Bringing McDonald's food into BA first class
May 14, 2019, 5:33 am
#211
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 6
Smelly
Just on a flight from ATL to PHL and someone had been seated early with a big sandwich (possibly pastrami?) that was uber-smelly. I was shocked how bad the cabin smelled. You're in a closed tube with weird air and lots of bodies and poor circulation. The smell persisted (along with some kind of masking spray already in the plane) and I never smelled anything like it. It clung to my clothes all the way driving home from the airport. A cigar would have been like aromatherapy compared to it, this was a greasy, oil, pungent fetid odor.
I get that people bring food because there is nothing on offer on the plane except overpriced terrible garbage and there is often little time between plane changes to get fed. This happened to me going back from HI to the East Coast. No food and no time to get any on the one stopover.
But you can't inconvenience the entire flight with your nasty odors. Cold sandwiches are ok except for tuna and egg salad, no garlic, no onion, no grinders, no hot pockets or smelly anything. It's common (hah) courtesy.
I get that people bring food because there is nothing on offer on the plane except overpriced terrible garbage and there is often little time between plane changes to get fed. This happened to me going back from HI to the East Coast. No food and no time to get any on the one stopover.
But you can't inconvenience the entire flight with your nasty odors. Cold sandwiches are ok except for tuna and egg salad, no garlic, no onion, no grinders, no hot pockets or smelly anything. It's common (hah) courtesy.
May 14, 2019, 6:07 am
#212
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 71
I could say the same about a lot of scents people wear, but you don't see me taking pix of their perfumes and blasting them online for their "obnoxious smells" that may also stink up a cabin, but I've seen no outrage from anyone flying premium about that kind of scent yet.
May 14, 2019, 6:13 am
#213
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 597
Last month, someone in the seat behind me whipped out a Subway sandwich a few minutes after takeoff. Since apparently hardly anyone here frequents, nay, ever sets foot in such plebeian establishments, I should explain that a Subway shop and the food served therein have a very distinct scent.
That smell is not entirely objectionable but did affect me somewhat, although only because of its timing. I wish they had waited until meal service. I can, however, see how someone of more refined taste and higher class, manifested clearly and perhaps solely by their boarding group number, would be rightfully and righteously horrified by such scandalous behaviour.
I mean, what is this world coming to? Right? Right?!?!
That smell is not entirely objectionable but did affect me somewhat, although only because of its timing. I wish they had waited until meal service. I can, however, see how someone of more refined taste and higher class, manifested clearly and perhaps solely by their boarding group number, would be rightfully and righteously horrified by such scandalous behaviour.
I mean, what is this world coming to? Right? Right?!?!
I take my diabetes meds (Onglyza and Glipizide) at 7am every morning, and the doctor says they should be taken with food. My flights from the DC area airports to the west coast all depart between 625am and 730am. I will grab a fast food sandwich of some sort at the airport and carry it on with me. After I take my meds, I eat the sandwich (but very little of the bread or bun) so that the meds don't drop my blood sugar below the safe level. I then take the uneaten carbs and wrap them in the sandwich wrapper and give them to the FA to throw away.
It's better than waiting and hoping for an early meal service or being "that guy" who wants his breakfast an hour before everyone else.
If there's someone sitting next to me, they'll get the explanation that I have to eat something with my meds, and I've never had a problem. Everyone has been understanding.
May 14, 2019, 6:14 am
#214
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,528
May 14, 2019, 6:18 am
#215
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: PHL (1st) EWR (2nd) BWI (3rd)
Programs: 2016 UA Gold & AA Platinum
Posts: 19
When I feel my blood sugar crashing I also know I have 5 minutes or less before the cold sweats and passing out happen. McDonalds isn't a choice I'd make, but I've also been in a situation where waiting to eat wasn't an option if I wanted to remain upright.
May 14, 2019, 6:18 am
#216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,038
I could say the same about a lot of scents people wear, but you don't see me taking pix of their perfumes and blasting them online for their "obnoxious smells" that may also stink up a cabin, but I've seen no outrage from anyone flying premium about that kind of scent yet.
