carrots? –be sure to let the airline know.

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Meanwhile, economy class passengers on Delta’s New York JFK-San Francisco/Los Angeles flights may see something else on their tray tables: a free meal.

The airline has reportedly started testing a return to free coach meals on those lucrative transcontinental routes, which are among the industry’s most competitive. Delta says that on flights that are participating in the testing, the complimentary meals include the option of a Honey Maple Breakfast Sandwich or Luvo Breakfast Medley on morning flights and an option of Mesquite-Smoked Turkey Combo with chips and a brownie bite or Luvo Mediterranean Whole Grain Veggie Wrap with grapes and a cookie on afternoon flights.

But getting back to the peanuts… Is it just me, or do you think that salted peanuts are better than the honey-roasted variety? Please leave your comments below.

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Airport news: Newark, JFK, San Francisco, Baltimore, Miami

November 25, 2016

A fast screening lane like this one at Atlanta has opened in United’s Newark Liberty International hub. (Image: Delta)

In airport news, Newark is the latest facility to start using automated TSA screening lanes to speed up the inspection process; British Airways plans a big upgrade of its terminal at New York JFK; healthy snack machines are coming to San Francisco International; Baltimore/Washington International opens a new connector between two concourses and a new security checkpoint; and Miami International adds a bunch of new shops and restaurants in its North Terminal.

United Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration have opened the first of 17 automated screening lanes coming to United’s hub at Newark Liberty International. Like the other automated lanes popping up around the country, the Newark lane allows several passengers to load their items into bins simultaneously; has an automated conveyor belt that pulls the bins into the x-ray machine instead of requiring travelers to push them; shunts questionable items off onto a separate belt for more detailed inspection without slowing down other passengers; and offers bins that are 25 percent larger than other lanes. The new automated lanes are expected to reduce screening wait times by 30 percent.

British Airways announced plans to spend $110 million improving its airport facilities in the U.S., and the bulk of that amount – more than $65 million – will be spent on its Terminal 7 at New York JFK. The airline said the JFK terminal will get an overhaul of check-in, security and gate areas as well as upgrades to its first class and business class lounges. The rest of the funding will be used for improvements to British Airways’ airport lounges at San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Houston and Seattle. (A BA spokesperson told TravelSkills that there’s no current update or timeline for the long-awaited expansion of its lounge at SFO’s International Terminal A.)

Healthy snack vending machines copmingto SFO will accept smartphone payment systems. (Image: Gillys Vending)

Healthy snack vending machines coming to SFO will accept smartphone payment systems. (Image: Gilly Vending)

Want to grab a quick snack at San Francisco International? You’ll get more healthy choices starting next year thanks to the airport’s new contract with Gilly Vending. The company said its vending machines will be stocked with “organic, gluten-free, low-salt, sugar-free and low-calorie” product selections. “The offerings in the new multi-year contract will highlight only‎ premium quality snack products from recognized brands packed with an abundance of nutrients and antioxidants which are proven to boost energy and stamina such as dried fruits, coconut chips, carob, quinoa, chia, nuts and whole grains,” Gilly said. Yum! What’s more, the machines will accept cashless pay systems including Google, Android and Apple Pay.

The new D/E Connector and security checkpoint at BWI. (Image: Baltimore Washington Airport)

Baltimore/Washington International Airport has opened a new secure connector linking its Concourse D with its international Concourse E. The $125 million expansion project also includes a new security checkpoint for domestic and international passengers, as well as new passenger concessions and restrooms. The airport plans to eliminate the old security checkpoints for the D and E concourses. Other aspects of the project include an outdoor patio with airfield views, and a children’s play area. The connector will serve as an art gallery for displays of the work of local artists. Officials noted that BWI’s passenger traffic hit a record 24 million in 2015 and is continuing to grow this year.

Officials at Miami International have cut the ribbon on the North Terminal Marketplace – a collection of 10 new restaurants and shops intended to give travelers “a multi-cultural taste of Miami,” the airport said. Located between Gates D-26 and D-29, the marketplace includes a pizzeria; a Caribbean specialty restaurant; singer Gloria Estefan’s Estefan Kitchen Express; a farm-to-table restaurant called Fig and Fennel; an empanadas outlet; a seafood deli; and retail shops selling cigars, Miami Marlins merchandise, designer porcelain dolls, and fashions from Perry Ellis.

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More, better food on Delta, United & American

February 1, 2016

It’s not much, but it’s something: American’s free economy snacks. (Image: American Airlines)

Economy class passengers on two major airlines are finally getting something that doesn’t have a fee attached to it.

United Airlines this week initiated its previously announced plan to start giving free snacks to the folks in coach – and rival American Airlines now says it will do the same thing beginning this month. Delta is rolling out on new freebies on a limited basis, but it did announce some new, healthy economy items for purchase in economy class.

Economy flyers on United’s routes within North America and to and from Central America can now get a free Stroopwafel (a toasted waffle with caramel filling) on morning flights. Later in the day, free items include snack mixes of either rice crackers, sesame sticks and wasabi peas; or mini pretzel sticks, Cajun corn sticks and ranch soy nuts.

©Terry Halsey No third party use without written permission

United is giving out free Stroopwafels in coach stating this week. (Image: United Airlines)

American, meanwhile, said it will begin free snacking in coach this month on transcontinental flights (JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX), and will extend it to all domestic flights by April.

The morning snack on AA will be a packet of Biscoff cookies; later in the day, economy passengers will get either the Biscoff cookies or pretzels. And in May, American said, it intends to start giving free meals to economy passengers traveling between Dallas/Ft. Worth and Hawaii.

American also said it is expanding free entertainment options on domestic flights equipped with in-seat entertainment, boosting the programming to include up to 40 movie selections, 60 TV programs and 300 music albums. The carrier noted that live TV channels are now available on Wi-Fi-equipped international flights of its 777-300ERs, retrofitted 777-200ERs and 787-8s.

Meanwhile, Delta said it is introducing some new healthy food options for purchase this week — a trio of wraps from Luvo available to Main Cabin and Delta Comfort+ passengers on North American flights longer than 1,400 miles. They will be offered for free to Delta Comfort+ flyers on the airline’s JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO non-stops, Delta said.

The new Luvo wraps, all with no more than 480 calories and limited sodium, include a southwest grilled chicken option, sesame grilled chicken, and a Mediterranean whole grain veggie wrap.

(Image: Luvo)

Here’s how Delta describes one of the new wraps:

Luvo Southwest Grilled Chicken Wrap (470 calories) – Grilled chicken wrapped with a multi-grain salad (whole grain barley, millet, and bulgur with black beans, corn and roasted tomatoes) in a cilantro Greek yogurt dressing with arugula, romaine and green garbanzo hummus in a tomato whole grain tortilla.

I’m a fan of Delta’s Luvo snacks… but what do you think about the new food options from airlines? Please leave your comments below.

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