Travel Tip: Why Peanuts are Served on Airplanes

Image Source: @southwestair on Instagram

Why do airlines serve peanuts?

Well, it all began in the early 1970s when Southwest Airlines first launched.

It didn’t want to spend money on in-flight meals.

Most flights were under two hours, so it introduced peanuts.

In fact, the argument was that it wanted to have customers feel thrifty.

At the same time, they wanted to give them something, so it soon became part of the Southwest Airlines brand.

Of course Southwest wasn’t the first airline to serve peanuts, but it was the first airline to serve only peanuts.

Times have changed. Because of passenger food allergies and the need for variety, Southwest—and other airlines—now serve more than peanuts.

But that’s where it started. It had nothing to do with food. It simply came down to cost and marketing.

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