SWISS is serving a gourmet hot dog called the “Bastardo” in First Class this summer. The idea is clever, the timing is smart, and while the ingredients sound a bit odd to me, I would absolutely try it. But that gives me an idea for American Airlines or United Airlines…
SWISS First Class “Bastardo” Hot Dog: Yeah, I’d Try It.
SWISS is mixing up its First Class menu this summer with a gourmet hot dog called the “Bastardo,” created with Winterthur-based hot dog brand Frau Hund.
The hot dog includes a Puntbier sausage, red coleslaw, apple chutney, sour cream, roasted walnuts, and cress. It is being offered in SWISS First Class on flights departing Switzerland through September 1, 2026.
I will give SWISS credit: this is clever. SWISS even shared the backstory about it here.
A hot dog in First Class is unexpected, and I like that. It is also local and well-timed as the World Cup unfolds. There are few foods more associated with stadiums, summer, and casual sporting events than a hot dog, even if the SWISS version is clearly aiming for something more elevated.
Airline menus can be painfully predictable. Beef tenderloin. Chicken breast. Pasta. Another cheese plate. Caviar and Balik salmon…So I appreciate when an airline tries something different, especially when it highlights a local partner.
Would I order this in SWISS First Class?
Yes, I think I would.
Now Give Me A Chicago Hot Dog At 35,000 Feet
What I would love to see, though, is an airline try a proper Chicago-style hot dog onboard.
American Airlines or United Airlines should do this on flights out of Chicago. Put it on the buy-on-board menu and call it the local special, which of course it is.
Regular readers know how much I love Chicago hot dogs. A proper one has an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, chopped white onions, neon green relish, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt.
No ketchup. Ever.
Would it be messy? Absolutely. Would catering have to figure out how to keep the bun from becoming a sad, soggy sponge? Yes. Would sport peppers terrify some passengers? Probably.
But that is exactly why it would be fun.
United talks constantly about Chicago being its hometown hub. American also operates a hub from O’Hare. Either carrier could offer a Chicago dog on select flights out of ORD and instantly have something more memorable than another cheese tray or snack box.
I can already hear some people objecting that a Chicago hot dog is not premium enough. I disagree. Done properly, it is one of the great Chicago delicacies. When I go to Green Lake, Wisconsin, I have been known to eat nine of them at a time. That is not a recommendation, exactly, but it is a confession.
And yes, I would absolutely order one on a plane (United doesn’t let you pre-order more than one meal per passenger…).
As an aside, United has served a hot dog onboard before, so there is precedent for it.
> Read More: United’s New BBQ Sausage Link Sandwich: Pass Or Fail?
> Read More: Chicago-Style Hot Dogs In ORD United Club!
CONCLUSION
SWISS deserves credit for trying something different with its First Class “Bastardo” hot dog. The ingredients sound a little strange to me, but I would definitely give it a try.
More airlines should think this way. Regional food does not have to be boring, and premium cabins need not exclusively offer only so-called “gourmet” food.
SWISS can have its Bastardo. I will keep waiting for United or American to serve a proper Chicago dog out of O’Hare.
Just hold the ketchup!
Eating 9 Hot Dogs at one sitting?????
Sounds like my Chaos Men #5 video for Colt Studios.
Like I did, I assume you finished them all off.
I can hear the execs in charge of First on AF, SQ, JL, NH, CX, EK and QR laughing from here… lol