Lunch, Dinner: Any Difference?
 

Wondering if there is a difference in terms of quantity and quality when flights serve both lunch & dinner on a transpacific route. Flew CX839 YVR-HKG a year ago and the meal service was exactly like that. Lunch after takeoff and dinner served 90 min B4 landing in HKG. However, the meals were almost the same: Rice & Fish (Lunch) & Rice & Chicken (Dinner). So is the term Lunch and Dinner used to indicate when the meal is served according to the flight schedule or if there is a major difference in terms of what you get? Both meals were great but I didn't see anything more special in the Dinner selection than the lunch. The night flight has supper/breakfast service in which there is a major difference between them. However, can't see much difference between lunch/dinner.

Normally lunch and dinner indicates a wider selection serving of choices.. of course depending on the class of travel you're in.

And also the first main meal after takeoff is usually more elaborate than the latter.

Right. So many people focus only on the main course when the accoutrements can be really special. Unfortunately on CX 839, I don't believe either meal includes the caviar service. I'll be on it in a couple of months so I could let y'all know, assuming of course that anyone's interested...

No... CX 839 the departure at 2pm will have the full main meal served after takeoff with caviar and salmon board, soup, salad, four main course choices, dessert, cheese and fruit board, and parlines... I flew this flight more than twice, so I am sure about the caviar service.

the only flight without caviar and salmon is the 2am departure from YVR on CX 889. Since those items are offered on the previous segment from JFK to YVR, and most passengers opt to sleep on the second segment... a light meal will be served after takeoff, all night snack on demand menu, and a full breakfast prior to arrival.

Don't worry Seat 2A! You will get your caviar if you are on the afternoon CX 839 to HKG from YVR.

About the second meal, it is often called a supper... a very basic meal with fruit appetizer, three main course choices (or two), and then pralines. Very basic light meal! A bit too basic if you ask me... but you can always ask for extra main course, as not many people actually eat the second meal. It is almost 2 or 3am in West Coast time when they serve the second meal...

Carfield

The YYZ-HKG flight [CX829] now leaves an hour earlier, at 9:35p, which is a European-decent time for having a full multi-course Dinner on the 5-hour segment into YVR. However, I expect the Dinner service will remain the modified one [i.e. no caviar] as has been the case when it departed at 10:30p and did its tech stop in Alaska. Since I don't eat caviar -- after having a bad case of food poisoning following some of the stuff on AF years back -- it will be no loss, but a slab of smoked salmon and the chopped egg/onion accompaniment would be attractive over a glass of Montrachet...

CX doesn't serve Le Montrachet, even in F (understandably so). Their white wines are considerably more ordinary than their (extraordinary) red wines. I'd recommend the Antinori Tignanello with that salmon (just let it breath for an hour, maybe get them to open a bottle when you board), or Krug (even Deutz, which is probably what YYZ gets).

Oh well, sounds like the wine list will be an adventure in inflight tasting. Had Montrachet on BA, but maybe it is in this area [and those new amenity kits] that CX loses to BA in the FIrst Class sweepstakes. I'll be sure to keep my taste buds in condition, number_6.

[This message has been edited by Shareholder (edited Feb 07, 2004).]

I think we may have a misunderstanding here. CX does serve a Puligny-Montrachet in First. (I had some last night - it was fine, but nothing special.) What they don't serve is the particular Grand Cru "Le Montrachet" which comes from the most exclusive part of the hill.

Thank you christep, then I do have a chance for some P-M, if not "The/Le" Montrachet. As I used a more generic Montrachet without the "The/Le", I would find "Puligny-" an acceptable airborne white.