Originally Posted by
buzzpat
^^^^^ As a professional Delta pilot, I strive to be the brand and embrace our customers. When I am forced (by the company) to haul ass down the jetway with a bag of unhealthy easy-to-come-by food product, it's embarrassing and I'm sure not what we want to be purveying to our customers. What's even worse, IMHO, is walking off the jet and see a fellow pilot scarfing a Big Mac at the gate in front of his soon-to-be passengers. That cannot instill a lot of warm fuzzies with the pax.
Certainly, if we're concerned about flight safety and projecting a professional image, the company can agree to a couple of crew meals (what, maybe $10 for two pilots?) and an additional five or ten minute turn time?
I guess coming from the regionals, I have no shame when it comes to eating when I need to eat and possibly delaying a flight a few minutes. That's the way the game is played, and it's not a daily occurrence for me here like it was at the regionals.
That being said, we've been doing this long enough to where we know what food is available at each airport and can strategically plan. I'm a big fan of the burrito placeswe have in ATL because you can make it a bowl and make it into a reasonably healthy salad sort of thing that will tide you over a longer time.
I can't remember the last time I got a big mac or something similar... I might get some chicken nuggets, but I feel like crap after I get a big mac... not the condition I want to be flying in.