Continental Airlines to finally start charging for meals

There’s no free lunch on Continental Airlines. Starting on October 12, 2010, it will start to charge passenger for grub on some flights. The carrier is rolling out a new menu for coach, which means it will be the last of the major airlines to take the plunge. Food will continue to be free for intercontinental and some international routes – not to mention domestic flights of longer than six and a half hours.

So, what does actually paying for your food get you? According to the Houston Business Journal:

The menu will include freshly prepared hot and cold meals similar to those served in casual dining restaurants, such as Asian-style noodle salad, grilled chicken spinach salad, Angus cheeseburgers and Jimmy Dean sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches.

Snack and dessert options, including gourmet cheese and fresh fruit plate and several types of snack boxes will also be available for purchase.

Sandra Pineau-Boddison, VP of food services for Continental, tells the Houston Business Journal, “The new menu is a direct result of feedback from our customers, who told us they wanted more food choices on our flights.”

[photo by Deanster1983 via Flickr]