According to my internet research, a 747 can carry between 416 and 524 people.  We were on a really full 747 on our way to Hong Kong. They asked, begged really, for six people to get off that flight and take a flight the following day due to weight restrictions.

So let’s take the lower number of 416 and remove the 6 who got off to fly another day. That leaves us at least 410 people.

41o people were served the following snack:

The noodles came just as you see them, without boiling water. The flight attendants came by, after these were passed out, to add the water.

I passed on this particular snack. I tried to make it at home once with actual boiling water and it just didn’t make the noodles soft. I couldn’t imagine that the water, by the time it got back to row 37, would be remotely hot enough to soften the noodles in the cup. And then, can you imagine eating this while on a plane?

There were 4 hours between the time we were served the first meal until we were served this snack. It probably took the flight attendants that entire amount of time to heat all the required water. I will say that this snack came with a perfectly delectable lemon cookie which I happily ate.

To sum up my airline math equation,

Chinese noodles x 410 = logistical ridiculosity. 🙂