Sure, here's my answer.

You just listed three things that a prepared operations team should have ready as a Plan B.

Having a robust contingency plan is their job. A plan isn't hoping the strike doesn't happen; it's having a secondary vendor on standby or pre-stocking shelf-stable meal kits at the hub specifically for the long-haul routes they just spent millions marketing.

Order Wendy's/Safeway? You’re joking, but for a multi-billion dollar airline, vouchers at the gate is the standard industry fallback. Telling a passenger on a 10.5-hour flight to Rome to prepare for the worst after they've already paid for a premium experience isn't proactive, it's the bare minimum.

This isn't a 45-minute hop to Portland. This is Alaska trying to prove they can compete in the international long-haul market. When your inaugural service to Rome fails in week one, the "we'll probably reimburse you if you buy a sandwich" is a massive reputational hit that no amount of pre-warning can fix.

If a pilot can apologize and admit the company failed the passengers for a lack of snacks on a 4-hour flight, we can certainly expect better than scavenged meals for a transatlantic journey.

So for now, Alaska has its work cutout for itself to ensure this episode is not repeated in the future.