Fiji Airways’ new lounge dining options sound exceptional, but make no mistake: it does its customers a disservice by not offering a full meal onboard.
Citing waste and its concern for the environment, Fiji Airways will introduce a pre-flight dining program for passengers departing from Nadi, Fiji to destinations in Australia and the United States. Full meals will be offered in the lounge prior to takeoff and a far more limited menu will be offered onboard. Fiji Airways claims it ends up throwing out 38% of meals onboard flights to Australia.
Here’s my issue with the new policy. We don’t always have time for a meal in the lounge prior to takeoff. It’s that simple. I find myself in that position often. Rarely, unless I am flying first class and conscientiously wanting to immerse myself in a lounge for purposes of this blog, I am not going to come early and eat in a lounge. Part of maximizing my time is eating on a plane, where even with wi-fi I often find myself less efficient. Surely, there are many in my boat.
And this is a very different concept than giving customers an either or choice. British Airways and Air France offer pre-flgiht dining on some U.S. East Coast flights, but will still serve a full meal onboard, not just a snack.
Fiji Airways should consider the same thing. It is laudable that it wants to cut down on waste, but why not load at least a couple multi-course meals for those who do not have time for the lounge and may be hungry? It suggests cost-cutting, not the environment, is the primary goal. If 38% of the food is wasted, that means 62% is not…
You certainly won’t starve on Fiji Airways, even if you skip the lounge. Onboard meals will still include:
- Fruit
- Paninis
- Salad
- Soup
- Tapas
But there’s something to be said for a nice multi-course meal onboard a flight. Sometimes you are hungry. Sometimes it just helps to pass the time. But in any case, it is a mark of quality and part of the flight experience that should not be rendered obsolete.
CONCLUSION
Fiji Airways also tried to justify the change for health reasons:
The movement and irregular nature of travel makes it much harder to digest food properly. Try to eat a decent meal a good one to two hours before travelling. Once on the flight, eat very lightly. By dining on the ground before take-off, you’re giving your body enough time to digest the food – meaning you’ll be more comfortable and more likely to sleep.
Um, no. The environment/waste argument was a stretch, but this is just laughable. Fiji Airways, a state-sponsored carrier, should simply argue that it must carefully safeguard profit to ensure connectivity for all Fijians. At least I’d respect that…
What are your thoughts on mandatory pre-flight dining in business class?
images: Fiji Airways
Couldn’t agree more, Matthew.
The airline claims that their decision will also help people sleep better onboard. Well, it’s not so easy to sleep in a business class seat that’s not a flatbed. Last year I flew to Nadi from Hong Kong (and vice versa) and there was no proper sleeping for me in that seat. Business class meals aren’t usually amazing but it’s the whole experience of dining at 30,000 feet that makes it feel special. (And Fiji definitely could have gone in the other direction and make the food much better – I truly do look forward to Singapore Airlines’ business class meals for example).
I’m sure their chefs at the Nadi lounge will prepare some lovely food but, for me, it’s not easy to savor a meal in the lounge because I’m not fully relaxed until I’m ON the plane (and we’ve taken off). There’s always an element of stress when at the airport – even if it’s in the lounge. So it’s tough to chill out and really enjoy a meal.
Kinda reminds me of the military, where they tell you where and when you’re going to eat. Come to think of it, they could use that analogy in their advertising: “We’re better than most militaries when it comes to food” or something equally catchy.
Food is not good at all .they should add more stuff n something good.
To play devil’s advocate, I imagine the majority of passengers here are leisure travelers, and thus more likely to turn up at the airport early (I.e. fewer business travelers turning up as late as possible). It sort of makes sense in that context, especially leaving Fiji. I’d have more concerns departing the US, where passengers risk connection delays out of their control, but otherwise if I’m reading this right, the policy only applies to flights departing Fiji for now.
That being said, I don’t like anything that’s billed as “mandatory”. Give people the choice, sure, but this I think is asking for trouble. Just imagine a group of infrequent travelers delayed getting to the airport for whatever reason, and then finding all they have onboard are tapas. That’s going to go over well on Twitter…
I’m 100% behind not eating on the plane. I travel business International alot, and use the time to sleep and fast. I experience almost zero jetlag from not eating. Electrolyte and water is all I have….and a few movies to watch.
