Single Banana Served to Business Class Passenger During His Trip
SINGLE BANANA – Business-class passenger Kris Chari was disappointed with the “vegan meal” served to him during his Japan Airlines flight.
Being in the business class of Japan Airlines, he expected more than just a single banana accompanied by chopsticks. According to a Business Insider report, two meal services—a snack and a lunch—were served to passengers on the flight bound for Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 20, 2024.
The non-vegan passengers were served seared tuna, eggplant salad, cheese with orange salsa, and a baguette for a snack, as per the airline menu. As Kris is vegan, tuna was not suitable for his plant-based diet. He expected to be served a sandwich, salad, vegan cheese, and a baguette.
“Instead, I was served a single banana,” Kris told Business Insider. He said he spoke to a flight attendant and was deeply shocked to learn that the banana was a “catered meal.” He said: “It’s a bit insulting to be served a single banana while others are given a far more substantial and flavorful menu.” Kris argued that airlines should also consider the increasing number of vegans and vegetarians.
Meanwhile, Business Insider also obtained a statement from Japan Airlines. “We apologize for not being able to meet expectations,” it said. It also confirmed that the alternative option for special meals on that flight was a banana. The airline promised to improve its menu to cater to the “diverse needs of customers requesting special meals.”
Kris mentioned that the lunch meal he received was spaghetti. For non-vegan passengers on that flight, the lunch options were a cheese omelet, ratatouille, chicken sausage on the Western menu, and grilled salmon on the Japanese menu, according to the airline’s website. The Japan Airlines website lists salad bowls, baguette, halal sorbet, and rice dishes under “vegetarian vegan meal.”
