CO dinner timing policy
 

Am I the only one who has a problem with meals not being served on domestic flights that depart after 7pm? Somehow this fact escaped my attention in the past, but on last night's 7:25pm EWR-AUS nonstop the grumbling in my stomach started as soon as I saw the FA passing out pretzels (always a sign that no full meal is coming).

My first stop after the three-and-a-half hour flight was one of Austin's few restaurants open at 11pm on a Sunday night that serves decent food, but really: is it too much to ask that an airline that incorporates "serving meals at mealtimes" as a key slogan in its marketing campaigns actually serve meals at mealtimes? I know eating times vary considerably throughout the country and world, but one of CO's two biggest hubs is in the NYC area, where the usual dinner hour is 8-8:30 (unless you're dining with young kids).

I don't fly transcons much these days, but if I did, this is exactly the kind of service lapse that would send me fleeing to jetBlue or Virgin (food may cost extra $$$, but at least they have it!).

last thurs i flew a 3:35 pm ewr-fll flight in F and got a full dinner (entree, salad,rolls, etc !!). On the 7:35pm flight coming back it was pretzels. i know people in houston like to finish dinner by 5:30, but it sure is tough for the rest of us to figure out

Be prepared, ya ain't gonna get much lovin' here. ;)

I agree with your concern. I think dinner should be served up to 8pm. I also think breakfast should stop after 9am. A 9:45am (say IAH-LAS) is too late to serve breakfast. I have tried and can not get CO to change.

If you fly DL - they serve lunch on a flght after 9 - so if you go ATL-LAX at say 9:10am - you will get lunch. Not sure what DL's cut off is for dinner.

here's a solution: why not just always bring your own victuals on board? that way, there's never any confusion. and, as a side benefit, you actually get to eat what you want to eat (not what some beancounter in houston thinks you should eat that night).

i mean, c'mon...in this day and age, i have no sympathy for the original poster. none.

I find the whole thing about meals amusing on CO....

First - the advertising about "meals at meal time". That sounds like something you'd hear at a senior citizens center - "meal time".

Secondly, Continental is a global company operating flights in almost every time zone in the world, and has passengers connecting in and through all those times zones.

"Meal times" are different for every passenger on each flight, depending on where they started/ended, etc. Continental bases "meal times" on the origination of ONE partcular flight, assuming all passengers on that flight are function on that time zone - that isn't the case with a global company. All flights should be "meal time".

Did I say that "meal time" sounds childish? I think it's terrible wording.

I have COMPLETE sympathy for the OP, and for everyone else whose ever flown CO at a mealtime and expect, but did not receive, a meal.

CO is proud to say it "serves meals at mealtime." It doesn't say "We sometimes serve meals, depends on your definition of mealtime, and on some flights we do but on others we just don't." That would be crappy marketing.

If they say they serve meals, then some people actually plan with that in mind, and wait to be served food onboard. At some airports, there are no victuals worth paying for beyond security (CO's gates at DCA being one such example). I, personally, happen to think that even CO's coach cabin food is actually decent and fully edible (I will concede that I have a wide ranging palate). I, like the OP, have flown at a dinner-hour, and thinking I would get food onboard, bypassed the airport eateries. Then, 4 hours with no food. It was distinctly unpleasant.

If the airline is going to say "pillows, blankets, meals at mealtime" then they should provide them. Period. Or should we expect the entire industry to start lying to us about everything: "Your flight is $385, roundtrip. (SMALL PRINT: Plus $10 for a meal, plus $30 for gas, plus $25 for checking your bag, plus $20 for booking with an agent, plus $50 for an overweight bag, plus plus plus plus PLUS.)"

Is that really how we want to buy our air travel?? Do we really want to EXPECT that when we buy a ticket, that there's only a 50/50 chance that we'll actually end up paying that amount? Or do we want an airline industry that is above-board, that charges a fair price for its product, and doesn't hide its true costs with after-the-fact fees?

We have EXACTLY the airline system we -- collectively -- want right now. Tight legroom, no food, no pillows or blankets, extra fees everywhere you turn. Except on CO, where you can still expect to fly in somewhat civilized conditions (go ahead - flame away! :cool:), and if they say they provide meals, then %&#@! - provide meals!!!

(END RANT)

My CLE-LAS flt coming up says "snack" will be served. What is a "snack" exactly? Should I plan on bringing my own food? It is a 9am flt.

It will most likely be a fruit bowl with yogurt and a croissant.

no flame. you keep hoping for a meal while i eat the nice sandwich or wrap that i picked up before i boarded. do you put ketchup on that hope sandwich?

(don't get me wrong....i'd love the airline to serve me a great meal. however, i am R.E.A.L.I.S.T.I.C.)

So the expectation should be no meal during what much of the country believes is the dinner hour (8:00 p.m.), even if the airline says it serves "meals at meal time?"

Meals are served during times that CAL has deemed mealtime. Remember that is CAL's definition of mealtime, maybe not yours or mine. Breakfast is served between 0700-0900, lunch between 1100-1300 and dinner between 1700-1900. What you receive also depends on the flight time. Unfortunately kirker, your flight departed at 1925, which is just after the dinner "meal-time." While I do agree with some of your arguments, the plus side is that CAL still offers meals at no extra charge. In a pinch it's great...if you have the extra time, pick something up at the airport like fly co to see the yanks suggested. If your flight says that it will have a snack, always be prepared for pretzels or peanuts. If you are served anything else, that's a plus!
Safe travels:D

expectation doesn't fill your stomach. YMMV (your mileage may vary) but i prefer to spend the $10 and not play russian roulette.

I suppose it doesn't, but I don't always have time to pick something up at the airport, so the $10 won't always fill my stomach either. Plus, most airport food options consist of stinky fast food, something I would rather not smell on an airplane. I would much rather that CO just live up to its promise of meals at mealtime rather than gamble on whether I'll have time to pick something up in the terminal.

On the rare occasion I am able to bring my own food from home, I suppose I could bring something I really want to eat. I do love a good kim chee . . . ;)

1) i can't remember the last time i caught a flight that i didn't have the 2 minutes to grab a pre-prepared sandwich at one of those food/drink/newspaper kiosks. it's not my preference, but there is almost always time.

2) i don't worry about how my food smells. a sandwich/wrap/salad rarely gives that much of an odor. even a tuna sandwich (which i rarely order) doesn't really smell that much (even though you think it would). the turkey sandwich that i usually buy tends not to bother others. what are you ordering that gives off such a strong odor?

3) again, continental's promise (and your hope) of a "meal" at "mealtime" won't fill your stomach when you get that crummy bag of pretzels. i'd rather not gamble.

4) i almost NEVER bring food from home.