Food for thought: NWA snacks tie for last place in survey

Other than the fact that you have to pay for those snacks served on Northwest Airlines, there may be another reason to pass.

By Tim Harlow, Star Tribune

Last update: November 22, 2007 - 10:52 AM

Other than the fact that you have to pay for those snacks served on Northwest Airlines, there may be another reason to pass: They are just not very good.

According to Dietdetective.com, the airline tied for last place in its rankings of the nine carriers included in its annual Airline Snacking and Onboard Food Survey.

Along with Southwest Airlines, Northwest received scored a two on a five-point scale to come in on the bottom, while United Airlines scored a 4½ to rank No. 1. The health and fitness network put United at the top and lauded the airline for its variety and healthful options.

The study chided Northwest for serving snacks that are very high in calories and not being cooperative in providing nutritional information. Southwest Airlines was dinged for having little variety and products with little nutritional value.

The survey ranked each airline according to its variety of food service offerings, calories, the amount of time it would take to burn off the calories, nutritional density and airline cooperation. It also listed the best snack options for passengers.

Continental Airlines came in second place and received high marks for offering a low-calorie and high-impact meals on flights of three hours or more. Midwest Airlines came in third followed by Delta, Jet Blue, American and US Airways.

With 4.7 million traveling by air this weekend according to AAA, that is food for thought.

Tim Harlow • harlow@startribune.com