Virgin America Refreshes Inflight Menus

Virgin America this week is touting its new-for-fall inflight menus, together with a reminder that the airline was deemed “Best Domestic Airline for Food” in Travel + Leisure’s 2014 World’s Best Awards.

To be sure, the offerings in first class look downright restaurant-worthy, although the portions seem a bit on the skimpy side. Consider the roasted chicken with artichokes: “Sumac herb marinated chicken breast that is roasted with the skin-on and served with marinated gigante beans, seared artichokes, roasted radish mix and caramelized fennel with sherry chicken jus. The dish is then garnished with a salsa rustica of charred tomatoes, onions, poblano peppers, capers and anchovies.”

If that doesn’t get you salivating, you should have your taste buds examined.

But with first-class airfares being what they are, luxe meals are to be expected. The question for the great majority of travelers is: What’s being served in the back of the plane?

Although the coach menu is several notches below that of first class, it features solid fare, and even a couple of intriguing items. On Transcon flights, for example, there’s the soy ginger marinated salmon salad: “Soy ginger salmon sitting on arugula pesto, mixed faro, sugar snap peas, togarashi, English cucumber, radish, watercress, cilantro and red rice tossed with a sesame honey vinaigrette and slivered almonds.”

Other items, available on all flights over two hours, include roasted herb chicken-apple salad, Tuscan turkey sandwich, Southwest veggie wrap, and an artisan cheese box. Nothing too fancy, but the focus on fresh ingredients shines through and elevates everything above the ordinary.

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For coach flyers, Virgin America’s pretty-good food and gee-wiz inflight entertainment system are definite pluses. But when it comes to the quality of coach-class travel, perhaps the airline’s most significant offering is its legroom. While many airlines have reduced coach-class pitch (the distance between seats) to 30-31 inches, Virgin America so far has held firm at a minimum pitch of 32 inches.

Adequate levels of sustenance, comfort, and diversion. That may be as good as coach-class travel gets.

Reader Reality Check

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This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.