Kosher Meals - Can we do better?

[@Yehuda]

Here you go, someone get Jared Kushner and Ivanka to retweet this

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/kosher-food-airplanes

Oh mylanta. If we need the government to step in because of poor KSMLs, we've got problems. Please leave them out of it, they have enough to do otherwise.

I really support @milechazzer's idea for a site, but I am nervous about Chillul Hashem issues.

[DTM]

Oh mylanta. If we need the government to step in because of poor KSMLs, we've got problems. Please leave them out of it, they have enough to do otherwise.

I really support @milechazzer's idea for a site, but I am nervous about Chillul Hashem issues.

Another concern may be that marginally religious Jewish travelers will opt for the non-kosher meals as a result. Some have the image that the kosher option is healthier; and/or will be more likely to choose kosher if they think it may be equivalent or better in taste or quality. 

Best if the website publicity could somehow be limited to those who are firmly committed to kosher meals no matter what. And then to the airlines and their kosher food suppliers.

[momo]

Anyone who is wishy washy about kosher, once they get a look at what’s being served, even if they already ordered kosher, will automatically ask for a non kosher option, website or not.

[milechazzer]

Post flight reviews of kosher meals should include the specific Airline, flight date and number, seating class, meal (b,l,d), name of the kosher food supplier, and each of the specific items on the tray, each separately rated, so that Airlines and food suppliers can look to see where specific improvements can be made.   

Thanks. I feel like that may be expecting a bit much from the average traveler.
I would hope to have the airline, date, class, bkfst/lunch/dinner/snack, caterer, and rating of the meal (possibly from 1-5 stars), as well as at least one photo required.
Would suggest optional input of flight #, route, seat #, and additional comments.
I think a minority of people will actually critique each dish (or even photograph each course or dish separately), and we may be better off getting more people to post the minimum information, and let the real food critics share as much info as they want in the comments.
Thoughts?

[DTM]

As an average traveler I’d like to be able to say that the main was ok, or was too salty, the roll was stale, or frozen (the latter could be airline’s fault but they should know what to improve), and that the dessert was canned sugary faux fruit, etcetera...

A required photo may be asking too much, as some people do not know how to do that, but you still want their input.

[yuneeq]

Tumblr is a type of site to easily post photos of terrible meals

[milechazzer]

Oh mylanta. If we need the government to step in because of poor KSMLs, we've got problems. Please leave them out of it, they have enough to do otherwise.

I really support @milechazzer's idea for a site, but I am nervous about Chillul Hashem issues.

I share that concern. I think it may be inevitable for a site like this to attract the attention of some "haters".  It would need to be titled and worded carefully to avoid sending the wrong message.  Will probably also need to be moderated by someone to keep the spam out.

[milechazzer]

As an average traveler I’d like to be able to say that the main was ok, or was too salty, the roll was stale, or frozen (the latter could be airline’s fault but they should know what to improve), and that the dessert was canned sugary faux fruit, etcetera...

A required photo may be asking too much, as some people do not know how to do that, but you still want their input.

Without breaking it down to separate fields for comments on each dish, I think you should be able to post all your comments (e.g., too salty, frozen, dry, etc.) in a general comment field.  That being said, I think people really need to be encouraged to take a picture and upload it, since most of the story can probably be conveyed with a single picture, and I think the ultimate value of a site like this may be  just to showcase the contrasting appearance of meals between different airlines, caterers, etc.; how some airlines may be procuring much worse meals than other airlines, though from the exact same caterer; and how some airlines may be serving a meal that it 10x better for passengers traveling from Europe than the one served for passengers traveling from the US. So I really think you need to get people to post at least one photo, in order to help make an impact.

[ChAiM'l]

I was just made aware of this thread after speaking to the owner of a large kosher airline caterer (whose meals are quite popular).

He basically made the same points as some of the above posts, that NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING.

He mentioned that they recently got a contract to supply a route where too many passengers complained about the subpar food.

He says that the catering managers are well aware of the substandard meals but are happy to continue with them as long as there isn't too much pushback.

[milechazzer]

Thanks for chiming in. Any other insight you could share?
Is this a US-based caterer or foreign?
Is your understanding that airlines generally request the cheapest possible option from the caterer, and the caterer then does everything possible to keep costs down?
How much of a difference is there in the meals sold by the same caterer to different airlines?

[SSLPhD]

Here you go, someone get Jared Kushner and Ivanka to retweet this

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/kosher-food-airplanes

Did I read that right?  Equal Rights Amendment?

[@Yehuda]

I share that concern. I think it may be inevitable for a site like this to attract the attention of some "haters".  It would need to be titled and worded carefully to avoid sending the wrong message.  Will probably also need to be moderated by someone to keep the spam out.

May it be successful enough that you actually get spam.

[chevron]

Would say the same about the wine

[theyankel]

B6 KSML in mint.

[theyankel]

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/08/united-airlines-reducing-food-alcohol-options-first-class.html
Noted a United spokesman: "With all of our food offerings, we monitor customer feedback and what they would prefer and adjust accordingly."