A nine-hour flight across a continent and an ocean is tough enough. Doing it without a hot meal? Tougher. But that's the way it is for economy passengers on WestJet's flights to London. The Calgary-based airline started offering six flights weekly from Vancouver to London Gatwick airport last month. And some passengers have been surprised to learn that WestJet doesn't serve complimentary meals to travellers in its lower-cost section, CBC News reported. Anyone who wants to eat on the trip has to bring their own food or buy it from the airline.

And WestJet isn't sorry about it, either. "Within Canada, we are the only carrier charging for hot meals in the economy section of our aircraft," spokesperson Robert Palmer told the network. "Our guests have always told us that they do not want to pay for things they do not need or want, and that includes expensive meals," he added. The airline considers itself low-cost, while competitor Air Canada has a different business model with higher fares that include services such as meals, Palmer said. "Comparisons between the two types of carriers are problematic because you're comparing two different business models."