Food and drink on flights?

Is this a permanent change or just during the pandemic?

Nancy, surely it's just during the pandemic! I can't imagine it would be permanent.

Yikes.

Is this a permanent change or just during the pandemic?

Last night, my husband and I were talking about how some of the precautions we are taking now to avoid the spread of the coronavirus may end up being part of the new normal when the current crisis abates.

The short-haul "complimentary" arrangements are actually an improvement - previously in economy one needed to buy light refreshments such as a cup of tea or a soft drink. I imagine when the current unpleasantness is over, it'll go back to selling them.

The world will approach life differently if and when this pandemic ends. It will be a matter of survival.

I’m more concerned about the major hit the world economy is taking, jobs and businesses that are being and will continue being lost. That’s a huge long lasting ripple effect that will affect us all.

Stay safe, stay healthy, STAY HOME!

Nick is right. In the good-ole-days of summer 2018, the AC didn't work well, the flight was delayed due to weather and they didn't even have enough water for sale on our flight from London to Edinburgh. I'm not usually claustrophobic but I was in the last row and it was miserable.

I received an email from American Airlines (even though I haven't flown their airlines since the 90's). and am not planning to fly anywhere any time soon. I believe this applies to domestic travel. "American has temporarily changed a number of policies in response to COVID-19. These changes include relaxed seating policy, reduced food and beverage service, and suspension of checked pets." Slightly edited.
To see complete format go to aa.com.

Got to thinking-- Remember when Costco and other markets sampled food? I can recall doing cheese tasting just 2 months ago.

Maybe there will be long-term changes, maybe not. I don't see how these changes would impact a future pandemic from occurring. Meals being more hygienically packaged would not have prevented this, for example. People being more vigilant about wiping-down their seats would not have prevented this. What I hope, and sadly doubt, is that this will be the kick in the pants that politicians need (maybe that people need to then kick their politicians in the pants to do something about) to develop the infrastructure to respond to this in the future, because there will be another one in the future. Imagine if we had safety protocols (which, I imagine, is what the Pandemic Response department Obama set up was working on) that snapped into gear the instant there was a threat. Imagine that every person and every industry knew exactly what they should do, and at what stage, when the next virus hits. There would be an entire engine that turns on, a crisis response, that severely mitigates the development of a pandemic. We are doing that piecemeal now, and in the wake of the virus. It's infuriating.
I know this is a bit of a departure from the OP's observations, but all this to say, why should Airlines change their food and drink policy after this is over ... except by using the pandemic-induced changes to justify a policy change that would otherwise get too much push-back?

As Janis suggested, the days of "free lunch" at Costco are probably over. And they were way more vigilant about hygiene than the samples station at our local market (grab a chip, sweep it through the dip carton.)
Airline food -- I may settle for unopened cans of soda or fruit juice and bread and cheese I brought from home.

Wow do people go off on tangents.

Most major airlines have curtailed food and beverage service on short haul flights during the pandemic. They want to minimize contact between flight crew and passengers, Long haul flights will continue to have some service but it will be cut back. You won't go hungry.

Relax, it is not permanent. Airlines make too much money from selling food and drinks.

my husband and I were talking about how some of the precautions we are taking now to avoid the spread of the coronavirus may end up being part of the new normal when the current crisis abates.

In the same vein, I mentioned to my wife yesterday that I've never seen so many people out walking and bike riding before, and that I wondered if, when this is over, many of them will say: "Hey walking and biking is great; I think I'll continue to do that." Or will many say: "Yes! I can start going to the gym again"

What amazes me is that people actually seem distressed that they aren't getting inedible food from the airline.

I generally find that bringing my own food on the plane is a the way to go. So the only real difference might be that I would bring it from home instead of buying it at the airport and probably by the time I fly again the airport concessions will be open again.

Frank II, when I go to Budapest in April, no planes for me. I'm taking the train until those nasty airlines are nationalized and become efficient.