XJETFlyer From United States, joined Apr 2007, 265 posts, RR: 0 Posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 4063 times:
I know there have been some decent food in F/C. But I have often wondered why non of the big franchise restaurants have never contracted with airlines to offer their foods to passengers. Is it because there is no money in this service? Or is it because airlines want the most profit possible? I'm just a everyday passenger and I have had this discussion with regular folks. Any thoughts?
Ikramerica From United States, joined May 2005, 15875 posts, RR: 49 Reply 3, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 4046 times:
Quoting XJETFlyer (Thread starter): But I have often wondered why non of the big franchise restaurants have never contracted with airlines to offer their foods to passengers.
I wonder as well. Some airlines have turned to brands to make their snacks more "appealing" but one wonders why a company like Marriot or Host hasn't taken over an entire airline and brought the brands they license directly into the cabin.
Heck, why doesn't Subway provide lunch to an airline? 4" subs of 3 kinds would sell for $5, made fresh that morning. If you can make money selling individual 6" subs for $4 in a store, why can't everyone make money selling a 4" mass produced sub for $5 in the air? Or a 2" section of party sub for that matter, if it makes it easier to assemble that way.
You could offer Chillis or Applebees, or whatever for dinner, McDonalds for breakfast, etc. If they can put them in airports (and in stadiums, and at junior sporting events, etc.), why can't they put them on airplanes?
And no, Jenny-O doesn't speak to the masses the way a "branded sandwich" does.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
RoseFlyer From United States, joined Feb 2004, 5321 posts, RR: 17 Reply 4, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 4017 times:
While not franchised, we do see special chefs and restaurants featured on first and business class menus. I don't know if chefs and restuarants get compensated for using their name on in flight menus or it is the other way around. However there are top restaurants featured on first class menus throughout the world.
In economy, I doubt we will see that much franchise style food service. If a company is going to put its name on a food product sold inflight or even given for free, they would want it to be at its best so customers will go visit restuarants like TGI Fridays. Unfortuantely cooking on board is very difficult. It works on potato chips and sodas, but having sandwhiches featured might bring the wrong attitude from passengers about how good food is.
Wildbill1981 From Norway, joined May 2007, 19 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3998 times:
The general attitude torwards airplane food is that its tasteless and not very appealing. And it doesnt matter if its actually pretty tasty, people tend to tell other people it sucks anyway.
And second, I think the altitude or pressurized cabin or something like that makes everything taste less. They add ingredients to make it taste more. I'm no expert though.
Personally, I'd really like it if they put franchised food concepts on the airplanes.
MMEPHX From United States, joined Mar 2004, 390 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3963 times:
Last time I flew KLM in Europe they served Bertolli branded sandwiches and snacks. Do they still do this?
Pre 9/11 NW used to serve a BBQ sandwich from a well known local BBQ shop (anyone remember the name?) on certain flights from Memphis which was quite a change from the usual NW cheese sandwich of the times.
Sevenair From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 1728 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3947 times:
Air sahara definately served subway premade subs, about 4" at some point. Whilst a lot of what is served on LCCs from the kiosk is branded, the main thing that spings to mind is UA and Starbucks coffe.
LAXintl From United States, joined May 2000, 9600 posts, RR: 12 Reply 9, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3928 times:
United for near 10 years till a bit after 9/11 and the big airline meal cutbacks offered McDonalds foods including cheese burgers, salad shakers and were billed as 'The Friendly Sky Meal' in the early years.
Additionally the two Chicago companies have run joint promotional campaigns over the years including offering United logo plane toys in happy meals, winning free award travel etc..
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
TCT From United States, joined Jan 2008, 204 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3903 times:
I was wondering this type of thing when it comes to first class, why not hire top notch restaurants to do the catering, wouldn't it be much more appealing to customers?
I remember when I went on a Princess cruise out of Brooklyn,NY and they had Juniors famous cheesecake and Nathans hot-dogs to fit the history of the port of which they were embarking from, so when it comes to airlines why not offer meals made by famous brands, from or to the destination the aircraft is departing or arriving from, I'm guessing this is all to much work for the airline and they dont get much out of it, is the reason for why this doesn't happen? Anyone know the exact reason for airlines not doing these famous brand meal offerings?
The only one I'm currently aware of is B6 with Dunkin-Donuts.
MrBrightSide From United States, joined Jan 2008, 202 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3855 times:
Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 4): While not franchised, we do see special chefs and restaurants featured on first and business class menus. I don't know if chefs and restuarants get compensated for using their name on in flight menus or it is the other way around. However there are top restaurants featured on first class menus throughout the world.
Quoting MMEPHX (Reply 6): Last time I flew KLM in Europe they served Bertollini branded sandwiches and snacks. Do they still do this?
