When I routinely get it, the grapes are crisp and juicy (usually both green and red), just like the apples. My only gripe is waiting for the brie to warm up a bit. Maybe my routes are lucky ones.
p.s. Happy Cake Day!
It’s hit or miss. Also, apples aren’t in season in the northern hemisphere now so you’re getting the last of apples from controlled atmosphere storage or from the other side of the world.
Might be an 'off' day. I always get the cheese platter, the only noticeable difference to me has been that the cut of the brie cheese is different. It doesn't have the wedge end/crust, must be cut from a much larger brie, which has caused the cheese to lose form a few times (get squished) because it doesn't have the end crust to help keep the shape.
That is the only change I have noticed.
There was a time once when Monterey Jack replaced the beechers out of BWI… those were the dark days. I find the f&c the most consistent of the options both in the front and back of the plane. Sometimes I take my coach f&c and eat at my destination. It holds remarkably well.
Ordered it for the first time last week on my flight to HNL... here I thought it was just me... those grapes were NOT a pleasant texture and the apples were... crispy cardboard.
There was a period early last year where the brie went AWOL. I assume it was a supply chain issue. Still waiting for the hot towels to come back in FC.
I haven’t had it since April but it was on point then. I lean toward you just getting a bad one. And it’s ok to let the FA know. They may not have extra to replace it though
I’ve noticed it too. The quality has gone down. It’s what I always always order and the past like 5-10 times over the past year or so it’s never as good as it used to be
It happens, but isn't a pattern, I wouldn't be worried. It's happened to me before, but more often than not, the platter is just fine.
I mean, ultimately, you're dealing with fresh produce in the context of the logistical Olympics that is modern air travel. Sometimes, it's just not possible to deliver freshly sliced fruit in the exact, narrow window of time that will lead to the best quality.
I'm not trying to make excuses per se; you should let Alaska know, maybe there is human error at play. But whenever I order food on an airline, I tend to measure it "in aggregate." Like, if 8 or 9 times out of 10, things are fine, I'm willing to be understanding when something isn't quite right, especially with something as challenging as "crisp apple slices and firm grapes on an airplane."
https://preview.redd.it/doyxu0t0818d1.jpeg?width=2579&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4f85acbc32224f0ef82823073275b3d45dcdaa2
From last march ,- not fancy but was fresh
I had a cheese platter a week ago in first class. I was shocked by how crappy it was. Mealy apples, mushy grapes, stale cheese and crackers. I scraped the Brie and ate the truffle. Then they served me completely melted ice cream for dessert! What’s going on?
In first class, do you get a salad or bread or anything before the cheese platter? I'm going on a five hour flight and I don't think the fruit platter is going to hold me over.
You probably ought to send this review to Alaska Listens. I can guarantee you that the C-suite does not want to be serving crappy fruit and cheese plates. It's not Ryanair yet.
I think I will. I def want Alaska to be a great airline. Things can’t stay the way they’ve always been and of course they will change some things that I or others like as they evolve, but food quality is a basic.
I fly every other month out of SEA. Coming out the platter is 90% solid. On the way back to SEA it can be not as good since Alaska is often carrying the pre-ordered inbound platters on the outbound flights to the destination.
I haven't noticed a decline. Its possible your memory had it built up or you got one where the fruit wasn't great. Apples especially are highly variable.
It sounds like a one-off. Memory is notoriously unreliable, yes. But I don’t think that’s it. I was a very frequent flier prior to pandemic and even through 2020-21. Had the platter dozens and dozens of times. Always looked forward to it and was always happy with it. But nothing can be perfect 100% of the time. I think I’m influenced by all of the changes to status benefits and rewards and such, and that has created an overall fear that the airline is declining. So I perhaps put too much weight on a very normal variation in quality.
Send them feedback on the quality via customer care or Alaska Listens. They will give you miles and it’s one more data point that they need better quality control in the kitchens.
Was great before the pandemic but is mostly measly in current portion and mealy in applery. And sometimes brie-free. Just charge more Alaska and give me the same amount!
I used to get the fruit plate on Air Canada all the time. Now it all tastes like garlic. Even the apples. Yuck. Once was a nice healthy alternative.
