Guest Author - Yvonne Russell

With Inflight Airline Meal cutbacks, the Ritz Carlton has gone into the Take Out business with its "Flight Bites" service. The initial response to this initiative appears positive.

Many airlines have cut out snacks or reduced in flight meal services. First there was the demise of the peanuts. A lot of people are allergic to peanuts. So the great peanut phasing out period, was probably inevitable.

Then some airlines cut out other snacks. Others downsized or eliminated meals. All of a sudden a bread roll was called Lunch. This saved them a few dollars…a few million dollars a year, actually. It’s all about cutting costs. Budget airlines such as Virgin ask you to buy your food on board, or you can bring your own. The whole face of inflight meal services has changed.

This is where the Ritz Carlton comes in. It offers guests a “Flight Bites” service. Forget about your brown paper bag of sandwiches. Don’t worry about bringing a lunchbox and an apple. The Ritz Carlton program gives guests the option of ordering their meal through room service. The “Flight Bites” program is offered at most of their hotels and resorts, worldwide.

“Menu selections vary from a breakfast croissant, piece of fruit, and bottled water to “upgraded” choices of sandwiches, cookies, brownies and a small bottle of wine for those who prefer to eat first class, even when they’re sitting in coach. Prices vary but range from $12 for a basic snack to $25 or more, for gourmet fare.”

This initiative is in direct response to the airline cutbacks in the inflight meals department. Simon Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company explains. "We expect them to 'take off' in popularity with the changes in meal service policy. Keeping in mind the new restrictions on carry on luggage, we are making these meals as compact as possible, to fit into a briefcase or carry on bag, with ease." They come in a small bag or box.

This service has been popular with business and leisure travelers. The Ritz Carlton first operated the “Flight Bites” service in the early 1990’s. In the current climate of airline cutbacks, it appears that the timing is right for the reintroduction of such a service.

Travelers may want an extra snack to take on board. They may want to supplement an inflight meal. If traveling on a Budget airline, they have a meal ready to go. For business or leisure travelers who don’t have the time, inclination or facilities to organise a meal themselves, this service offers convenience. For the Ritz Carlton it is a value adding approach to hotel customer loyalty.

While this is not your typical brown bag lunch, who would have thought that the Ritz Carlton would be offering take out? Then again, who would have thought that airline inflight meals would have come to a point, that a service such as this, is necessary and viable?

Who knows what will be next in the airline services budgeting cuts department? Surely we won’t have to pre order a pillow or a blanket through our hotel room service as well?