ATA just announced yesterday that we are going to serve box - type meals on some of our flights. Its going to start on the transcon SFO - EWR - SFO flights, but if it takes off they should be available on more of our longer flights. $5.00 each so the FA's don't have to deal with a lot of change and small bills. That ought to give the pax something to sop up their booze with.
I'm constantly amazed that passengers will bitch and moan that no food is served on a two hour MDW - DEN flight. I mean, don't these people read? They spend an hour plus in MDW, why don't they get a frickin' Potbelly sandwich like I did? They went to the trouble of checking a TV and riding lawnmower as baggage, but won't feed their family before getting on a plane.
Rant over.
By the way. The reason that airlines are selling chow during flights is that people won't pay the extra five bucks in ticket price (yes, five bucks really makes the difference these days), but WILL pay the toll once in flight. Also, pax would take a free meal, eat the chips out of it, then throw the rest on the floor. This would result in significantly longer cleanings by our Polish ladies between flights, therefore increasing turn times, lowering aircraft utilization, etc. If folks want to eat, they will cough up the fiver. If they don't, they can watch their seat mate stuff their faces and watch Friends reruns on the tube.