Holiday complaints piling up at Travel Rants HQ today. The first rant is about in-flight meals, a number of holidaymakers have reported that they have paid their travel agency for an in-flight meal, but passengers sat around them, who haven’t paid for a meal, received one.
The holidaymaker paid for a meal with Thomas Cook, costing £26, the Spanish airline Iberworld gave a meal to everyone. The cabin crew when queried told the passengers that it’s easier to give everyone a meal, which to be honest makes sense.
Last year I booked a holiday through Olympic Holidays, flew with Monarch Airlines, and I didn’t pay for the in-flight meal, but I received one any way. I didn’t mention it to passengers around me in case I caused a civil war in-flight, but it doesn’t seem right to me that you treat consumers differently.
Has this happened to you?
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Nomadic Matt | 26 June, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I wouldn’t pay for an inflight meal from a travel agency. Chances are you get the situation you just explained. I’d rather just see what happens.
Rohan | 26 June, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Ha.
Where are the travel agency comments????
This has happened to me sooooooo many times, and no I have never paid, but received a meal every time.
It is a con and I am glad you have highlighted this.
Darren Cronian | 26 June, 2008 at 11:58 pm
@ Matt
Me too 
@ Rohan
I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s a con, but I can’t understand why travel agencies charge for the meal, but the airline don’t.
Maybe someone could explain this?
Cathy | 29 June, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I would like to know why travel agencies do this as well. I have had this issue with Thomson who refused to give me the money back when I complained.
Nick | 30 June, 2008 at 10:03 am
Hi Darren,
Yes this is a problem we face a lot. It is down to the tour operators systems and has nothing to do with travel agents.
The following is a list of airlines that are known to charge for meals. (There could be others)
Fly TUI
First Choice Airlines
Thomas Cook Airlines
MyTravel.
We normal advise travelers to remove there meals when travelling with another airline. The problem being we had customers who did this and then when they flew the airline was short of meals (about 8 short), so they looked for customers that had not paid and left them out.
Our statement on this is “The airline your booking with normally includes in flight meals, however unless you pay for them they are not guaranteed”
When speaking to the tour operators they state the contract with the airline is to provide meals to those that have paid. In other words, you get a meal so no refund. Speaking to airline staff they have said it is easier for their company to provide meals for all there customers.
Jim | 30 June, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Where are these free meals coming from? I haven’t gotten a free meal other than first class in a long time.
Now they are starting to charge for the peanuts.
Lee Harrison ( Owner Select World Travel) | 1 July, 2008 at 8:50 am
Quote Darren
@ Rohan
I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s a con, but I can’t understand why travel agencies charge for the meal, but the airline don’t.
Maybe someone could explain this?
Darren, How many times? Please can you clarify the difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agency to your readers. It Is extremely misleading to call a Tour Operator a Travel Agency !
Darren Cronian | 1 July, 2008 at 11:47 am
Lee, I am quite capable of distinguishing a tour operator to a travel agency, but I am sure if you ask any consumer, they are one of the same. I gave Thomas Cook as an example but the same applies to if someone comes into a travel agency, books a holiday, pays for meals, arrives on the airplane to find out that the airline actually give the meal as part of flight ticket.
The travel agency blames the tour operator, the tour operator blames the airline.
Anna | 1 July, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I have been on flights (Fly TUI) originating from Stockholm where the crew had a list of names and those people who paid – got their meals. You could also pay right onboard to get dinner if you really wanted it.
Dunno, maybe Swedes are more organized…
Nick | 2 July, 2008 at 10:28 am
Anna
The airlines that charge (Fly TUI) is one I named, do follow this.. You do not pay… you do not get!
The other thing is that TUI (Thomson and First Choice) are moving to in house flying only…this means with them no more watching people that have not paid getting meals. (This is from 2009).
But at the end of the day on a 4 hour flight is it worth paying £6 for a meal?
(All comments are UK based.. and may be different for American readers)
David | 3 July, 2008 at 12:06 am
I would say that getting meals on a flight is like going to a restaurant. If a person orders a meal in advance, then they get the meal, not the person next to them. It also does not make sense that all customers would get a meal to prevent that situation. The loss of money would be too large for airlines to afford. Free meals are use to keep customers to individual airlines and they should not be expected from all of em.
Darren Cronian | 3 July, 2008 at 7:19 am
@ David
I think the issue here though is that Mr A pays £26 gets a meal and Mr B doesn’t pay but still gets a meal.
You either charge everyone or it’s free for everyone.
Darren Cronian | 3 July, 2008 at 7:23 am
@ Nick
Thanks for the explanation.
Is it really as cheap as £6?
I think the last figure I was quoted was £22 return.
Nick | 4 July, 2008 at 11:59 am
Darren
Quote for inflight meals today for flights under 3 hours traveling in september.
TUI £7 each way
Thomas Cook £6.50
Just to give you an idea.
vic | 18 July, 2008 at 1:58 pm
We booked flights only through Olympic and are flying with Monarch. The option to opt out of the in flight “meal” was not available, and even when I checked with Olympic, I was told that we had to pay for the “food” whether we wanted it or not. However in years gone by, we have flown with XL, declined to take up the chance to pay for the “meal”, but got one anyway. The excuse used is that it was easier to feed everyone than to work out who had paid and who had not.
jean edwards | 26 April, 2010 at 5:33 pm
can you take your own snacks and drinks on onur air going to dalama turkey
Darren Cronian | 27 April, 2010 at 12:34 pm
@ Jean
Yes, I took a snack and drinks with me on board once I had gone through security. It’s a long flight without anything to eat or drink.
Richard | 13 July, 2010 at 12:26 am
As a general rule the following applies to inflight meals:
If you book with a tour company and fly with the ‘in house’ airline you will need to choose if you want a meal or not. If you do, you may be charged.
However, if you book with one tour company and fly with another chartered airline you will find that meals are almost always included. E.g You book with Thomas Cook and fly with Thomson or visa versa.
This is because the tour company (in this example, Thomas Cook) has booked bulk seats (with Thomson) which automatically would be supplied with a meal.
To make it simple, if you are flying with another tour company a meal will most probably be provided regardless if you pay or not (and regardless if it states NO MEAL on your tickets)
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18 responses to “Paid for in-flight food that other passengers get for free”