Summary

• Private jet travelers can request any food they like, with menus tailored to their preferences and previous flights.
• Caviar is a popular and luxurious dish served on private jets, with special caviar dishes and mother-of-pearl spoons.
• Fine dining options on private jets include wagyu beef, lobster, truffle dishes, and sushi prepared to 5-star hotel standards.

Full-service commercial airliners offer a limited choice of food to its customers. Depending on the class of travel, upper class passengers generally choose their meals from a pre-selected menu. On some flights, upper class travelers can order the food of their own liking in advance.

Private jet travelers, on the other hand, are likely able to afford any luxury item they choose. On private jets, nothing regarding food is off-limits. Travelers can pretty much request (in advance) anything they like to eat at cruising altitude when in a private jet.

This article explores typical menus and orders private jet travelers request and how these are catered by charter companies.

Menus and orders

The flight attendant or cabin crew manager develops the menu based on guest preferences and previous flights and then prepares a catering order. The stars are the VIP caterers who, often at short notice, provide the plethora of meals and luxury items required before each flight. The flight attendant will also stock the aircraft with high-end products, such as champagne and superior chocolates, to ensure there is something luxurious for the guests.

Caviar

Caviar is an essential item, and the caviar service has to be perfect, or this expensive dish will be a waste of time. It is served on special caviar dishes with mother-of-pearl spoons over ice. The spoons and dishes help the caviar to retain its natural taste and not be tainted by metal or silver spoons. This is served with blinis and complimentary dishes of crème fraîche, shallot, lemon, and shredded egg whites and yolks. Beluga caviar is the most popular, followed by Oscietra.

Discover more aviation news here!

Fine dining

Fine dining is the rule, and meals within Europe include things like beef carpaccio, wagyu beef, Balik salmon, lobster, foie gras, and anything with truffle. Sushi is extremely popular, but quality is everything, and it must be served correctly with condiments. Everything is individually plated to 5-star hotel standards.

Champagne is essential, be it Roederer Cristal, Dom Pérignon, Laurent Perrier or Veuve Clicquot. A range of fine wines and spirits are available onboard, unless in dry country. Chocolates and fine desserts are ordered from companies such as Laduree, Fauchon, Patchi and Sprungli.

Middle East

In the Middle East, most families eat buffet style and like a large selection of traditional dishes. Starters will include salads such as fattoush, chicken Caesar and Greek salad, plus hot Arabic snacks (fatayer, kibbeh, samosas) and a selection of meze items (labneh, mutabal, hummus).

Butter chicken, biriyani, mixed grill and pasta dishes are very popular. Fruit skewers, ice cream and tiramisu are favorites for dessert. Freshly squeezed juices such as mango, lemon and mint and pineapple are the order of the day.

Children's menu

For our young guests, mini chicken burgers and fish goujons are always at the ready, of course, with ketchup and mayonnaise. Macaroni cheese or spaghetti and meatballs are good for a pasta choice. For dessert, cupcakes, brownies and ice cream are always the highlight.

Other menus

Of course, all diets and tastes are catered for and almost anything can be arranged, whether vegan, diabetic or with allergy restrictions. Sometimes it can be the opposite and a guest might bring a Mcdonald's or KFC for us to heat up on the aircraft. Sometimes pets fly too, so their needs have to be considered.

Restaurants

Some clients have their favorite restaurants and will ask the flight attendant to order from them. It could be just one restaurant, but in Russia, there might be as many as four or five different restaurants. There is usually no budget! In London, China Tang (at the Dorchester Hotel), Nobu, Sumosan and the Cinnamon Club are the most requested by the VIPs.

What are your thoughts on private jet meal options? Share your views in the comments section.