May 14, 2019, 6:46 am
#217
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 71
May 14, 2019, 6:54 am
#218
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Previous Discussion thread: Bringing your own food into First Class
I find it kind of disturbing that there is so much pomp and circumstance on some non-US airlines. No, McDonalds is not great food nor particularly healthy, but it doesn't try to be. It is just cheap, dependable, and quick. Are foods so bland in Chile that McNuggets are the smelliest thing? I would normally think of it as one of the less offensive smells. But even worse to me is the whole attitude about how dare they. That makes First Class feel very uncomfortable if there is that much judgement going on there.
I find it kind of disturbing that there is so much pomp and circumstance on some non-US airlines. No, McDonalds is not great food nor particularly healthy, but it doesn't try to be. It is just cheap, dependable, and quick. Are foods so bland in Chile that McNuggets are the smelliest thing? I would normally think of it as one of the less offensive smells. But even worse to me is the whole attitude about how dare they. That makes First Class feel very uncomfortable if there is that much judgement going on there.
May 14, 2019, 7:09 am
#219
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 194
If that was an early morning flight out of IAD, DCA, or BAL, that could have been me.
I take my diabetes meds (Onglyza and Glipizide) at 7am every morning, and the doctor says they should be taken with food. My flights from the DC area airports to the west coast all depart between 625am and 730am. I will grab a fast food sandwich of some sort at the airport and carry it on with me. After I take my meds, I eat the sandwich (but very little of the bread or bun) so that the meds don't drop my blood sugar below the safe level. I then take the uneaten carbs and wrap them in the sandwich wrapper and give them to the FA to throw away.
It's better than waiting and hoping for an early meal service or being "that guy" who wants his breakfast an hour before everyone else.
If there's someone sitting next to me, they'll get the explanation that I have to eat something with my meds, and I've never had a problem. Everyone has been understanding.
I take my diabetes meds (Onglyza and Glipizide) at 7am every morning, and the doctor says they should be taken with food. My flights from the DC area airports to the west coast all depart between 625am and 730am. I will grab a fast food sandwich of some sort at the airport and carry it on with me. After I take my meds, I eat the sandwich (but very little of the bread or bun) so that the meds don't drop my blood sugar below the safe level. I then take the uneaten carbs and wrap them in the sandwich wrapper and give them to the FA to throw away.
It's better than waiting and hoping for an early meal service or being "that guy" who wants his breakfast an hour before everyone else.
If there's someone sitting next to me, they'll get the explanation that I have to eat something with my meds, and I've never had a problem. Everyone has been understanding.
May 14, 2019, 7:36 am
#220
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 597
Honestly I don't understand why you need to be apologetic for taking care of your health. I would think that there is no need for you to explain why you are eating, to anyone including your seat neighbors. What smells nice to someone may smell bad to another. With airlines not providing food or providing crappy food, people have different needs, as your case being a diabetic. I would say you are well within your rights to bring and eat any food in any class (Y, J or F) to deal with your diabetes whether it is from a fancy restaurant or from McDonalds
If I'm going to sit next to someone for the next five hours plus, that's a nice way to let them know I want to be considerate of them. Doesn't cost me anything to be friendly and show consideration.
May 14, 2019, 7:46 am
#221
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 23
Couple next to me on a flight to Spain at xmas brought a big bag of Nandos on board the 7am flight, cabin crew had to "keep it warm" in the galley for them during take off as we were in exit row seats.
Was a bit jealous actually, looked quite good.
Was a bit jealous actually, looked quite good.
May 14, 2019, 7:54 am
#223
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,644
May 14, 2019, 8:06 am
#224
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 194
Every food smells, what smells nice to one may stink to another and I agree with clbish that it is nobody's business if a person eats McDonalds. I agree about strong smell in a small cabin comment, and I always try not to bring strong smelling food in to the cabin to be courteous to other passengers. But I don't understand why target only fast food, it should be any strong smelling food
May 14, 2019, 8:22 am
#225
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 22
I don't have a problem with people self catering and have done so a few times - but usually some items from Pret a Manger or Starbucks (remember the days when you got a £15 credit if your flight was leaving from T5C).
Because I hate the smell of other people's hot food on public transport eg the Tube, I would not bring hot food on board. Coffee is acceptable though. [...]
Because I hate the smell of other people's hot food on public transport eg the Tube, I would not bring hot food on board. Coffee is acceptable though. [...]
Last edited by scfw0x0f; May 14, 2019 at 8:31 am