“On-Board Picnic” Now Available at Heathrow Airport

A new service lets Heathrow Airport frequenters bring a “picnic” with them on their flight, providing a unique dining option that features food from famous chefs and restaurants.

Passengers departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) now have a variety of choices in mid-air dining, thanks to a new service launched this week. The Telegraph reports that LHR, in partnership with in-terminal restaurants, has launched a new “on-board picnic” service for travelers.

The on-board picnic service resulted from a study conducted by LHR officials focused on creating a better in-flight dining experience. According to a press release from the airport, more than 70 percent of those polled wanted flexibility about when they eat during a flight. Nearly one-third of respondents wanted the option of eating before the airplane even reached a cruising altitude.

“On-board picnics not only give our passengers the freedom to choose when they eat their meal, it also provides them with an unparalleled selection to choose from,” said Ben Crowley, Head of Food and Beverage at LHR. “Whether they want caviar, sushi or pizza, there’s a restaurant that will package something up for them to take on board their flight.”

On-board picnic meals are now available from all 118 restaurants at LHR, which consist of 49 brands across all five terminals. Meal options range from around $8 to $80. Some options even feature offerings from celebrity chefs, including Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay. The containers were designed to carry onto an airplane easily, and they can be stowed either overhead or under the seat.

The picnic options, which can be ready in about 15 minutes, are being touted as a cost-effective and flavorful alternative to in-flight dining. Last year, The Telegraph discovered that some airlines markup food and beverage costs up by as much as 2,600 percent.

[Photo: The Telegraph]