It is a difference between US carriers and EU ones. Sadly, US carriers see food mostly as additional hassle and payload (even though savings are laughable compared to revenue), while RoW carriers like BA, LH, SQ, CX, VS go the extra mile to offer a bit of extra service. That attitude yielded record profits for LH, SQ and others.
What is odd is that US carriers missed the board on serving Y and Y+ pax with franchised food... I would like to get a Carl's Jr. burrito on a morning flight. Now, you have a case of Starbucks coffee being served on UA's planes, but it is odd that UA didn't expand on that deal and offer complete Starbucks experience. Personally, I don't drink coffee, but I would shell out $5 for Green Tea Latte Grande... plus, different sizes might reduce service to consumers... and add a NY Cheesecake or those Cinnamon muffin, and you're all set to be a "hip" airline... even though that food is not exactly.. healthy.
Oddly enough, it is unknown why US carriers don't sell advertising space on their a/c... that could be good revenue gainer (Hello Kitty, Pokemon, T-Mobile, Coca-Cola... all have their respective a/c), if US carriers are all about increased revenue...
There's no better way to travel than fly (shameless rip of LH's slogan ;-)
Heck, why doesn't Subway provide lunch to an airline?
Quoting Gosimeon (Reply 12): What I'd give for a Subway whilst in the sky.
I'm guessing it wouldn't be too feasible though!
Perfectly feasible. DL did provide Subway sandwiches in bag lunches that passengers picked up from a cooler in the jetway. Sadly this was in the mid-90s....
The problem is that modern airline management can't think outside the box. When DL provided the sandwiches I noted above, DL paid Subway for the meals. Today they expect the customer to purchase the meal. But the customer has a ton of choices to select from on the concourse before boarding.
I've never understood why the airlines don't leverage their captive audiences better. Why not get Subway, or Quiznos, or Jimmy Johns to PAY to put their product on board. Lets say you have a new product that you want to test. The 737 has approx 150 seats. In todays market, the airline is lucky to sell 50 onboard meals. The rest either do without, or purchase on the concourse. Instead, they could get a company to pay to put 150 meals onboard, and provide a value added product to the customer at no added cost. It would give the company a way to introduce new product, or build brand loyalty. Makes perfect sense to me!
Sandyb123 From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined Oct 2007, 309 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3600 times:
I would like to see "Marks & Spencer, Simply food' or "Pret A Manger" sandwiches onboard. They're considered to be quality high street fast food in the UK and in another league on a health / quality / satisfaction basis than McDonalds / Subway / Burger King / KFC and all that other crap.
It's designed to be 'portable food' and they've got nice compliments like sushi and salads so would work well. It also sells at a premium so there could potentially be a profit share or some sort of incentive???
BrianDromey From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 2336 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3559 times:
Quoting Sandyb123 (Reply 15): I would like to see "Marks & Spencer, Simply food' or "Pret A Manger" sandwiches onboard. They're considered to be quality high street fast food in the UK and in another league on a health / quality / satisfaction basis than McDonalds / Subway / Burger King / KFC and all that other crap.
I know the team at Go REALLY wanted to do a deal with Pret, but Pret were concerned about the taste onboard, etc. I think they had a deal with Costa Coffee in the end, and did offer Costa's range of sandwiches, snacks coffee, teas, etc. I think an M&S food service could work well. I think M&S would be careful who they partnered with though, FR is clearly not appropriate, U2 might work, GO, if they were still around would have been perfect!
Burnsie28 From United States, joined Aug 2004, 5317 posts, RR: 10 Reply 18, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 3405 times:
When Northwest rolled out its BOB originally, it was TGI Fridays, however, the problem was NW wasn't making money off of it, it was just a 3rd party they were going through and NW would get a small small cut from what was being sold.
Davidlc3 From United States, joined Jun 2007, 233 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 3259 times:
In the early days of Buy on Board we co-branded with Einstein Bros., TGI Friday's, some restaurant group in MSP and were working on Wolfgang Puck and a few others when the project was pulled. For groups like Einstein's we were able to pull items directly off their menu, make them in the flight kitchen, package and serve. For Friday's we had our chefs work with their chefs to create items that would give the feeling of TGIs but were not on their menu.
Back in the 80's during the "dark days" at CO they had a Subway Sandwich franchise in their flight kitchens and served Subway on all flights. In the 90's they cancelled that contract but kep the same processes in place to serve the sandwiches they have now...using all the same systems and methods they did with Subway. IIRC they now partner with Jenni-O turkey which is a good relationship.
Adman737 From Ecuador, joined Sep 2007, 86 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (10 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 3072 times:
Back in the late 80s I remember flying UA from JFK to MCO and I got mcdonalds and a little UA 747 toy in it. And just a couple months ago I was on CO going to Norfolk and stoping in CLE and I got a little turkey subway sandwich so there are companys out there and it depends on were you are going. Cause I was on a flight from EWR to MCO on CO and i got a bag of pretzels so that I dont understand.
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