Go Tokyo Your Experience
Let’s talk about everyone’s expectations when flying abroad. I wonder if you are also looking forward to the delicious meals on the plane? Unless I’m flying with United Airlines, I usually look forward to enjoying airplane meals, especially those little bread rolls; they are simply my favorite.
Sometimes, if I can get a few more, that feeling of happiness is incredibly intense. Today, the topic I want to share with everyone is both novel and interesting: the “airplane meal vending machine” on the ground.
The image shows a row of neatly arranged airplane meal vending machines, which are located in the second terminal of Haneda Airport. These vending machines do not sell airline-related merchandise, but from the perspective of satisfying passengers’ appetites, they can also be considered a type of “peripheral service.”
What is even more appealing is that the meals in these vending machines come from the menus of various airlines around the world, providing diners with an opportunity for a global culinary journey.
As for why such vending machines have appeared, I don’t have an accurate answer. However, some netizens have commented that the existence of these vending machines largely meets market demand.
After all, many people are quite interested in airplane food. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines had to suspend flight operations or reduce the number of flights.
Against this backdrop, the establishment of airplane meal vending machines not only preserves some people’s memories of flying but has even become a consumption experience that combines nostalgia and novelty. Four years have passed, and these vending machines still stand tall, indicating their popularity.
Meanwhile, some netizens discovered an All Nippon Airways airplane meal vending machine at Shonai Airport in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. This surprised me greatly because, as someone who hasn’t traveled much by air in Japan’s domestic tourism, I feel that this bento is simply a great opportunity to have a satisfying meal.
A bento box costs 1,080 yen. Although it is slightly more expensive than an ordinary bento, the experience of enjoying the diverse cuisine of an international airline is certainly worthwhile.
However, the good news is that in Japan, you don’t have to go to the airport to enjoy All Nippon Airways’ delicious in-flight meals, as you can also purchase them online, often at a more favorable price.
It’s not hard to see that airplane meal vending machines have clearly become a source of attraction in airports and other places. For those who are departing, in transit, or simply passing through the airport, they might consider trying these special meals. I even speculate whether there are food enthusiasts whose goal is to sample all kinds of airplane meals. I firmly believe that such friends surely exist.
In short, behind this unexpected experience, there may be people’s yearning for travel, their longing for good food, and even nostalgia for the challenges faced by the aviation industry during the pandemic. It shows us a wonderful balance between the familiar and the novel, nostalgia and modernity. Who knows, perhaps in the future, these vending machines will incorporate more technological elements to bring us a richer culinary experience!
