Interesting comments number_6. It is certainly true that when someone is telling you about a flight they took, you invariably ask what the food was like. While it's certainly not a dealbreaker when choosing airlines, but if enough people have told you that the food on airline xyz is terrible, it'd make you think twice about long haul with that airline.

One other observation I have is that the Y - J gulf in food is quite big on CX (from my experience). This is probably a smart move, as it does give prem pax incentive to spend more $ on flights. I was surprised (but pretty happy) that when I flew Y+ with Air NZ over Xmas that all Y+ pax got J meals. Y+ also got the same alcohol and snack menu, as well as priority boarding, so the only real differences were in the lie-flat seat and the amenity kits (which were considerably nicer). Oh, and automatic lounge access. This has of course let to Y+ seats being very hard to get at peak times. Perhaps CX is deliberately keeping Y food so-so and ensuring that J food is very good.

Anyway, just a few thoughts on a Wednesday afternoon...