Religious Travelers - UA International Business Class Kosher Meal

I'm flying UA Business Class international in the coming days (Class D), and have ordered a kosher meal. Will it be the same quality of kosher meal as in economy? Do you recommend ordering vegetarian instead?

TIA ^

Vegetarian meal does not mean that its Kosher. I have never flown with UA but I assume the business class meals are better then in Y.

Business class kosher meals usually come with an appetiser (often smoked salmon) and a main course (often chicken--used to be beef but airlines seem to be cutting costs these days). You'll get two pairs of knives/forks for fish and meat. Plus salad, rolls (usually mezonot), and a parve dessert. They are presented on proper china and real cutlery. So far better than "mystery meat in mystery sauce" coach class kosher meals.

Vegetarian meal does not mean that its Kosher. I have never flown with UA but I assume the business class meals are better then in Y.


I realize that. For me, vegetarian is good enough if not kosher. Trying to figure out what will be edible. :)

Business class kosher meals usually come with an appetiser (often smoked salmon) and a main course (often chicken--used to be beef but airlines seem to be cutting costs these days). You'll get two pairs of knives/forks for fish and meat. Plus salad, rolls (usually mezonot), and a parve dessert. They are presented on proper china and real cutlery. So far better than "mystery meat in mystery sauce" coach class kosher meals.

Thanks. Last few times I have flown economy and actually didn't eat at all because the kosher meal was so awful (I believe it was from the manufacturer in antwerp?, if I heard the name I can confirm). Do you know who makes the D class kosher meals? Is it possible to request a certain meal?

TIA ^

Thanks. Last few times I have flown economy and actually didn't eat at all because the kosher meal was so awful (I believe it was from the manufacturer in antwerp?, if I heard the name I can confirm). Do you know who makes the D class kosher meals? Is it possible to request a certain meal?

TIA ^

It really depends where you fly from. If the departure point does not have a kosher kitchen (eg PRG, MUC, WAW etc etc), and economy kosher meals are long-life (Stogel etc), chances are that business class will be also - Stogel businesss class meals are just as bad as the economy ones. If there is a kosher kitchen (eg LHR, CDG, JFK) the kosher business class meals should be as good as the regular ones (sometimes better!).

Sometimes you just get the economy class kosher meals on plastics, if demand is low at the departure point - I have had this in business (and first!) class from YVR, SYD, BKK etc)

It really depends where you fly from. If the departure point does not have a kosher kitchen (eg PRG, MUC, WAW etc etc), and economy kosher meals are long-life (Stogel etc), chances are that business class will be also - Stogel businesss class meals are just as bad as the economy ones. If there is a kosher kitchen (eg LHR, CDG, JFK) the kosher business class meals should be as good as the regular ones (sometimes better!).

Sometimes you just get the economy class kosher meals on plastics, if demand is low at the departure point - I have had this in business (and first!) class from YVR, SYD, BKK etc)

It also depends on the Carrier

Ive gotten Hermolis on SAS out of CPH, and on CO out of PEK and HKG

It also depends on the Carrier

Ive gotten Hermolis on SAS out of CPH, and on CO out of PEK and HKG

Any idea if United business is Hermolis or Stogel from IAD?

Any idea if United business is Hermolis or Stogel from IAD?


Out of IAD it will be 1 of the US companies, of which I think there are 2 or 3 still.

Not a UA flyer so I dont know who they use, sorry. But Ive never had a bad KSML out of the East Coast on anyone.

I haven't flown on UA for a loooong time, so cannot comment from my own experience. However, UA definitely should have reasonable demand for KSML so I suspect you won't get Stogel's dreaded long-life green box. They probably would be using one of kosher caterers like Borenstein. I doubt you'll get Hermo.

Any comments/thoughts/details on KLM KSML from AMS-PVG in Business Class?

Hmmm. Amsterdam-Shanghai can be a hit or miss. I haven't done that route, but I suspect KLM may be using the same kosher caterer as Air France for the outbound flight. If so, it probably would be Servicair with Paris Beth Din hechsher, which is ok. Though inbound out of PVG can be the dreaded Fogel's green box. Shanghai has chabad but they don't do airline catering. I'd be curious to know myself.

Hmmm. Amsterdam-Shanghai can be a hit or miss. I haven't done that route, but I suspect KLM may be using the same kosher caterer as Air France for the outbound flight. If so, it probably would be Servicair with Paris Beth Din hechsher, which is ok. Though inbound out of PVG can be the dreaded Fogel's green box. Shanghai has chabad but they don't do airline catering. I'd be curious to know myself.