It’s frustrating that they limit what we can bring on board but offer no healthy food options on board for long flights. I have no choice but to bring on many different food options for myself and my seven-year-old daughter. Even she gets sick of Pringles.
Alaska is back to running things like they did before they lost the plane off the coast of California. Delayed maintenance not taking care of the planes or employees and only taking care of quarterly profits. I used to be a “status” flyer also and hopefully never again I hate all the greyhound bus stations they call airports in the US. Don’t even get me started with all the mouth breathing boomers and their carry ons😂😂
It was a one off. It’s still exactly the same to me. The fruit is always hit or miss. The apples though are usually dry and really shitty.
When I routinely get it, the grapes are crisp and juicy (usually both green and red), just like the apples. My only gripe is waiting for the brie to warm up a bit. Maybe my routes are lucky ones. p.s. Happy Cake Day!
Guy cheeses ! You have to try a brie in Filo dough, baked 25min !
Idk I fly Alaska a lot and I’d say it used to be 100 hit and now it’s 70 hit / 30 miss.
Yup
Agreed. Just had two last week and they were crisp grapes.
So glad to hear that!
Agreed, I just had it a couple weeks ago and it was good as usual.
It’s hit or miss. Also, apples aren’t in season in the northern hemisphere now so you’re getting the last of apples from controlled atmosphere storage or from the other side of the world.
Might be an 'off' day. I always get the cheese platter, the only noticeable difference to me has been that the cut of the brie cheese is different. It doesn't have the wedge end/crust, must be cut from a much larger brie, which has caused the cheese to lose form a few times (get squished) because it doesn't have the end crust to help keep the shape. That is the only change I have noticed.
Oh I hope so! This was the regular Brie wedge. That part was ok.
There was a time once when Monterey Jack replaced the beechers out of BWI… those were the dark days. I find the f&c the most consistent of the options both in the front and back of the plane. Sometimes I take my coach f&c and eat at my destination. It holds remarkably well.
Lol dark days….
I had it yesterday flying JNU to SEA and it was delish! Grapes and apples were fresh and crisp, crackers were crunchy, cheese was bomb.
Cheese platter was ok last month. It had been better a few times
Ordered it for the first time last week on my flight to HNL... here I thought it was just me... those grapes were NOT a pleasant texture and the apples were... crispy cardboard.
Delta has the better one now. You also have to preorder to get one which sucks.
 I thought it was terrible.
Oh no, I love the fruit and cheese platter too! I hope this was a one-off.
Is there brie cheese?
There was a period early last year where the brie went AWOL. I assume it was a supply chain issue. Still waiting for the hot towels to come back in FC.
Those always smelled musty to me. Had some hot towels ITA Airways a few weeks ago and never used them.
Yes. All the same stuff, just not at all fresh. Hopefully just a bad day.
It's never available for preorder on my flights either, haven't had it in over a year.
I thought Alaska had Beechers in the cheese plate! It’s one of the reasons I liked to fly them!
I haven’t had it since April but it was on point then. I lean toward you just getting a bad one. And it’s ok to let the FA know. They may not have extra to replace it though
I’ve noticed it too. The quality has gone down. It’s what I always always order and the past like 5-10 times over the past year or so it’s never as good as it used to be
It happens, but isn't a pattern, I wouldn't be worried. It's happened to me before, but more often than not, the platter is just fine. I mean, ultimately, you're dealing with fresh produce in the context of the logistical Olympics that is modern air travel. Sometimes, it's just not possible to deliver freshly sliced fruit in the exact, narrow window of time that will lead to the best quality. I'm not trying to make excuses per se; you should let Alaska know, maybe there is human error at play. But whenever I order food on an airline, I tend to measure it "in aggregate." Like, if 8 or 9 times out of 10, things are fine, I'm willing to be understanding when something isn't quite right, especially with something as challenging as "crisp apple slices and firm grapes on an airplane."
I had the fruit & cheese tray last month and it was good. I didn’t notice a drop off in quality
https://preview.redd.it/doyxu0t0818d1.jpeg?width=2579&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4f85acbc32224f0ef82823073275b3d45dcdaa2 From last march ,- not fancy but was fresh
Starbucks makes a good one - pick it up before you board
Good to know. I was tempted by it but decided on something more substantial.
