Summary

• Cabin crew often have the option to eat unused business class meals on their shift.
• Crew members do not eat their meals until after the meal service, bar service, tea and coffee service, and clearing service are completed.
• Cabin crew may bring their own meals to have healthier options.

Business class meals are almost always a step-up to meals served in economy. Whether it's five-course fare on a long-haul flight or a quick meal on short hops, cabin crew would surely prefer to tuck into a premium meal. But are cabin crew able to eat unused business class meals on their shift?

Crew meals

Let's take a look at the standard crew meal first. It's pretty much the same as the economy class passenger meal, although there will be three or four choices, including a vegetarian option. The flight crew often have different meals from one another, because, in the rare case of food poisoning, you do need one healthy pilot to fly the plane.

On long-haul flights, extra meals or snacks will be loaded. These meals may not always be eaten by the crew, as sometimes, when a passenger does not get a special meal request or requests one last minute, the cabin crew can usually put something together from the crew meals.

After service

Cabin crew do not take their meals until after the meal service, bar service, hot drink service, and clearing service are completed. Usually, the senior crew member or purser will check what meals are left in each cabin after the service. These meals will then be offered to the flight crew first, and anything else is sent to each galley.

Business class service tends to be a more individualized service on real plates with cutlery, so it is nicer than eating out of a foil container and is appreciated when crew get the chance. The meals are of better quality too, with courses served separately. Often, the crew won't get a five-course business class meal each, but they might get a starter or a cheese plate, for example.

First class?

In first class, it is a little more complicated as meals are served on demand when the passenger wants. There always has to be enough meals to go around, but if there is anything left and the passengers have already eaten, then the crew might get a chance to eat a dessert or some snacks from the first class cabin.

Given that unused meals just end up being chucked away, it would be a shame to waste such quality food. However, with the industry now eager to cut down on waste wherever possible, excess business and first class meals could be a thing of the past.

Alternative offerings

Mostly on the larger airlines, cabin crew usually eat their crew meal and anything else is a bonus - it certainly doesn't happen all the time. Some cabin crew bring their own meals to avoid the unhealthier option of the crew meal, or sometimes they are just bored with the same food.

Crew meals (and economy class passenger meals) are not the healthiest, as they have more salt and fat in them, so they taste better at altitude. In fact, they are designed especially by chefs to taste great during the flight, and taste completely different when eaten on the ground. Business class and first class meals have much higher quality products and are less 'manufactured', so will taste much more pleasant.

Cabin crew tend to be quite creative and think on their feet - for example, leftover sandwiches can become 'hot toasties' with Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco from the bar cart, which they may well need in the middle of the night on a long-haul flight. Or, crew can take a couple of salads and add macadamia nuts from first class, plus a tiny bottle of balsamic vinegar from a business class tray, and enjoy a more luxurious and healthier meal than the crew meal.