Jet Lag Menu: What to Eat on Long-Haul Private Jet Flights
A jet lag menu is one of the simplest ways to help passengers arrive ready for the day ahead. On a long-haul private jet flight, from Los Angeles (KLAX / LAX) to Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG) or from Teterboro (KTEB / TEB) to the Gulf, what and when passengers eat shapes how they sleep on board and how they feel on landing. Food is not a cure for crossing eight time zones, but a thoughtful menu, served at the right moments, makes the journey noticeably more comfortable.
Global Diners prepares VVIP inflight catering in our own kitchens in Paris, Nice and Madrid and in our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports. Our menu card includes light, balanced dishes designed for long sectors, with clear reheating guidance for the crew. This guide shares the principles our specialised team follows when planning food for long-haul flights, and practical menu ideas for eastbound and westbound crossings.
Eat on destination time
The most helpful principle is to start living on destination time as soon as the aircraft departs. If it is evening in Hong Kong when the jet leaves Los Angeles in the morning, a light dinner followed by rest makes more sense than a large lunch. If passengers will land at breakfast time, breakfast should be the last meal on board. Planning the menu around the destination clock helps the body adjust more gently.
Flight | Destination time at departure | Global Diners approach |
Westbound, for example Europe to the US West Coast | Earlier in the day than the origin | A full lunch after take-off, light snacks, then a relaxed dinner before landing |
Eastbound overnight, for example New York to Europe | Late evening or night | A light supper, rest, then a fresh breakfast before descent |
Transpacific, for example Los Angeles to Hong Kong | Evening into night | A balanced dinner, a long rest with water and snacks on request, then breakfast before landing |
Gulf and Asia departures to Europe | Early morning on arrival | A light dinner after take-off and a two-stage wake-up breakfast |
We plan each service with the crew in mind too: clearly labelled courses, packed in the order they will be served, make it easy to follow the destination clock even on a fourteen-hour sector.
What helps on long flights
Lean protein: grilled fish, chicken and eggs keep passengers satisfied without feeling heavy.
Complex carbohydrates in the evening: wholegrain rice, quinoa, sweet potato and oats are comforting before rest.
Plenty of vegetables and fruit: salads, steamed greens, berries and citrus bring freshness and hydration.
Water first: still and sparkling water, herbal infusions and fresh juices throughout the flight.
Light portions: several smaller courses rather than one large meal suit long sectors better.
Gentle evening snacks: nuts, yoghurt, a banana or a little dark chocolate before rest.
We also suggest keeping rich sauces, very spicy dishes and large desserts for the arrival dinner on the ground. Coffee and tea are best served in the destination morning rather than in the destination evening, and herbal teas such as camomile or verbena are a good choice before rest. Wine and Champagne can be included subject to local rules, ideally in moderation and with water alongside.
Sample jet lag menus
Every Global Diners order is prepared from the same menu card, and our team combines its dishes to suit the direction and length of the flight. Here are two examples.
Eastbound overnight: Teterboro to Geneva
After take-off: a clear vegetable broth, grilled salmon with wild rice and green beans, and a fruit salad.
Before rest: camomile tea and a small bowl of Greek yoghurt with honey.
Wake-up: fresh orange juice, berries, scrambled eggs, wholegrain toast and a croissant, then coffee forty minutes before landing.
Transpacific: Los Angeles to Hong Kong
After take-off: miso soup, a poke-style bowl with tuna or tofu, and sliced mango.
Main service, in destination evening: steamed sea bass with ginger, jasmine rice and bok choy, followed by a light coconut panna cotta.
During rest: still water, herbal infusions, nuts and fresh fruit left in the galley on request.
Before landing: congee or eggs with avocado, fresh fruit and green tea or coffee.
On a long-haul flight, the menu is part of the rest: a light dinner on destination time, plenty of water and a fresh breakfast before landing.
Crew wellbeing on long sectors
Crews cross the same time zones as passengers, often with less opportunity to rest. Balanced crew meals, labelled individually and packed for different moments of the duty period, help them stay sharp. We recommend protein and vegetables for main meals, fresh fruit and yoghurt for short breaks, and plenty of water. Our guide to crew catering for layovers and multi-day trips has more ideas for long tours, and our article on business jet galleys explains how to organise storage on long flights.
Special diets and personal preferences
Long flights are the moment when personal preferences matter most. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan and low-sugar dishes are available, as are halal, kosher and alcohol-free menus. Every item carries allergen labelling. If a passenger follows a specific routine, for example eating only at certain times or preferring a plant-based breakfast, simply mention it in your order and our team will plan around it.
On ultra-long sectors we also recommend ordering a little more fresh fruit, water and light snacks than usual, so the crew can offer something whenever a passenger wakes. Our article on catering weight and flight efficiency explains how to balance generosity with sensible quantities.
How to order a jet lag menu
Email order@globaldiners.com with the aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count.
Add dietary needs, allergies and VIP preferences in the same message.
Order 24 hours ahead, and tell us the departure and arrival times in local time.
Receive your dedicated quote and a written confirmation from our specialised team.
Our team coordinates the delivery time with your FBO or handler at the departure airport.
At Paris Le Bourget (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE), our own kitchens deliver planeside. Everywhere else, from Geneva (LSGG / GVA) to Los Angeles, our team coordinates the delivery time with your FBO or handler.
