Should hamburgers be served in first class?

If a snobs look down on your hamburger, ask them how they feel about an endangered large fish getting savagely hooked in the mouth, thrown on its back, having it's stomach sliced wide open, and the eggs scooped out by a fisherman's greasy hands, and then those eggs ending up on a plate in the first class cabin of an airline.

I've had some great hamburgers in airline lounges like Cathay's The Pier First, Sydney's Qantas First Lounge and of course United's Polaris burger. But not sure I would want one inflight, in business class or first class. I suppose I just associate hamburgers with being greasy and smelling, which is more of a 'fast food' thing. Now a good steak sandwich or chicken schnitzel sandwich, I absolutely agree this is great 'comfort food' which really hits the spot if you're in the mood for that. The Qantas business class chicken schnitzel sandwich is top notch.

Frankly ages ago I saw a burger in Concord Room in LHR. May be it appeal to Americans, but I am not American. I do enjoy burgers especially Grill'd ones, but man, vulgar burger in First class where ticket usually well exceed 10K? It just shows that having money and having taste is not synonyms. What is next step? Wine from cask?

Some of the burgers I have seen on US carriers look pretty terrible and seem quite sloppy to eat.  If everyone has direct aisle access go for it, but in the common 2-2 'first class' cabins I would choose something that isn't messy.  The only burger I've thought was executed perfectly was on Cathay, but would still avoid eating that if I was shoulder to shoulder with a neighbour.

I'm not a food snob, would be happy with a really good burger in business class, but the catch is that has to be a "really good burger". Easy to do on the ground, not so easy in the air. Also not sold on fries at 40,000 feet! More than happy with a good toasted sandwich if it's on offer, a club sandwich would be ideal.  It's all about what you want and if you'd had a good meal in the lounge before the flight than a sandwich can be good to take the edge of your appetite without going for the full multi-course meal, especially if you want to work or sleep.

My partner had a burger on Cathay 1st from San Francisco to Hong Kong years ago, and she said it was one of the best burgers she'd ever had so, maybe they can be ok.

I have zero issues with a hamburger in first class or business class. Let's not get pretentious about this. Nobody flies for the food, although the food (and wine!) should be an integral part of the experience. And if it's a hamburger made with the same attention to detail as the rest of the menu, with top quality ingredients, then why not? I have my doubts about those Shake Shack burgers through because there's a certain 'smell' or maybe I should say 'aroma' with them, and in the close quarters of a cabin it could be pretty overpowering and off-putting. But me, I will happily tuck into a Shake Shack or Five Guys burger on the ground!

Regular travellers often crave simple home style meals; despite being in a premium class, they are tired of fancy meals and long for the simplicity of home.  This is why many 5 star hotels do offer simple meals like Bangers and Mash on request.  It makes sense that airlines do similar.

I wonder how the Chef for "You know who" on Air Force 1 prepares the Big Macs and Fries?

As a regular in the pointy end, on multiple carriers across different alliance groups, I have to say that food in general isn’t that crash hot.

Sometimes all you want is a plain sandwich or something similar. Something quick, something easy, and something lighter than a three course meal. Especially if you ate in the lounge.

I like a good burger now and then, but I don’t see how a good burger is easy to deliver at 36,000 feet. I do actually enjoy the steak sandwich on Qantas. I know what I’m getting, it’s quick, it’s easy to digest and isn’t some crazy Neil Perry concoction of Asian-Australian fusion vomit.

My greatest priority on most fights is either getting work done, or getting some good sleep.

My greatest priority on most fights is either getting work done, or getting some good sleep.

I will try different food, certainly. But at the end of the day, I am up at the pointy end for a good bed, and a private space.

Oh, and really good wine that tastes great up there is also very welcome. And I’m not talking about a $20 Marlborough Chardy or some overpriced Australian Sparkling dishwasher either.

Food on board should taste good, and usually offered on board because there are limitations in a reduced pressurized environment where food is reheated. Good enough reason why some types of foods are not found on board. Admittedly, a steak sandwich would be a better choice than a burger, if this can be done properly. It will be sad to think that one would miss a burger over a flight duration of up to 10 hours. Especially for a first or business class passenger.  

