It's uneducated and ridiculous posts like this that make me so glad I'm no longer in the aviation business.

Let's see - F/A is on an aircraft for anywhere between 8 and 12 hours, even on multi-leg short hops there may be no time in turnaround for a break or to leave the aircraft to buy food....

Gee - what are the crew supposed to do - step out at 35,000 feet and buy Subway?

If a land based employer mandated that an employee should work an 8 hour day (let alone a 12 hour one) with denial of opportunity to eat - they'd be in all kinds of hot water.

Why is that people think that aircrew jobs (or jobs on off-shore oil rigs, or on cruise or cargo ships etc. for that matter) are the same as your typical 9-5 office gig????

And if you think an F/A can just 'PLAN AHEAD' - then you really need to get a better understanding of F/A or Pilot scheduling... Many aircrew are on call or on reserve, they could end up flying one short hop, or flying all night to London, they might be thinking they are doing a 4 hour day, and end up doing a 12 hour one. 'Packing a lunch' is a tenuous argument at best - one that may work for those flying for small regional carrier with no longhaul routes or far flung networks, but not for a major carrier.

Point of order: most crew meals are part of the union contract, i.e. they are viewed as part and parcel of the overall pay and compensation contract. You don't enter into that contract with a 9-5 job because there is no need to do so. You may however negotiate other benefits, e.g. company car, or being able to choose the airline you fly on for business to accrue your preferred frequent flyer miles.

With regard to aircrew going through the normal lanes: I never felt 'comfortable' going to the front of the line, but I also understood that passengers would probably prefer I go the aircraft expeditiously and without delay and get them to where they were going on time - than 200+ pax being delayed because 9 aircrew are forced to stand in line!!! And to preempt - having aircrew arrive 3 hours at the airport before an international flight so they can stand in line like everyone else - I don't think you even want to open that can of worms (layover time not enough, crew duty time, extra relief crew, blocking extra eats for crew rest...)

Finally - for the record - my 8 years in aviation included many roles, but in the number of years as an F/A, I never once saw any of my colleagues removing food from Pax trays before being served, nor would I say it is in anyway justifiable or acceptable. The closest I got was when we were undercatered, and rather than serve that particular component to some and not to all, the undercatered item was not served at all to any. I'd hazard a guess that the vast majority of F/A's will gladly eat a leftover/undesired meal otherwise going to waste, but would not deprive a paying customer.