May 28, 2025, 9:38 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The role of the pilot and co-pilot is crucial for flight operations, and their meals are equally important. There are various rules regarding cockpit dining. TRAVELBOOK presents them.
TRAVELBOOK has already uncovered a few peculiarities from the cockpit of an airplane. For instance, it’s known that the pilot and co-pilot are not allowed to chat during takeoff and landing. These are critical phases that require the utmost concentration. However, what they not only can do but must do is eat—and follow certain guidelines while doing so.
Overview
The Cabin Crew “Must” Eat
Did you know that most airlines require pilots to eat regularly? And it’s not just them. “We all have to eat; it’s always announced before departure.” This is confirmed to TRAVELBOOK by a flight attendant who wishes to remain anonymous. It’s about energy supply. The entire cabin crew needs to stay focused and capable of action, which requires stable circulation.
What Do the Pilot and Co-Pilot Eat on the Plane?
Flight attendants usually bring their own food. As the insider reports, you can’t rely on there being leftovers from the counted meals, especially since some passengers like to ask for seconds.
In contrast, the pilot and co-pilot’s meals are ensured by the cabin service. Aviation expert Heinrich Grossbongardt knows more about this. “They receive the Business Class meals. And if there’s a First Class, the captain takes the First Class meal, and his colleague takes the Business Class meal.”
The Meals Pilots Eat Are “Never the Same”
The pilots eat from what the passengers get, but never the same thing. The reason isn’t so they can sample each other’s meals. It’s to make the unlikely event of food poisoning even less likely. “Should it happen, despite the very strict hygiene measures in catering operations, that a meal contains pathogens or is spoiled, this ensures that not both pilots are incapacitated at the same time,” explains Heinrich Grossbongardt.
The expert is not aware of any such triggering incident. “But it’s a precautionary measure.” Thirty or forty years ago, the risks were greater. The rule still applies today—and also for meals outside the cockpit, such as during layovers. Flight attendants also adhere to the rule, even if it’s no longer communicated. “We know it’s advised to eat differently,” our informant reveals.
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Basically (Almost) Everything Allowed
What pilots bring as meals or snacks is not monitored. According to Grossbongardt, they can eat practically anything—”except, of course, foods that contain alcohol,” he notes. If the cabin catering includes desserts “enhanced” with liqueurs, like tiramisu, these won’t make it to the cockpit. That’s where pilots and co-pilots eat. Caution is, of course, necessary, as they are surrounded by sensitive equipment. And when do they eat? “When it fits,” the expert says, “but always after the passengers.”