The Los Angeles Event Year for Private Jet Catering (KLAX / LAX)
Chilled Californian salads, sushi platters and sealed individual boxes travel well on the coast-to-coast and transpacific sectors that dominate departures.
Event | When | Where |
Grammy Awards | February | Downtown Los Angeles |
Genesis Invitational | February | Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades |
Academy Awards | February or March (varies) | Hollywood |
Primetime Emmy Awards | September | Downtown Los Angeles |
Los Angeles Auto Show | November | Los Angeles Convention Center |
Thanksgiving to New Year holidays | Late November to early January | Los Angeles area |
Grammy Awards at Los Angeles (KLAX / LAX): February
Aircraft arrive across the preceding three or four days and depart after the celebrations. Order the return leg when you book the inbound, ask for late-night comfort food and light breakfasts for red-eye style departures, and give the handler a realistic window for an early-morning pick-up.
Ceremony and show dates in Los Angeles shift from one year to the next, so check the current schedule with our team when you place your order.
Things to do around Los Angeles (KLAX / LAX)
The coast is the obvious draw: Santa Monica Pier, the boardwalk at Venice Beach and the coves of Malibu are all within a short drive of the airport. Inland, the Getty Center sits on a hilltop above Brentwood with gardens and city views, while Griffith Observatory looks across the basin to the Hollywood Sign. Golfers can play in the city or head to the private clubs of the Westside. Clear winter days are ideal for a sunset walk along the beach before an evening departure.
Culture and heritage near Los Angeles (KLAX / LAX)
Los Angeles holds one of the largest museum scenes in the United States. The Getty Center and Getty Villa cover European and ancient art, LACMA anchors Museum Row on Wilshire Boulevard, and The Broad shows contemporary work downtown beside Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall. Hollywood's movie palaces and Art Deco buildings tell the story of the studio era, while Olvera Street preserves the city's Mexican origins.
Also on the Global Diners network: Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG)
Hong Kong International, built on reclaimed land at Chek Lap Kok off Lantau Island, serves one of Asia's main financial centres. Executives often combine Hong Kong with Macau or the Greater Bay Area cities across the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge.
Hong Kong is one of Asia's great food cities, with dim sum, roast goose, wonton noodles, and egg tarts alongside Michelin-starred Cantonese and international restaurants. Luxury shopping concentrates in Central, Admiralty and Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, while Causeway Bay and the night markets of Mong Kok and Temple Street offer everyday bargains.
FBOs at every airport in this guide
Here are the business aviation terminals (FBOs) at each airport mentioned above. Our team coordinates every catering delivery with the FBO or handler you choose, and our own kitchens deliver planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE).
Los Angeles (KLAX / LAX): Atlantic Aviation and Signature Aviation
Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG): Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre Limited
Dubai (OMDB / DXB): ExecuJet Middle East and Jet Aviation Dubai
Teterboro (KTEB / TEB): Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and Signature Aviation
Paris Le Bourget (LFPB / LBG): Dassault Falcon Service, Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation, Advanced Air Support International, Jetex Le Bourget, ExecuJet Paris and Universal Aviation France
Geneva (LSGG / GVA): Geneva Airpark SA, Signature Aviation, Dassault Aviation Business Services SA, Jet Aviation Geneva and Privatport
Nice (LFMN / NCE): Signature Aviation, AviaVIP and DC Aviation G-OPS
Frequently asked questions
What should passengers eat to reduce jet lag on a private jet flight?
We recommend eating on destination time, choosing lean protein, vegetables and complex carbohydrates in light portions, drinking plenty of water and keeping rich dishes for the arrival dinner. Global Diners combines dishes from our menu card to follow this rhythm.
How should meals be timed on a long-haul flight?
Plan meals around the destination clock: dinner and rest when it is evening at the destination, and breakfast as the last service before landing when you arrive in the morning. We pack and label each course in the order it will be served.
Can you prepare special diets for long flights?
Yes. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan and low-sugar dishes are available, as are halal, kosher and alcohol-free menus, each with allergen labelling. Mention preferences when you order at order@globaldiners.com.
What is the Global Diners client portal?
The portal, coming very soon, is designed to bring the Global Diners menu, order requests, confirmations and documents into one space for crew, operations and finance. Until it opens, all orders go through order@globaldiners.com.
Can you pick up from a famous Los Angeles restaurant for my flight from LAX?
Yes, restaurant pick-up from Los Angeles restaurants is available on request for flights from Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX / LAX). Many well-known kitchens prepare dishes to go, subject to their hours and policies. Name the restaurant and dishes, and our team will check availability, then pack them for the cabin with reheating instructions for the crew.
Can Global Diners cater a long-haul flight from LAX to Asia?
Yes, long-haul catering for departures from Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX / LAX) to Asia is available on request. A typical order includes several services: a main meal, a lighter meal, snacks and breakfast before landing. Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Western options can be combined, and our team will plan the sequence based on flight time and passenger preferences.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Los Angeles (KLAX / LAX)
Private jet catering in Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG)
Private jet catering in Teterboro (KTEB / TEB)
Planning a long-haul flight soon?
From Los Angeles (KLAX / LAX) to Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG), from Teterboro (KTEB / TEB) to Geneva (LSGG / GVA) and from Dubai (OMDB / DXB) to Paris, Global Diners plans menus that help passengers arrive rested. Send us your schedule and preferences, and our specialised team will prepare a dedicated quote.
To request a quote, email order@globaldiners.com with your aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count. Our specialised team replies with a dedicated quote for your mission.
Comments