Thanks, no worries with regard to PVG-AMS, as the routing is :
BOS-AMS-PVG-NRT-MSP-BOS

I "think" we might experiment with the AMS-PVG for this segment, and see how it goes. Do you assume that [Kosher] catering for this route (AMS-PVG) in J will be with proper crockery and cutlery?

Ok, helpful to see the actual routing (some of which I have done).
I presume you're on NW on PVG-NRT and NRT-MSP legs.
On US-bound flights out of NRT, you're likely to get Borenstein.
OK/passable--just be careful sometimes they do meaty dinner followed by dairy breakfast.

PVG-NRT again can be a bit tricky. You might get snack/sandwich from Borenstein, but could get Stogel long-life box. I usually stick to cut fruits on intra-Asian routes.

Hmmm. Amsterdam-Shanghai can be a hit or miss. I haven't done that route, but I suspect KLM may be using the same kosher caterer as Air France for the outbound flight. If so, it probably would be Servicair with Paris Beth Din hechsher, which is ok. Though inbound out of PVG can be the dreaded Fogel's green box. Shanghai has chabad but they don't do airline catering. I'd be curious to know myself.

Chabad does do airline catering. I took AA in July PVG-ORD and the meal was from chabad ( not sure if it was chabad from Beijing or Shanghai, but was chabad, and it was edible, although certianly not hermoils)

Ok, helpful to see the actual routing (some of which I have done).
I presume you're on NW on PVG-NRT and NRT-MSP legs.
On US-bound flights out of NRT, you're likely to get Borenstein.
OK/passable--just be careful sometimes they do meaty dinner followed by dairy breakfast.

PVG-NRT again can be a bit tricky. You might get snack/sandwich from Borenstein, but could get Stogel long-life box. I usually stick to cut fruits on intra-Asian routes.

I thought Borenstein was out of NYC?

Will all kosher meal flights out of NRT be Borenstein, and if so, how does it compare to other kosher meals? My routing is NRT-HNL.

Thanks.

I flew PVG-HKG 2 years ago and was served a Hermolis meal with Dragon Air (first class).

I thought Borenstein was out of NYC?

Will all kosher meal flights out of NRT be Borenstein, and if so, how does it compare to other kosher meals? My routing is NRT-HNL.

Thanks.


My last kosher meals out of NRT (not in UA though) I got Stogel long-life. As I was in business class they gave me 2 regular economy boxes!

I'm flying UA Business Class international in the coming days (Class D), and have ordered a kosher meal. Will it be the same quality of kosher meal as in economy? Do you recommend ordering vegetarian instead?

TIA ^

So, pray tell- how was it ?

My experience with UAL has been that they are the absolute worst of any US airline when it comes to kosher meals, even in J. And on a few flights ex-LHR, because the biz-class meals had been frozen and the crew (typical UAL) hadn't bothered fully heating them, the plates shattered as soon as I tried digging into my partially-defrosted-but-otherwise-excellent Hermolis meal.

So, pray tell- how was it ?

My experience with UAL has been that they are the absolute worst of any US airline when it comes to kosher meals, even in J. And on a few flights ex-LHR, because the biz-class meals had been frozen and the crew (typical UAL) hadn't bothered fully heating them, the plates shattered as soon as I tried digging into my partially-defrosted-but-otherwise-excellent Hermolis meal.

I've now gone out of IAD a few times on business class, and it varies. Sometimes it's tasty, other times not so tasty (but 1000X better than Stogel). I will say this, I find that when I have to eat with plastic on a plastic plate and everyone around me is eating on china, it affects how i feel about the food. Sometimes they will give you new china, personally I don't mind eating on the regular china, and you can ask to be served on a real plate.

I've now gone out of IAD a few times on business class, and it varies. Sometimes it's tasty, other times not so tasty (but 1000X better than Stogel). I will say this, I find that when I have to eat with plastic on a plastic plate and everyone around me is eating on china, it affects how i feel about the food. Sometimes they will give you new china, personally I don't mind eating on the regular china, and you can ask to be served on a real plate.

using the Airlines reg plates for Me at least would render the food no longer Kosher, especially when its Hot. Id rather eat off of plastic then not eat at all.

sort of like cooking a Glatt Kosher Roast in a Tarif Oven, yea the meat was (not is) Kosher but by cooking it in a Tarif oven it no longer retains being 'Kosher'. Or taking a Glatt kosher hamburger and put halav Yisroel Cheese on it, everything by themselves are kosher but once you make that combo it isnt any longer

My last kosher meals out of NRT (not in UA though) I got Stogel long-life. As I was in business class they gave me 2 regular economy boxes!

