View from the 23rd Row

Food
Certainly you don't fly for the food but if you are traveling internationally, here are some of my picks for carriers with the best fare.
(ps, if you're flying domestically in the US, pack something before you leave or buy something in the terminal, cause most airlines no longer serve food on domestic flights, even across the country). I take my food seriously, probably because most of the time when I got on flights, I've been working all day and am starving.

Also remember if you have some dietary needs, tell the airline VERY much in advance and keep reminding them (as you check in, at the gate) otherwise there is a good possibility they will have forgotten it or it slipped through the cracks. All carriers can meet most health/religious issues, just gotta let them know.

Favorites -
US Airways - always a beef or chicken dish and one pasta dish. Just the right size, not too much food but not skimping either. I like the cookie deserts in the packaging, I can save it and eat later if I desire.
Continental - I used them to India and got three meals! My favorite was the ice cream snack in the middle of the trip - yum!
British Airways - actually their economy class food is better than first class (I think they try to hard up there). You always get a nice spread with them.
Emirates - They are not even Indian but they do a good job of giving Indian food, most authentic!
South African Airways - They will feed you and feed you till you are sick, but this does allow you many options and the food is good (even give you a candy bar!).

Least Favorites -
Alitalia - For an Italian carrier, for a country that is reknowned for its food, you would think they had fantastic food. Wrong! I think they were trying to hard also, but I couldn't figure out a lot of what was served - no thanks.
Lufthansa - They are a great carrier but their food department could use an overhall. First they don't give you a lot, the deserts are not as sweet as one would want for desert, and the main courses leave something to be desired.

There are still a number of carriers I've never flown, so this is a partial list. Just some tips when the food is being served:
- For God's sake don't go to the bathroom, either use it before or hold it!
- Take your headphones off and spend the minute telling the flight attendant what you want, instead of shouting for five minutes, "what?!" when they ask what meal you want.
- If anything is a transportable plastic packaging, maybe take it with you, you never know when you are in need of a quick snack and there is no food places around.