Etihad Pearl Business Class Meals, Courtesy – Etihad Airways

Nothing is too small for a business class traveler. Airlines add another bespoke experience to the indulgent package: chefs onboard, bespoke meals and mean cocktails, and food cooked by celebrity chefs. 

If you are flying business or premium, airlines largely lay out the red carpet. But bad food has always been a grouse for most flyers, business or otherwise. However, over the past few years, in a bid to woo the fussy, demanding business class traveler, airlines have begun offering bespoke meal experiences.

We recently flew Mumbai to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines and were surprised to find a chef explain the menu to us.  Turkish Airlines ‘Flying Chef’ is a signature service offered to its Business Class guests. The service is available on a select few long-haul routes. From India, the service has been introduced on the daily Mumbai/Delhi-Istanbul flights. Although the idea was to serve Western-style meals, on the Indian sector the chef also serves up vegetarian options to cater to the Indian clientele.

Courtesy – Turkish Airlines

Deniz, the chef we encountered onboard, was dressed in crisp white Chef attire, introduced himself to the guests, and spoke about the in-flight dining experience and meals he could serve guests on this particular flight. We had a chance to catch up with him in the pantry and asked him about the different kinds of coffees he serves, given how popular Turkish coffee is across the world. Besides briefing us on how coffee is made in Turkey, he also told us about fortune tellers who tell your future by reading the dregs left behind once you have downed your cuppa! A good chef is also a great ambassador for the culture of his country. Discussing the elaborate menu with each passenger, the chef noted our personal preferences and took the meal order.

Long before departure, meal planning is already in play along with the intention of ensuring pleased passengers. The preparation of these meals starts at an Istanbul catering facilities, where more than 140,000 individual meals are prepared each day. What makes this service ever so impressive is the fact that much of this cooking is done by boutique production, and the Flying Chefs are working there as well. To give their chefs the chance to create this restaurant experience in the air, Turkish Airlines has a special loading process for our food. The meals include a cold platter with a choice of salad, hummus, dips, fresh fruits and juice, followed by hot meals and desserts.

Etihad Airways has gone as far as to poach expert cooks from a number of renowned Michelin-starred restaurants since launching its Flying Chef service on long haul flights.  The meals have since become complex gastronomic experience and the airline serves dishes like Balik-style smoked salmon and Pan-seared scallops with a parmesan cheese sauce in their first-class menu. The chef talks to guests and makes suggestions of what they might like on the menu. He also adjusts the seasonings and recommends menu and beverage choices to each guest.

American Airlines Meal experiences, Courtesy – American Airlines

Some airlines may not have gone as far as having a chef onboard, and yet they have done everything possible to offer a five star experience mid-flight. American Airlines extends a bar-like ambience to passengers. Their Boeing 777-300ER aircraft features a walk-up bar that is available exclusively to premium-class customers. It is stocked with a selection of snacks, sandwiches and sweets, available anytime between meal services. In addition, first-class customers on their 777-300ER aircraft may enjoy an espresso or a cappuccino prepared in their first-class galley.

Meals, too, are getting fancier to appeal to global travelers who experience the best of dining experiences across the world and demand that experience in lieu of the big bucks they pay to travel Business Class. Emirates, which has won several awards for its inflight-dining experience, allows its business and first-class guest to freshen up in one of the two on board showers before they enjoy their luxe meals, which include traditional Arab mezze and lamb noisettes with roasted seasonable vegetables and creamy mashed potato. Oman Air’s business and first class meals are served on bespoke full-size china. Diners start with caviar and Dom Pérignon champagne, followed by canapés and appetisers such as a winter pumpkin-and-apple soup. Main courses include Fillet of Beef, Loch Fyne Salmon, Pan-fried Sea Bass with cherry tomato, herb, and olive salsa, and Saffron Risotto with grilled asparagus. Also on offer is the Arabian Festival Combination Dish of King Prawn Kebab, Steamed Chickpea Rice with pine nuts, and seasoned okra. After dessert (chocolate mousse gâteau or baklava), guests indulge in a cheese plate served with Croft vintage port.

Onboard chefs, exotic meals and in-flight bars help deliver a superior level of customer service, strengthening the carrier’s brand image and differentiating them from competitors.