2035, Curious to see which airlines/which route you were on. I also tend to get Stogel's when flying in non-US carriers or on local routes. My logics (could be wrong, mind you) is that US carriers can stock kosher meals from the US (or BA out of NRT carrying Hermo from London), so long as the route uses metals originating from US (or other sources of kosher catering).

2035, Curious to see which airlines/which route you were on. I also tend to get Stogel's when flying in non-US carriers or on local routes. My logics (could be wrong, mind you) is that US carriers can stock kosher meals from the US (or BA out of NRT carrying Hermo from London), so long as the route uses metals originating from US (or other sources of kosher catering).

It was SK NRT-CPH - so not a very 'KSML-intensive' route.
I'm pretty sure I also got them on NRT-SYD a couple of times, but am not 100% sure - could be Lewis's from Sydney (which aren't much better...)

Actually Stogel main meals aren't that bad - I have tried the whole lot as they keep them in stock on the First Class lounge in Munich and the main meal is decent. I often get to the airport a bit early if I'm stuck for a meal - or eat one on arriving.

Even kosher meals arent good on a plane. You have to bring your own food if you want to enjoy a meal.

It could be Lewis's from Sydney (which aren't much better...)



On a QF flight SYD-JFK in Y they did not have my kosher meal but then offered to bring back a meal from a kosher pas in F who didn't want his.

When I saw it I realized why he didn't want it - t'was awful!!

Bump. Any info on KSML out of NRT?

Bump. Any info on KSML out of NRT?

havent been to NRT yet, out of PEK and HKG a few yrs ago on CO I got Hermolis :D I dont think theres any local caterer at all in Asia so that means they will bring it in from somewhere else.Thankfully whomever CO used in turn used Hermolois

In SA they tend to use the 1000 yr shelf life garbage meals, as does TK out of IST

please report back with which company you got & on which Carrier,Thanks

havent been to NRT yet, out of PEK and HKG a few yrs ago on CO I got Hermolis :D I dont think theres any local caterer at all in Asia so that means they will bring it in from somewhere else.Thankfully whomever CO used in turn used Hermolois

In SA they tend to use the 1000 yr shelf life garbage meals, as does TK out of IST

please report back with which company you got & on which Carrier,Thanks

I believe that TK out of IST has started providing local KSML's which are under the supervision of a local Rabbi and the OK. Food was fresh and pretty good last time I flew.

Also, Chabad of BKK has started selling meals to a lot of the airlines in Asia via Bangkok Airways catering. Very average at best.

I believe that TK out of IST has started providing local KSML's which are under the supervision of a local Rabbi and the OK. Food was fresh and pretty good last time I flew.

Also, Chabad of BKK has started selling meals to a lot of the airlines in Asia via Bangkok Airways catering. Very average at best.



good to hear that about TK, I only flew them 1 time a couple of yrs ago , a decent meal out of JFK as expected. K rations IST-TLV which really didnt bother me since it was breakfast and Id be in TLV in acouple of hours where I can get a good meal. The way back reg non-Glatt out of TLV but it was breakfast, problem was it was gonna be a long day IST-JFK w/o eating

As for Asia Im sorry to hear that Chabad has come up with something that you feel isnt good. Thats the problem as long as Hermolis was being used I would prefer that no local biz get in on the deal. Id take Chabad over Stogel but Ive yet to find anyone that can come close to Hermolis and when someone comes along and will low ball them or offer the catereres an option for local food that will cost them less $$ either due to a lower quality or quanity or costs and its not as good as what we can get Id prefer that they stay out of the mkt

AA uses a Lugano outfit for its Italy departures, I was surprised as I thought someone would be in the action out of MXP or FCO. But outs kashrus no complaints the meal wasnt anything to write home about but at least it wasnt Stogel

Hopefully my next trip over to MAD & BCN after Hanuka wil yield a Hermolis on my way back. But out of DUB they boarded the side dishes from a FC meal as my main course. Not the Carriers fault as that belongs to caterering, since it was Hermolis there was enough on the tray thaht I was able to eat to kill off the hunger