A passenger’s Reddit post showing a sparse in-flight meal served on an Air France flight has sparked a wave of criticism, with commenters calling it a “prison lunch” and drawing parallels to the infamous Fyre Festival catering debacle. The Reddit post, which featured a photo of what appeared to be two slices of cheese placed on buttered bread, quickly gained traction as users expressed their disappointment with what they perceived as substandard catering from a major international airline.
The flight in question reportedly departed from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, according to the New York Post.
Air France Passenger Complaints Trigger Wide Social Media Response
The Reddit user who shared the image expressed their disappointment with the meal offering, writing, “It’s giving Fyre Festival vibes.” The statement is a reference to the notorious 2017 luxury music festival failure, where attendees were served basic cheese sandwiches in styrofoam containers instead of the gourmet meals that had been promised.
The passenger added, “Guess it’s worth paying a few extra bucks for Delta metal next time!” suggesting they would consider alternative carriers for future travel based on this experience. The post quickly accumulated comments from other Reddit users who shared in the criticism.
“This feels like a Mississippi prison lunch,” wrote one commenter, while another stated, “I love Air France but this is so embarrassing.”
The sparse presentation of the meal particularly struck a chord with users who expected more from an airline that has historically maintained a reputation for quality service, especially given France’s celebrated culinary traditions.
Clarification From Regular Travelers
Not all responses to the viral Reddit post were critical, however. Some Reddit users offered context that suggested the image might not represent the full meal service on the flight. One frequent traveler of the Paris-New York route explained: “I take this route on Air France regularly, and this is the snack pre-landing that you get before arrival. You have a full meal five hours earlier, and you generally get a cheese sandwich with mustard, a lemon cake and a yoghurt.”
This commenter characterized the offering as a “gouter” (a French term for a light snack) and considered it “sufficient” for a second, lighter meal before landing. According to information cited in the Reddit discussion, Air France‘s stated policy for long-haul economy flights includes providing passengers with an appetizer, a starter, a choice of two hot dishes, bread, cheese, and a dessert.
This meal service is typically offered as the main meal after takeoff, with a lighter pre-landing snack served before arrival, which appears to be what was featured in the viral image. The airline has not yet issued an official response to the social media criticism at the time of reporting. The New York Post reportedly reached out to Air France for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