To each his own, but I can tell you that not getting a substantial meal on a long flight has the exact opposite effect on me, leaving me unable to sleep well. Now, I have no problem with taking my meal in the lounge, and in fact prefer long layovers so I can relax and eat, but there are all sorts of reasons beyond my control where that isn’t possible. That’s really my point; I think the setup here probably works for most of Fiji Airways’ passengers, but a one size fits all approach probably isn’t the best idea.
There is nothing worse than being in close proximity to one of the ghastly gluttons who insist on eating a 5 course meal, after midnight, clinking the cutlery , flooding the cabin with light. Almost invariably they have consumed a full meal plus in the lounge prior to departure.
I’m glad airlines are beginning to apply some common sense in this area. Sure, there are exceptions in which passengers might not have had the opportunity prior to the flight: but they should be catered for via some modified menu, not the full faux-gourmet experience ( and preferably something that can be consumed without cutlery , and in darkness…). They shouldn’t have to go hungry, but neither should they impose their gluttonous over-indulgence on the experience of their fellow passengers.
Poor you. Maybe you should consider flying private. The only thing here in gluttonous supply is your enormous sense of entitlement.
You’re just guessing, right, Matthew? You don’t actually know anything about this service do you, or the flights?
The Nadi-USA flights leave at 9:30-10:30pm usually. At that point, what other activities have you had during the day that made it hard to get to the airport? If you were having dinner and in a rush to get to the airport, what’s the point of the meal onboard anyway?
I’m speaking for myself. I want to eat dinner at 9:30p. Good for you for having so much free time.
Couldn’t agree more with Matthew. I don’t typically eat dinner till after 8pm, usually closer to 9. So having a meal on the plane, as opposed to the lounge sounds better. At the very least have the option. Plus if you are in Fiji, why would you want to sit in the airport for hours just to eat? I would rather use that time to still enjoy what I can of Fiji before my flight.
You’re not eating dinner on the plane at 9:30pm. You’re departing at 9:30pm, eating at maybe 11pm.
You’re straining credibility here, in trying to criticize the airline for pulling a benefit.
YMMV. I like eating dinner at 11pm. I’m a night owl. What now?
Well, that’s for your readers to decide. Your story is that Fiji Airways-missed-the-mark criticism is legit because it impacts the general traveler. Clearly not — if you’re claiming that 11pm dinner is a concern for most people.
I fly them several times every year. Not once did I have a satisfactory meal onboard.
By the way, they now fly their very old product between NAD and Sydney again, I guess because of the MAX problems.
The lounge at NAD is full with kids and babies, and parents with no manners whatsoever.
Food in the lounge is salty and oily. I try to spend as little time in their lounge as possible, and that is saying a lot considering the airport….
Unpopular opinion here, but airlines would do good to reduce or even eliminate food service on planes. Flying is already taxing on the environment and food wastage just adds to the damage the airline industry is creating.
I fly around half a million miles per year for business for many years. I appreciate the privileges and amenities that such heavy travel have provided in that time. In particular, the seats have greatly improved to the point that it is easy for me to actually get a good night’s rest.
That being said, airlines are no restaurants. While the food has for the most part improved, it is still at best a mediocre experience even when seating in F. In premium, cabins, we think these are fantastic meals not because are fantastic, but because our expectations are so low. For example, I ordered the Lobster Thermidor on Singapore Airlines once and it was certainly impressive to have it on tin can flying 35000 feet in the air, but all reasonable standards it was merely average.
On a segment such as NAN-SYD, a full service meal really does seem like a complete waste. For any flight under 5 hours, it might be better to just provide light snacks and beverages and inform passengers when they book the ticket that food will not be provided. For a NAN-LAX or other long-haul flights, then food makes more sense. Still, I have gotten into the habit of avoiding airplane food altogether and have moved to eating before the flight as a healthier alternative.
I hear you on using time efficiently as I am super busy as well. Sometimes a meal on a flight can be more convenient. I simply think that many flights might be better off getting rid of full service meals, even in premium cabins.
I could understand this if they were being honest….. This has nothing to do with waste or the health of passengers this is cost cutting to make more profit… The meal cost is built into the coast of the air ticket so even if they throw out food it has already been paid for by the ticket purchaser. It is like Woolworth’s saying they will only now sell you a limited amount of groceries because you might throw some away because you let it go bad… If I choose to spend the money I want service… Sorry Fiji Airways you have got this so wrong.. Your are asking people to pay a premium price for a budget service.. PLEASE RETHINK THIS…