For most people, the in-flight food experience is pretty average – especially if you’re flying economy. A lukewarm pasta dish, a dry bread roll, and maybe a small chocolate pudding, if you’re lucky.
However, it’s anything but for Kena Peay, a frequent traveller who packs her own ‘Skycuterie’ boards to elevate her economy-class experience.
From 30,000 feet up in the air, she’s enjoyed everything from spaghetti and meatballs to fresh salads and fried chicken – all cooked at home and taken on board.
And it’s an elaborate setup, to say the least. She transforms her economy tray table with a full spread– bringing silverware, china plates and even a tablecloth for ambience.
For Kena, it’s about creating her own luxury experience in economy. She carefully preps each meal before flying, packing it in a malleable cooler bag and thermal flask – all of which fits into her carry-on bag.
She tells Metro: ‘I wanted to have a nice meal in economy. I’m not saying that the airlines don’t provide a nice meal for you, but I wanted to have the same experience I have in first class.’
Her in-flight dining ritual, which she calls ‘Skycuterie’ boards, has turned heads, especially from (often envious) passengers in the seats next to her.
Even flight attendants have done double takes, with some stopping to admire her neatly arranged meal, calling it ‘genius’ and taking pictures.
‘I think they’re most impressed by how well compact it is and how much food I’m getting in the little pack,’ she explains.
Kena began her ‘Skycuterie’ boards back in 2021. She describes herself as a ‘nervous flyer’ and explains that having the setup is ‘helpful’ and makes flying more enjoyable.
She adds: ‘I also wanted to control what I was eating and thought, why don’t I just take my own food on the plane?’
She’s taken the homemade meals on both international and domestic flights. She travels fairly often between California and Washington, where she splits her time living.
While she acknowledges that bringing your own food on board is ‘nothing new,’ she considers herself a ‘trendsetter’ in turning it into an experience that makes in-flight dining feel special.
In fact, many other creators have since hopped on the trend of ‘romanticising travel’, bringing their own elements of luxury to transport.
For example, content creator @girlllllhouse, filmed herself making martinis and eating caviar from her economy window seat.
Kena shares her elaborate plane meals with her 450,000 TikTok followers (@kenapeay), where they’ve attracted plenty of attention.
While some users have accused her of ‘doing too much,’ she stands by her carefully curated meals, saying: ‘It’s just a way of bringing joy onto planes.’
Kena explains that a lot of preparation and organisation is involved in pulling off her ‘Skycuterie’ boards successfully.
‘I cook it an hour before I’m set to leave,’ she says. ‘So, I’m still arriving at the airport within the two-hour time frame that makes it comfortable for me to move through and navigate security.’
One of the main questions Kena gets asked is how she keeps the food warm.
‘It’s the thermos,’ she explains. ‘It’s surprising. It will keep your food quite hot for 2-3 hours.’
As for getting through security, Kena has had her fair share of mishaps.
She explains that ‘each country is different’ when it comes to regulations and advises others to check what they can and can’t bring on a flight beforehand.
One time, a homemade McMuffin was thoroughly checked by a security guard, who even opened it up from its tinfoil.
On another occasion, a security guard opened her thermos to assess her spaghetti and meatballs and almost stopped her from passing through.
She says: ‘They almost didn’t let me through. I’m glad I had the meatballs in there because he said the soup was not allowed.’
For others who might not want to go as all out as Kena, she suggests a cup of noodles as a travel-friendly recipe.
‘You can get hot water on the plane. I carry a separate thermos, and then I go to a restaurant in the airport to ask them to fill it up with hot water.’
She adds: ‘For a first Skycuterie pack, I would definitely recommend packages of crackers, fruit, and then if you wanted a hot food option, the cup of noodles or a quick stir-fry noodle that you can put into your hot thermos.’
What Kena takes inside a Skycuterie pack
While the content creator switches up her main meal on every flight, there are certain staples she is sure to bring with her. These include:
- Sliced sausages
- Hot sauce
- Jars of honey and jam
- Two ‘sweet treats’
- Mini mocktail mixers
- Fruit and cheese slices
- Crackers
- Biscuits
Kena explains that bringing your own food on board is a great way to save money.
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‘Some airports have really good food, but I don’t want to pay $25 (£19) for a hamburger and fries and a little can of soda and take it on the plane with me,’ she says.
‘I’m frustrated at that point. That’s $25 I could use when I land for a place I really wanted to dine at.’
Kena is so passionate about sharing the ‘Skycuterie’ experience that she is creating packs for beginners.
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These will include snacks, honey, jams, and more, and are expected to be available for purchase in the US in May.
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