Best Airline Food Winner: Turkish Airlines – USATODAY.com

Best Airline Food Winner: Turkish Airlines

christinegarvin

While many airlines continue to downgrade food options…and, well, flavor, Turkish Airlines has decided to move in the other direction.

Meals on a Turkish Airlines flight can include such delectable items as stuffed eggplant and walnut pear tart. Plus, they offer tasty Kosher, vegetarian, and seafood options.

Maybe that’s why they just won Skyscanner’s latest poll about best in-flight food. They took home an 86% satisfaction rating, beating out Singapore Airlines at 81% and Etihad at 80% to take the top spot. Singapore Airlines has chef Gordon Ramsey to thank for the high finish, since he is a part of their food development panel.

Image: Turkish Airlines

Where did the top UK airline place? British Airlines came in at 14th, with a 60% satisfaction rating. How about a US airline? Not surprisingly, the only one to make the list was American Airlines in 19th place with 47.5%.

That’s probably why most Americans think plane food is always bad.

Why the difference in airline food throughout the world? Well, the big reason is level of investment – while outfits like Turkish Airlines and Singapore are purposefully putting money into food (including bringing in big name chefs) in order to create more passenger loyalty, airlines in the US are cutting out all “non-necessities”, which apparently includes decent food.

But that may be changing. As we reported a few months ago, American Airlines hired chefs Richard Sandoval and Marcus Samuelsson to improve food offerings on both international and domestic flights.

Still, it’ll cost you. The days of free food – besides packaged peanuts – on flights are nearing their end. But if they somehow make it affordable to purchase decent food on a plane, we’re game.

via Best Airline Food Winner: Turkish Airlines – USATODAY.com.