Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago.
Earlier today, I wrote about my parents’ extended delay on Alaska Airlines. Lunch turned into dinner after a seven hour delay. How was it?
Menus were distributed after takeoff, with a choice between scallion-ginger beef or shrimp & tofu yakisoba noodles for the main course.
First came warmed mixed nuts. Alaska includes pecans (yea!) and hazelnuts (boo!) in their mix along with almonds and cashews.
The appetizer course included split pea soup, salad with balsamic vinaigrette and sliced radish, and a roll with butter (did Alaska eliminate those little blue butter dishes?).
The beef main course was edible, but hardly memorable.
No ice cream…it had already melted.
Finally, I chuckled at my mother’s commentary on the flight, which came via text when I asked her how it went:
Feel bad for the 70 who have connecting flights in LA. The flight attendants have been nice.
It was miserable mostly because of the hour. The flight crew was very nice. But I don’t like the little…sorry to say “dumpy” plane compared to the United 777 we flew over on.
You really couldn’t totally stretch out your legs.
In flight entertainment were these beat up little pads. I had to exchange mine for another because the movie… The Goldfinch…kept stopping. I enjoyed the movie though. A lot of empty seats in coach.
I guess I’m spoiled now😀🤷♀️
Thanks Ma for the trip report! Looks like it will be lie-flats only going forward!
Do you like the food on Alaska Airlines?
I have a love-hate relationship with Alaska’s meals (I’m Seattle-based). I love that I can get a hot meal (usually sandwich or salad) on flights to the bay area but those same small meals are served on their longer flights to SoCal and Alaska. Quality is definitely better than with other U.S. Carriers but portions are often a bit to small and they have a weird obsession with sweet potatoes and kale. Coach food is usually decent too (and cheaper than United) but isn’t nearly as worthwhile now that they don’t have hot entrees for purchase. (And they need to change selections in both cabins more frequently – three months with the same menu is just too much)
What’s wrong with hazelnuts?
Nothing, just not a favorite nut.
Omg on a 737???? For flights of about 6 hours or more I would definitely get myself on a normal plane. Those narrowbodies are uncomfortable, in particular the 737.
A 737 isn’t a “Normal plane”? Only the best selling plane in history
Normal for hopping around on 1-3 hour flights max. For longer flights the 737’s feel claustrophobic.
No offense, but as a 75 Gold MVP for years on Alaska, the meals have certainly gotten worse, among other things. My recent 6 hour flight/first class meal was a cheese and fruit platter, no alternatives, nuts or desert.
Apparently you haven’t been on the high density domestic UA 777 – 3-4-3 and packed to the gills in economy. Would take a 737 any day over that.
And I hate the 737…
No macadamia nuts on hawaii flights? word
Good to see your parents taking pics of the meal for you.
Though I do like how “slices of steak” on the menu ends up being one piece on the plate…
OK, so Mum’s a carnivore as well. Hmmm, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree….but I’m sure little Augustine will break the pattern and go veg or vegan in the years to come….
“Mum” actually eats very little meat, not that it should require a defense. Here, she only ordered it because the other choice sounded even worse. You can count on one hand the number of times she eats red meat in a year. I get my carnivore taste from my father.
As long as I get an aisle seat I like the United 777s in Hawaii. I can connect my ipad to the seat in front. Best setup i have seen.
I like the United 777s. My favorite way to get to Hawaii in business or economy, though I have yet to try HA in economy class.