Skift: 17 Milestones In The History of In-Flight Meals

Above, a Korean Air jet bound for Japan being loaded with meals before take-off.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The current state of in-flight airline meals is not what it used to be.

Now, cross-country flights offer meals, but you have pay for them. They used to be free. Some free meals (on international flights) are 'gawd-awful' according to some.

Since my first international flight (to Japan) in 2001, I have found the meals served to be pretty good. The best (in my opinion) are with Singapore Air and United Airlines. My last several flights to and from Japan have been with Korean Air and theirs are good. I don't recall ever having a bad meal on a plane.

Skift has an interesting article on the 17 milestones in the history of in-flight meals, along with photographs and a vintage Pan Am video, "Pan Am Introduction To Jet Service" (it is amusing to see a stewardess light up a passenger's cigarette since one would be arrested for lighting up in-flight today).

What is Skift?

Here's what they say:

Skift is a travel intelligence company that offers news, information, data and services to professionals in the travel industry and professional travelers to help them make smart decisions about travel. 

Travel news & data offers a tremendous opportunity: With a $6.5 trillion contribution to GDP and 260 million jobs, travel — made up of tourism, hospitality, transport & leisure — is the world’s largest industry. Skift is the information and intelligence brand that matches the industry’s size and potential. 

Simply put: Skift is the business of travel.

To view the article, go here.