There was a time when flying felt special. Men wore suits. Women wore heels. Flight attendants handed out menus. Meals were served with metal cutlery, not sporks shrink-wrapped in plastic. And the food? It was hot, filling, and—dare we say it—pretty good.
Fast forward fifty years, and your meal options now are: an overpriced snack box, a flavorless pasta square, or nothing at all. Unless, of course, you’re like us—those people. The ones who board the plane with a home-cooked meal wrapped in foil and packed with love.
We didn’t set out to be this way. We were pushed.
The Golden Age of In-Flight Dining
In the heyday of air travel, airline meals were part of the appeal. Flights were expensive, yes—but the service was first-class all the way, even in coach. Airlines competed to see who could serve the best steak, pour the finest wine, or offer dessert with flair.
The food wasn’t just a perk—it was part of the brand. A selling point.
Deregulation, Downsizing, and the Death of the Meal
Everything changed in 1978 with the Airline Deregulation Act. Airlines began slashing ticket prices to stay competitive, and something had to give. Meals were one of the first casualties.
What started as minor cutbacks eventually turned into full-blown culinary abandonment. Out went real food. In came the boxed mystery muffin, pre-frozen pasta, and “chicken” that may or may not have ever been chicken.
Airfare Has Gone Up. Food Quality? Way Down.
Here’s the kicker: we’re paying more than ever for flights. Baggage fees, seat selection, Wi-Fi—it’s all à la carte. But somehow, meal quality has sunk to economy class rock bottom.
How is it that airfare keeps climbing, yet the food has devolved into a punchline?
The answer is: airlines don’t see meals as part of the customer experience anymore. They see them as a cost to cut or an opportunity to upcharge. Want real food? Fly first class—or bring your own.
We Can’t Even Buy Snacks Now?
On our most recent flight, the flight attendant made an announcement—straight-faced—that went something like this:
“We have a limited supply of snacks available for purchase. If we run out by the time we get to your row, we apologize in advance.”
Wait… what?
So not only are you not feeding us, you don’t even have enough overpriced snacks for us to buy if we want to?
It’s not like the number of passengers is a surprise. Everyone is ticketed. Everyone has a seat. How do you not have enough snacks for everyone who might want one? Airlines, this isn’t a potluck. It’s a business.
The Allergy Problem Airlines Still Ignore
As someone with major food allergies, airline food isn’t just disappointing—it’s potentially dangerous. Despite flagging my allergies ahead of time, I’ve been handed trays containing the exact thing I can’t eat.
Or worse, I’ve been told there was an allergy-safe meal, but “we must’ve given it to someone else.”
This isn’t a cupcake order. These are allergens that can send people into anaphylaxis. But the food service process is still being treated like a guessing game. And if you speak up? You’re “that guy.” The problem passenger.
So Yes, My Wife Packs Me Food
Not wraps. Not trendy grain bowls. Not some Pinterest-perfect bento box. What she makes is real food—a proper, home-cooked meal, packed with care because she knows what flying is like for me: a few hours of being crammed into a too-small seat with 150 strangers and no safe food options in sight.
She does it because she knows I’ll otherwise be stuck rationing a granola bar and hoping the in-flight “meal” isn’t actively dangerous. But more than that, she does it so that—even at 35,000 feet—I can eat something that tastes like home.
It’s thoughtful. It’s generous. And let’s be honest: it’s better than anything they’ve served on a plane in decades.
It Shouldn’t Be This Way
We’ve accepted cramped legroom. We’ve learned to pack snacks. We’ve even made peace with the ever-shrinking seatback tray table. But it’s not too much to ask for a safe, decent meal—especially when ticket prices are anything but cheap.
And it’s not just about taste or even allergies anymore—it’s about health. More and more people are trying to eat clean, manage chronic conditions, or stick to medically necessary diets. But up in the air, it’s as if none of that exists. The choices are ultra-processed, sodium-heavy, and barely nutritious. That’s not just inconvenient—it’s irresponsible.
Until then, we’ll keep packing. And I’ll keep being grateful for the woman who makes sure I don’t have to choose between starving and getting sick just to get from point A to point B.
And no, airline industry execs—you don’t get a bite either.
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