top of page
Search
  • Writer: Mr Plane Guy
    Mr Plane Guy
  • Apr 12, 2025
  • 4 min read

The Airlines with the Best and Worst In-Flight Food

The Airlines with the Best and Worst! In-Flight Food



Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my travel blog and allows me to continue creating useful content. Thank you for your support!


Let’s be real airplane food has a bit of a reputation, and not always a good one. But which airlines are nailing it when it comes to in-flight meals, snacks, and drinks? A new survey from YouGov: Self-serve has revealed the best and worst airline food experiences, and some of the results might surprise you!


Forget inflight food and indulge at an airport Lounge before you fly!


The Best In-Flight Food Winners

Coming in strong at the top is Emirates! A whopping 85% of passengers give their inflight meals a thumbs-up, while 84% love their snacks and drinks. If you’ve ever flown with Emirates, you’ll know they take food seriously serving up restaurant-quality meals that make long-haul flights a little more enjoyable.

Here is my flight review of Emirates Premium Economy and find out why I hated Emirates Premium Economy onboard their new A350!


Emirates Inflight catering, Premium Economy.

Not far behind, Qatar Airways also scored big, with 82% of passengers happy with their meals and 83% raving about the snacks. More about Qatar Airways inflight meals.


Rounding out the top three is Virgin Atlantic, with nearly three-quarters of travellers enjoying their drinks and meals. More about Virgin Atlantic's inflight Menu's.

For those flying UK airlines, British Airways leads the pack, with 61% of passengers giving positive feedback on snacks and drinks, and 63% on meals.


Qatar Airways In-Flight Food

The Not-So-Tasty Side…

Unfortunately, not every airline hits the mark when it comes to in-flight dining.

At the bottom of the list is Ryanair, where only 21% of passengers had good things to say about their snacks and drinks. Worse yet, just 17% found the meals satisfactory, and a staggering 50% labeled them as “poor.”


Not far behind is Wizz Air, with just a quarter of passengers giving their snacks and drinks a thumbs-up, and 40% rating the meals as bad. easyJet also struggled, with only 35% of travellers enjoying their snacks and 29% happy with the meals.


The Full Ranking – Who’s Got the Best and Worst Airline Food?

  1. Emirates

  2. Qatar Airways

  3. Virgin Atlantic

  4. British Airways

  5. Jet2.com

  6. TUI Airways

  7. easyJet

  8. Wizz Air

  9. Ryanair


The Airlines with the Best and Worst! In-Flight Food TUI economy meal tray

If food is an important part of your flying experience, choosing the right airline can make all the difference! Emirates and Qatar Airways seem to be the safest bet for delicious meals, while budget carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air might leave your stomach rumbling. Have you had a surprisingly good (or bad!) airline meal experience? Share your foodie flight stories in the comments!


Priority Pass before a flight

Airport Lounge Life: A Tastier Way to Travel

Let’s face it airport food can be just as hit or miss as in-flight meals. Between overpriced sandwiches and underwhelming options, it’s not always the most appetising start to your journey. But here’s a travel tip: treat yourself to an airport lounge experience instead!

With Priority Pass, you can access over 1800 airport lounges worldwide, and trust me it’s a game changer. Think delicious hot meals, snacks galore, drinks, comfy seating, quiet vibes, and even showers at some spots. It’s the perfect way to relax before takeoff, especially if you’re dreading the in-flight food lineup.



Each visit to a lounge is just £24, and you can bring a guest along too so you and your travel buddy can indulge in a pre-flight treat together.

If you fly a few times a year, this deal basically pays for itself. But act fast this offer won’t be around forever and will soon bounce back to full price!


So next time you’re heading to the airport, skip the £8 soggy sandwich, and enjoy a lounge experience instead. Once you’ve done it, you won’t go back.


Plane Related Links



The Airlines with the Best and Worst! In-Flight Food

Hello I’m Paul a travel and flight expert, I spent most of my career working in and around planes with 15 years providing top-notch service with a London-based airline. I became an expert in travel after soaring across the Atlantic up to 10 times a month!


I’m now, producing travel content, reaching millions of viewers monthly. Reporting on travel news, sharing travel tips, reviews, and deals with a sprinkle of humour and a whole lot of authenticity!


I hope you enjoyed The Airlines with the Best and Worst In-Flight Food Do let me know in the comments........




bottom of page