News | Know Before You Go | What to expect from airlines when it comes to food and drink

What to expect from airlines when it comes to food and drink.

Our research found the majority of airlines include a small snack and drinks on short haul flights. Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Quantas Group, Virgin Atlantic and Thai Airways provide a range of meal options, hot, cold and alcoholic beverages all inclusive in the price of a ticket. At the other end of the scale, budget airlines such as BMI Baby, EasyJet, Flybe and Ryanair charge for all snacks, meals and drinks. Other airlines including Japan Airlines, Monarch and US Airways charge for snacks and meals but do provide complimentary tea, coffee and water.

Some airlines such as Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, EasyJet and United Airlines offer money saving deals in the form of snack boxes which typically include crisps, chocolate, crackers and cheese. A snack box will cost between £4.50 and £8.00 depending on your airline and choice of snack box. Monarch offer an online discount if you order your meal online at least 24 hours before your flight.

AIRLINE	Short-Haul Food and drink options (hot/cold/vegan/wheat-free/alcohol/soft drinks etc)	Short-haul Food and drink prices	Long-Haul Food and drink options	Long-Haul Food and drink prices	Pre-book available? Other meal options available?
Aer Lingus	Sky Café service includes hot beverages, muffins, biscuits, smoothies, soft drinks, spirits, beer and more. Breakfast available for £7.90 on morning flights. Sandwiches, pizza and hot Panini’s served on all afternoon flights. Alcoholic beverages are served on all flights except those to/from Riga.	Tea: £2.00 Sandwich: £4.50 Breakfast Meal £7.90 Bacon Baguette £4.40	Free hot-meal provided. Business Class Flights: Pre departure champagne service. Bar service & hot canapés. Hot lunch service. Dessert & cheese service. Evening snack service.	On flights to the US: generally receive one full meal and one snack per flight (varies by length of flight) plus free drinks.	Passengers who have special dietary requirements for medical or religious reasons, or may be traveling with small children, can request a suitable alternative meal 24 hours prior to flying. Special Meals Available: Childs Meal Diabetic Meal Gluten Intolerant Meal Kosher Meal Low Fat Meal Low Lactose Low Salt Moslem Meal Vegetarian Lacto- Ovo Meal Vegetarian Vegan Meal
Air France	Passengers will receive a meal and an assortment of beverages suitable to the time of day they will be flying.	Passengers will generally receive one full meal, one snack and free drinks in the price of the ticket.	Passengers will generally receive one full meal, one snack and free drinks in the price of the ticket.	There may be a charge for onboard meals if the Air France flight is operated by one of their partner airlines.	Special menus (vegetarian, kosher, halal, etc.) are available on flights of 2 hours and 30 minutes or more. Passengers can order these online when booking your flight.
Alitalia	Hot meals, Snacks and drinks are included in the price of the ticket.	N/A	Hot meals, Snacks and drinks are included in the price of the ticket.	N/A	Passengers can request specialty meals 24 hours prior to flying. Meal options: Bland Diabetic Gluten free Low calorie Low cholesterol Lactose free Fish Vegan Vegetarian (including dairy products and eggs) RELIGIOUS MEALS Asian vegetarian Kosher Muslim Hindu Children Meals: Children from 0-2 Children from 2-12
Air New Zealand	Food and drink is not included in the price of the ticket although tea, coffee and water is complimentary. Passengers will be able to buy food, drinks and snacks though the seat back entertainment system.	N/A	N/A	Complimentary meals and drinks including alcoholic beverages are available on all long haul flights. Snacks on demand are also available on certain routes via the inflight entertainment system. Pre book - 21 special meals including childrens are available on request	Passengers can request a specialty meal when booking their flight.
American Airlines	Choice of main course and beverage service.	N/A	N/A	Choice of main course and beverage service.	A variety of special meals can be requested for customers with specific dietary requirements or medical conditions. These need to be pre-ordered at least 24 hours prior flying
