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.
My journey in Lufthansa Economy Class earlier this week reminded me of the last time I flew Lufthansa economy class–way back in 2011. It was a business trip to Beijing from Frankfurt and I was booked in the back of the bus. I’ll review my inbound and outbound meals for my Meal of the Week segment the next two weeks. Today, my focus is on the return and specifically why it paid off that I slept through the initial meal service.
We took off from Beijing in the late morning. Since I had been up very early that day preparing a report, I sunk into my seat and quickly fell asleep after takeoff. I awoke several hours later, quite hungry.
I rang the call button and requested lunch. The FA seemed surprised and said, “Didn’t you just eat a few hours ago?” I said no, I had slept through the meal service. A concerned look spread across his face. He walked to the galley and returned moments later stating there were no meals left.
I stared at him blankly and he immediately rose to the challenge.
“Would chicken be okay sir?”
“Yes, that’s fine,” I replied.
He returned a few moments later with this:
As you can see, it is a business class meal. A tasty one, I might add. It included a chicken breast in a red wine sauce with olive chutney, sweet mashed potatoes, cooked broccoli, and carrots. On the side was bread and cheese also from business class. There appeared to be a pasta salad and dessert from economy class.
The meal really hit the spot and I appreciated the proactive service from the FA.
CONCLUSION
I realize the FA could have shrugged and said, “You snooze, you lose.” But instead, I wound up with a very nice meal. Perhaps I’ll try sleeping again next time…
The flight attendants eat business class meals left over. Even in the first class they must load so much extra the FAs could eat some of that no one would be wiser.
Do they need to account for all champagne bottles? They could travel with an empty one and switch it with a sealed one to enjoy later in the hotel.
I once snoozed through a business class transatlantic meal. I first felt cheated but then I realized that sleep is more valuable than food (with the exception if you are in a famine).
You were lucky on this occasion.
It would be great if you can write an extensive review on your flight. All the bloggers focus on business and first class, which is pretty useless information for 99% of flyers. My company flies me business class but I don’t really read these reviews because it’s always nice. I need information when I’m in the economy cabin because little differences makes a gigantic difference. Can you bloggers do the majority of flyers a favor and focus on economy flights instead the premium cabin?
Hi Donald,
In addition to the comprehensive Lufthansa Economy Class review I just published:
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2019/03/22/lufthansa-a380-economy-class-review/
I also have reviews of United, Singapore, and British Airways in economy class:
Singapore:
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2018/01/02/singapore-airlines-a380-economy-class-review/
United:
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2017/12/29/united-777-300er-economy-class-review/
BA:
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2019/01/09/british-airways-a380-economy-class-review/
Wouldn’t be surprised, if the FA not only checked potential meals on stock but additionally checked your status on LH or a *A carrier.
Maybe he did. Not sure.
Impressed!!.
Not with the “upgraded” meal but with the fact you were able to sleep in economy.
Perfect example of a mis leading article….it doesn’t pays to sleep during meal service ……on 2 occassions I did and ended up crescent leftovers…..your article makes it seems …you sleep and you gain …wrong
As a perma-economy-passenger, I can vouch that it definitely pays to sleep thru the meal service, because:
a. Airplane food is bad. No, really, even when tasting ok, it is bad for you. Research it.
b. Sleep is precious, particularly when flying, and especially when flying long distance (helps with jet lag). Interrupting it for bad food is bad.
c. When at home do you wake up middle of the night to eat? Bad for health in so many ways.
I instruct the hostess to not wake me up. I show her I am belted in, just in case the blanket hides it. I graciously accept any food during my wake time, but apart from mild hunger pangs, have never suffered because of skipping a meal, and I have flown 15 hour flights.. Does me good.
Of course, you were on Lufthansa, a non-US airline that actually has some service standards. So you need to correct the title:
“If you’re not on United It’s OK to sleep through meals”
I’ve accidentally slept through a meal in Business Class on United and not gotten my meal at all. I guess the FAs ate it. Good luck asking for it in Economy on United. You’ll be lucky not to end up in restraints for being a “problem.”