When it comes to eating food on a plane, airlines don’t always have the best reputation. However, new research from MoneySuperMarket travel insurance has looked at which airlines have the best food overall.
The team analysed over 27,000 passenger reviews of meals from more than 100 airlines to determine the results.
They also divided up the research into sections by looking at cabin class and the best routes for dining at 30,000 ft.
While airlines generally have a standardised menu across their flights, food options can vary depending on the route you fly.
Based on passenger reviews across 266 flight routes, just three in-flight meal services picked up top marks from travellers, scoring 10 out of 10.
The food served on Emirates’ Melbourne to Singapore route received top marks from Economy passengers, while those who fly first class awarded both Asiana Airlines New York to Seoul and Swiss International Airlines’ Switzerland to Miami flights a perfect score.
However, while the former boasts premium traditional Korean dishes made with “premium ingredients”, such as beef rib Ssambap, passengers can expect to pay in the region of £2,500 for the 15-hour flight.
Meanwhile, with first-class flights costing as much as three to four times more than an economy fare, it’s no surprise that the in-flight meal service is a significant factor in the luxury experience.
Let’s not forget that most first and business-class providers, such as ANA, also offer an additional on-demand menu alongside their standard meal service, allowing passengers to order what they want when they want.
For those looking for the best first-class dining experience, Swiss International Air Lines should be their first port of call, scoring nine out of 10 among passengers.
Top airlines for first-class meals
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Swiss Int Airline – 9.02
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Qantas – 8.80
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Lufthansa – 8.66
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China Airlines – 8.55
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Etihad Airways – 8.37
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All Nippon Airways – 8.19
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Singapore Airlines – 8.19
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Japan Airlines – 7.68
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Emirates Air – 7.52
Top 10 airlines for inflight food
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Kuwait Airways – 8.58
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Oman Air – 8.44
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Middle East Airlines (MEA) – 8.39
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Air Algerie – 8.16
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Air Baltic – 8.03
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Aegean Airlines – 7.98
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JetBlue – 7.89
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Turkish Airlines – 7.82
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Air Mauritius – 7.72
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Swiss Int Airlines – 7.63
Alicia Hempsted, a travel expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “A memorable inflight dining experience can elevate your overall travel experience, particularly in first and business class where passengers are paying a premium or using a large number of points to fly.
“According to passengers, Airlines like Swiss International Air Lines and Asiana Airlines have set the bar high with their exceptional meal services, providing passengers with gourmet cuisine at 30,000 feet.”
