Flying Coach? You're Outta Luck

With US airlines showing a profit for the first time in over five years, some have decided its time to spice up the meals... with celebrity chefs.

Of course, we're talking about meals in first class -- you don't think the Food Network's Michelle Bernstein is gonna cook for the unwashed masses in coach, did you?

South Bend, IN television station WSJV-28 reports Bernstein has two new meals cooking for Delta's First-Class customers. How about pan-seared grouper with ginger, lime, and cilantro? Or grilled salmon with sautéed Napa cabbage?

Delta isn't the only airline splurging on its meal service -- American and Continental are also following a trend set by foreign carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa, who've enjoyed celebrity cooking for quite some time now.

Alas, the trend towards better -- or at least, more elaborate -- meals in First Class comes as most domestic carriers are still looking for ways to cut costs... meaning the average coach passenger goes without any inflight meal. Some airlines still offer a snack and a soda -- but the nearest most coach travelers get to celebrity is Nabisco, or Lays.

"It seems the disparity between coach and first-class travel is ever-widening," said frequent flier Jeremy Schwimmer to WSJV-28. "Most airlines seem to have eradicated the coach-class meal altogether -— unless of course you are willing to buy that meal onboard."

Which leaves us to ponder... what, exactly, is "Napa" cabbage? We bet it makes some good cole slaw...

FMI: www.delta.com, www.continental.com, www.aa.com