Plato Royale: Cheese Plates of US Airways vs. Continental/United

John Zur

US Airways fruit and cheese platter

​Airline food long ago moved from complimentary hot meals to packets of peanuts. And then came... nothing... unless you were willing to shell out $3 for a packet of M&Ms. May we suggest the cheese plate?! Or maybe not. A review:

US Airways

The fruit and cheese platter ($7) comes with Swiss, cheddar, and pepper jack cheeses paired with seasonal fresh red grapes, strawberries, and honeydew melon, and assorted crackers.

Pros: The fruits and cheese weren't farm fresh, but they were a proud quality for airline food. For not eating breakfast, the portion held me till lunch, two hours later, just fine.

Cons: The packets of Pepperidge Farm crackers were hardly anything special.

Continental/United

The cheese and fruit plate ($6.25) is a delicious selection of muenster, cheddar, gouda, and brie cheeses, crackers, red grapes, and pecan halves.

Pros: The presentation looks like something for a gift basket, coming with large cubes of cheese under a dome of plastic. Four types of cheese is rather generous for an airline these days.

Cons: I didn't get to eat a cheese and fruit plate because they ran out by the time they got to 28E.

Verdict:

US Airways wins by default. Sorry Continental/United, but if you're going to win the plato royale, you must have more options for the back third of the plane beside a parfait, muffin, and Jimmy Dean sandwich.