When you think about fast food, what images pop into your head? Greasy burgers? Limply pathetic salad leaves in a sesame seed bun? Fried chicken and fried onion rings? Soggy fries? Meals that are high in sugar, fat and salt – essentially all the ingredients that can contribute to a heart attack?
Or do you think, “That sounds like heaven. Yum, I’ll have some of that, please.”
Another question – what images come to mind when you think about the Japanese diet? Sushi? Sashimi? Wasabi?
I ask because Japan Airlines recently announced it will serve Kentucky Fried Chicken on its routes to Europe and the US, saying in a statement that from 1 December 2012 to 28 February 2013 “customers travelling in Premium Economy and Economy Class will be served KFC’s Original Recipe two-piece chicken meal during the second meal service”.
The United States and the UK are ranked in first place and third place, respectively, as having the highest obesity rates on statistics web site NationMaster. And where does Japan rank? Number 28, with a mere 3.2% of the population considered obese.
Indeed, the Japanese diet and lifestyle is said to be so healthy that Japanese women and men live longer than everyone else.
So why is KFC so “widely popular in Japan”, as noted by Japan Airlines’ own statement?
On her blog, Flying Lessons, journalist Christine Negroni says that in Japan, KFC is closely associated with the Christmas season. “A long ago marketing campaign by the company took advantage of expats looking for turkey for the holidays in a country where those critters don’t roam, and the next thing you know the Japanese have developed a taste for, well let’s just call it chicken tempura,” she writes.
Yet the carrier’s decision to offer KFC in-flight has elicited a mixed reaction on social media – some people are delighted; others are shocked; and still others are revolted. Here are some of the responses:
“What is the world coming to? Japan Airlines [is] to serve KFC on flights. Junk food with wings?”
“Japan Airlines adds KFC to its in-flight menu. I feel for the non-KFC eaters and vegans coz it’ll be on long-haul flights lol.”
“I don’t want to be served KFC ever! Its colloquially known here as ‘unlucky fried kitten’ not Kentucky fried chicken. Yuck.”
“Whoa… that sounds awesome.”
“The stench of fried chicken in flight- no thanks. ”
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO! No cell phones either! I want to sleep on my flights :)”
“Sure. Can I have a cup of hot fat with it?”
“Back for their 50th anniversary, Delta showed airline meals throughout the years. The most appetising was a box of fried chicken from the 40s. It was an airline staple back then.”
“Oh the stale fried chicken smell, yuk. You know folks will wipe their hands on the seats.”
“The smell would be one thing, but also the amount of waste from those discarded chicken bones. If they went boneless with chicken strips or a chicken breast sandwich that might work. ”
Obviously, airlines can’t please everyone with their menus. But Japan Airlines’ experiment will serve as an interesting case study into whether or not airlines should offer more junk food in-flight. If the KFC promotion succeeds, I wouldn’t be surprised to see other fast food chains seek to forge more deals with airlines (or vice versa).
But if that happens, the airlines might also want to seriously consider widening their economy class seats.
What do you think of Japan Airlines’ decision to offer KFC in-flight?
December 19, 2012 at 12:52 pm
I don’t know about JAL’s culinary wisdom here, but I have to wonder. One either loves or hates KFC’s chicken; there is no middle ground. The good new is that KFC Chicken reheats well, probably just as well at FL300. It is already over salted, but KFC always needs more salt to be palatable, so it may sell a few more drinks.
The real problem is that for folks who like reheated KFC, two tiny pieces (It ain’t real chicken, they switched to hummingbird in the late 70s) won’t be enough. The coach PAX who like this stuff will riot to get at least six tiny pieces – and enough salt t o cover their catch. It is a tease and, for some, a genuine insult.
And we must ask about the Head Chicken Butcher at KFC. As far as I know, KFC is the only food processor/provider that can “Manufacture” SIX countable “Breast” pieces from a single chicken. Honest butchers cut the whole breast in half, calling it two pieces, just as there are two drum sticks per chicken. At KFC, the word “Breast” is meaningless, except for the profit potential.
In the end, I believe tha JAL has screwed up, unless they have some pre-arranged program for coach PAX to swap meals or chicken pieces, perhaps as an exchange with someone who develops a taste for that ‘bread’ thingie. Since when was a hunk of bread, similar to that in C-rations or MREs, ever a part of a KFC ‘meal?’ It is a Hockey puck, at best and it does not do well at FL300. I know, it is ‘only coach class food.’ Give me a FRESH, well-filled sandwich, any day, please.
And now for Business and First Class PAX, what is the plan? For JAL’s First Class, if one does not care for raw fish or over-cooked noodles, please try our Bucket Edition! A whole mini bucket of the KFC pieces that you least care for. Feel free to swap across the isles folks. You will also find the slaw carefully warmed in JAL’s convection oven, by FA’s that have no concept of cold or crisp food. And just because you are flying in the First Class cabin, you will also receive a portion of mashed potatoes and gravy: Dried potato powder, covered with semi-warm dried potato powder, if a bit thinner, with brown coloring and an enough salt to threaten the Pacific Ocean’s salinity. Hell yes!! Buy that First Class ticket, just for the world-class Japanese food! What a wonderful introduction to this amusing, Asian culture! NOT. If given the choice, I’d rather swim. Congratulations to the KFC Marketing Genius who sold this and probably a capital sentence to the JAL cabin service executive who bought it! And most sadly of all, JAL (and their customers) are probably paying $14 – $15 for this meal. Good selling, KFC! JAL: you folks are idiots, thoroughly proven, AGAIN.
December 29, 2012 at 7:04 pm
JAL’s reputation just went right into the (KFC) bucket. ANA is the only option. If you (JAL) want a cheap second meal, how about Ramen, which is as close to food-godliness as Japan gets for the average person, and it comes in incredible variety, and is nothing like the garbage Americans buy for 25 cents a bag at the local Safeway. This move smells like someone from the One World alliance, American division, had a hand in it.
Congrats, save money, throw away a brand that took decades to build. Perhaps bankruptcy would have been better. JAL management should remember the tradition of seppuku. They have shamed JAL.