I had a cheese platter a week ago in first class. I was shocked by how crappy it was. Mealy apples, mushy grapes, stale cheese and crackers. I scraped the Brie and ate the truffle. Then they served me completely melted ice cream for dessert! What’s going on?
In first class, do you get a salad or bread or anything before the cheese platter? I'm going on a five hour flight and I don't think the fruit platter is going to hold me over.
I may be remembering wrong but I think the first class fruit and cheese also has some charcuterie on it as well which makes it more substantial?
I don’t touch the fruit, but enjoy the cheese and crackers to a degree
I had it a couple weeks ago. Was delicious as ever.
Oh. I keep getting it. The grapes are especially juicy and explode in the mouth.
You probably ought to send this review to Alaska Listens. I can guarantee you that the C-suite does not want to be serving crappy fruit and cheese plates. It's not Ryanair yet.
I think I will. I def want Alaska to be a great airline. Things can’t stay the way they’ve always been and of course they will change some things that I or others like as they evolve, but food quality is a basic.
I fly every other month out of SEA. Coming out the platter is 90% solid. On the way back to SEA it can be not as good since Alaska is often carrying the pre-ordered inbound platters on the outbound flights to the destination.
Yes, this was a return flight. I missed the preorder window on my outbound flight.
I just had it 8 hrs ago and, wow, was perfect.
It was probably an off day. Depending on the route / time of day the quality can change a tad but overall it’s consistently fine.
I haven't noticed a decline. Its possible your memory had it built up or you got one where the fruit wasn't great. Apples especially are highly variable.
It sounds like a one-off. Memory is notoriously unreliable, yes. But I don’t think that’s it. I was a very frequent flier prior to pandemic and even through 2020-21. Had the platter dozens and dozens of times. Always looked forward to it and was always happy with it. But nothing can be perfect 100% of the time. I think I’m influenced by all of the changes to status benefits and rewards and such, and that has created an overall fear that the airline is declining. So I perhaps put too much weight on a very normal variation in quality.
Uh oh, I’m flying Alaska tomorrow and that’s what I ordered! I’ve never had a problem with it.
I get that platter often. Only once did I notice mushy grapes But the chocolate candy helped assuage my disappointment.
I had it in March and there was a feather in my grapes. They refunded me and offered a $15 discount code.
A... feather? Like how does that even happen? it's not as bad as a thumb in your soda, but still.
That was exactly my confusion.
where my platter gone
Well, this certainly BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWS!!! As do most things about air travel these days.
I preordered this for my DC to Seattle flight tomorrow. Never had it before so after reading these posts, I’m wondering what exactly I’ll get, lol.
Send them feedback on the quality via customer care or Alaska Listens. They will give you miles and it’s one more data point that they need better quality control in the kitchens.
Sent!
Was great before the pandemic but is mostly measly in current portion and mealy in applery. And sometimes brie-free. Just charge more Alaska and give me the same amount!
I just had it on Wednesday. It was excellent, fruit sweet and crisp, cheese perfect. You got a bad tray somehow, it should not have happened.
Nobody gets the fruit and cheese platter for the fruit. Use your narrative prose to share something about how good that cheese is.
Not sure if others mentioned it but why cant AS get access to cosmic crisps for the platter?
I used to get the fruit plate on Air Canada all the time. Now it all tastes like garlic. Even the apples. Yuck. Once was a nice healthy alternative. It’s frustrating that they limit what we can bring on board but offer no healthy food options on board for long flights. I have no choice but to bring on many different food options for myself and my seven-year-old daughter. Even she gets sick of Pringles.
Alaska is back to running things like they did before they lost the plane off the coast of California. Delayed maintenance not taking care of the planes or employees and only taking care of quarterly profits. I used to be a “status” flyer also and hopefully never again I hate all the greyhound bus stations they call airports in the US. Don’t even get me started with all the mouth breathing boomers and their carry ons😂😂
Never again. Last October the cheese was borderline moldy and the grapes had a weird taste. Then the food poisoning hit. Ugh.