I've had the UA cheeseburger domestically. It was actually surprisingly good for what it is. Not setting the world on fire, but it is defiantly a good classic American cheeseburger. Would have it again for sure. 

Sometimes this is just exactly what I feel like after travelling around some certain countries!! Thumbs up to any airline with it on the menu in any class 👌🏻

If I've paid $10k and I feel like a hamburger give me a hamburger.  Unless I missed it no one is forcing anyone to eat it. 

Burgers - on an aircraft - are notoriously difficult to do well. Why?

• they're usually pre-prepared on the ground from frozen patties
• they are impossible to 'get right' in terms of heating /grilling / microwaving (unless you love it charred / burnt)
• meat and cheese have different 'heat' cycles, especially in a microwave
• impossible to keep hot and will usually be served 'lukewarm' (or cold) at best - doesn't add to a culinary experience
• usually sloppy and difficult to eat, due to surplus moisture
• hard enough to get bread 'right' on a plane. Who wants sloppy buns?

For those who don't believe the above, check out reviews and pictures of UA, DL and AA's efforts. Sad ...

Comfort food? Why do you think that lazy US carriers have relied on various iterations of Mac & Cheese for mega years? It's cheap, quick and easier to do, usually presents better on a plate and is marginally more popular in the USA. Hamburgers routinely go through a phase of being introduced with a fan-fare and then being removed some short-time later.

As an airline, you might get away with a cheap burger offering in Business class, but IMHO, these do NOT belong in First class. Not only from a presentation / taste / texture / preparation perspective but as someone mentioned upthread - who wants the 'aroma; of stinking burnt cheese wafting through the cabin? Not me, at all. There is nothing worse. 

I am not a 'food snob' at all - but it is generally agreed that there is an expectation that food in First should be of a superior quality with attractive presentation. Burgers do not fit that model. I'd rather a McDonalds, In&Out, Burger King or a custom, well-made, restaurant burger on the ground - but not on an aircraft.

I will admit that there may be exemptions to the rule - such as Cathay, whose cabin staff actually pay attention to the quality of their food prep. I was also initially suspicious of QF when they first introduced the Neil Perry 'special' Steak sandwich, which has turned out to be popular - and surprisingly good. But these are not typical of many, many airlines.

Good to see so much common sense among the ET collective. Nothing wrong with a good burger in the ground or on the air, provided it is a good burger, and that's not easy to do in flight. but the ones who can do it well know this is a bit of a crowd-pleaser. As for the Qantas sandwiches, they are pretty good. Some people might not think of a steak sandwich as being 'first class' dining but clearly most people feel differently because when Qantas took it off the menu they quickly brought it back based on complaints from disappointed passengers. And I've often chosen the 'chicken shnitty' in business class for the same reason, it's good honest unpretentious food and well done, and works when I don't want a big meal.

I don't know what all the fuss is about.                                                                                                                                             If you don't want a hamburger and it is not the only thing avaialble then simply DONT ask for one. Have whatever else you want from the menu.

Nobody is making you eat the bloody things!!!!!

It's called Old School' dining, I love the classic served in First Class, takes you back to simpler times. Snobs are usually those who have not worked hard to achieve their financial success.

I don’t know your definition of luxury, but mine is being able to have what you want, when you want it.  A few years ago, after 6-8 weeks of touring USA, UK & Europe, we were upgraded to F by QF.  Question- what would we like for lunch?  After all those fine dining hotel meals I felt like something Aussie!   A steak sandwich + an Australian beer.   I was instantly back home.   

Comfort food always does well, and it should be an option. I would be very happy if there was a good burger served in the air on in the lounge, though I've yet to have one. A big greasy burger after being stuck in rural Chad eating brown fish for 2 weeks is much more appreciated than champagne and caviar

I've had a hamburger once in Emirates First class on a flight, and it wasn't that great. I've also had Air Koryo's "mystery meat" burger on a flight to Pyongyang once, didn't mind that, though the meat is obviously chicken.

