Originally Posted by
AviationNZ
Agreed!
It's funny how people incorrectly take the approach of "with airline X you have a meal included and don't have to pay for it, but with Air NZ you have to pay for the meal". With EVERY airline, you have to pay for the meal in some way, shape or form. As sbiddle has mentioned, with Air NZ however, if you don't want to pay for it, you have that option available.
I think it's a message Air NZ have always struggled with.
QF advertise that every flight includes a meal, baggage allowance and IFE. I see and hear comments from people regularly about how "I had to pay extra for a meal on Air NZ so I may as well fly Qantas next time so I can get it for free" which ignores the fact that that fares aren't aligned.
I would never pay for a meal TT because I see absolutely no point when there is far better food in the lounge at both ends.