I would jump on to whatever carrier can nail a big Aussie pub meal though - a schnitty, fries and salad or bangers and mash or something.

Should be left to Trump Air

Last year I flew Emirates first class from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai and after a long 10 hours in the Dubai lounge continued on to Vienna. On the first flight I did the whole Emirates first class dining experience with the caviar, Dom champagne the three or four course meal and enough chocolate to keep anyone happy, but after more delicious food in the lounge all I really had on the next flight was the Wagyu beef sliders from the movie snacks menu and they were delicious.

The previous year I flew Singapore business class and chose the burger from their book the cook and it was also delicious and I have no issue with any airline offering a burger as an option on their flights. 

Paying the price of a business or first class flight either in cash or points it is all about comfort and the experience and if you want a hamburger as part of the experience go for it.

Americans like hamburgers simply as that.  They eat billions and billions of them sometimes more than once a day.  Every menu in every restaurant from the Waldorf Astoria right down to Joe's Diner has hamburgers on the menu.  Probably the only thing on the menu at Trump Hotels and Mar-a-Largo.

I remember going to a swanky restaurant in Boston a long, long time ago, and seeing burgers on the menu.  I was absolutely flabbergasted.  Why would you pay top dollar to eat in a very exclusive resturant and order a burger?  There is a time and a place for everything, this was not it.  I had pork chops and they were the best pork chops I have ever eaten in my life.  That is one meal memory that lives forever in my mind.

My other thoughts were how do you eat what is messy by its very nature on a plane.  OK, you have more space in first and business, but I would still find it very difficult to eat and not make an exhibition of myself.  How do businessmen in suits and ties on US flights manage burgers I wonder - especially if they're going to a meeting straight after landing.

I am not rich, first class is a dream to far for me, I am not pretentioius, and I am not upper class, but my view - NO, JUST NO.  There a millions of places selling burgers, we don't need them on a plane.  But I wouldn't say no to a nice fresh egg and lettuce sandwich sometimes.  Many times I have craved something so simple when on a long journey and just needed a simple meal.  Mind you, they can also be messy to eat with shredded lettuce all over the place :-)

When I was flying between AU><Asia every other week on a year long project (Biz class) all I craved on the flight/s home was simple food like steak, roast chicken and yes….a burger!! I once begged the crew on Qantas for vegemite on toast with cup of tea back in the 747 days on QF2 BKK-Sydney and they made it for me from first class and brought it down to me in biz. True story. 

Absolutely they should... I've flown first class from Syd to Lax and a tasy burger would have hit the spot... whilst we are on it the old VA1 & 2 business class that did this with an open bar and sausage rolls and party pies sealed my deal !! 

I don't like burgers anyway, but first class passengers can have anything that's on the menu.  I'd prefer fish and chips or a jacket potato.

You are what you eat!

It's simply about choice. So what if comfort food is a First Class menu option? 

How about comfort food like KFC, Dominos Pizza, Taco Bell, Wendy's in First Class? I would like to have all of these on board as a matter of choice -  NOT

I guess if you're flying private, you can have whatever including your local favorite restaurant offers.  

Yes, but they would want to be good.  To be fair, I've visited the US a few times and burgers are usually some of the best food options you have when eating out.  

Hamburgers a first class menu option - definitely, as long as they are listed against the usual first class offering, why not give passengers the choice - Lobster with caviar and Krug or a Hamburger with a beer. It is all individual. 

I feel it is a great idea and gives the choice for high paying first class passengers to enjoy their flight.

It depends on the quality of the raw materials and the skill of the cabin crew operating the galley. Ive has Qantas 1st Class steak sandwiches that have been outstanding, and others that i wouldn't feed to my neighbours dog, let alone mine.

Let's be honest...a QANTAS steak sandwich served in F and washed down with Penfolds RWT was one of the all-time best yet weird indulgences that I have had flying.

So, I say, bring on the high quality 'sliders'...with a splash of Penfolds Bin707...just to fit in with the aviation theme...