Atlantic Airways	Meals are included in the price of the ticket.	N/A	N/A	Meals are included in the price of the ticket.	If passengers require a child’s meal they will need to select this option at the time of booking
BMI Baby	Hot and cold drinks, alcohol, sandwiches, snacks and confectionary can be purchased from the menu in the in-flight magazine.	Tea: £2.00 Sandwich £3.50	N/A	Hot and cold drinks, alcohol, sandwiches, snacks and confectionary can be purchased from the menu in the in-flight magazine.	N/A
British Airways	Free drinks and limited snacks on all short haul flights are included in the price of the ticket.	Free	N/A	Passengers will be provided with one full meal and one snack per flight. Drinks are served free of charge.	Passengers that have special dietary requirements can request a special or medical meal through Manage My Booking Medical meals are available to all long haul customers Bland Diabetic Fresh Fruit Gluten Intolerant Low calorie Low fat Low salt Low lactose
British Midlands BMI	Passengers will be served a hot breakfast panini with orange juice, tea and coffee before 9.30am. After 9.30 am passengers will be served a complimentary sandwich followed by hot and cold beverages. Passengers can purchase snacks and drinks from the in-flight menu.	Soft drinks £1.50 Alcoholic £3.50 Chocolate £1.50 Pringles £1.50	N/A	Passengers will receive a complimentary meal with a choice of hot entrée and bar service. A choice of international and modern cuisine. Complimentary soft and alcoholic drinks.	N/A
Cathay Pacific	Meals and refreshments included on all flights.	N/A	N/A	Meals and refreshments included on all flights.	Passengers that require a Kosher Meal through Manage My Booking, will need to allow at least 48 hours before their scheduled flight Passengers that require any other specialty meal will have to order their meal 24 hours before their scheduled flight
Continental Airlines	Passengers will receive a meal suitable to the time of flying. Complimentary beverages are available on all flights.	Snack boxes prices between £4.50 and £5.20 Pringles £3.00 Hot Breakfast £5.99 Cheeseburger £5.00 Chicken Salad £5.90 Thai Chicken Wrap £5.30 Asian Noodle Salad £3.40	N/A	Passengers will receive a meal suitable to the time of flying Complimentary beverages are available on all flights. All meals on transatlantic flights are complimentary.	Special Meals are available but will have to be requested 24 hours prior to flying Child Meal Gluten Intolerant Asian & Hindu Vegetarian Jain Kosher Muslim Vegan
Delta Air Lines	In-flight snack menu available.	Wraps & Rolls £5.00 Snack boxes £3.00	N/A	Passengers will receive a complimentary meal service on most international flights six hours or more. In-flight snack menu available.	Passengers can request a specialty meal 24 hours prior to flying Asian Baby Child Bland Diabetic Gluten-free Hindu Kosher Low-calorie Low-cholesterol Low-fat Low-sodium Muslim Passover Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) Vegetarian (pure)
easyJet	Passengers can purchase food and drink from the in-flight menu .	Tea: £2.30 Sandwich: £4.00 Money saving menu options are available.	N/A	Passengers can purchase food and drink from the in-flight menu .	N/A
Emirates	Passengers will receive a range of complimentary drinks.	N/A	N/A	A large selection of food is available for passengers.	Emirates offer a selection of specialty meals. Specialty meals must be booked at least 24 hours prior to flight Asian Hindu Bland Diabetic Fruit Platter Gluten Free Low Calorie Low Cholesterol Child Baby Vegetarian Oriental Raw Veg Seafood Champagne Cakes
Flybe	A wide selection of hot and cold drinks, snacks and sandwiches are available to purchase on board.	Tea: £2.10 Sandwich: £3.50	N/A	A wide selection of hot and cold drinks, snacks and sandwiches are available to purchase on board.	N/A
Iberia	Snacks available from in-flight menu	Sandwich & Drink £6.50 Soft Drink £1.50 Coffee £1.20 Chocolate £1.20 Money saving drink and snack combinations are available from the in-flight menu.	N/A	Passengers will receive one full meal and one snack per flight (varies by length of flight) plus free drinks.	N/A
Japan Airlines	Complimentary bottles of mineral water are provided to passengers. Meals are included in the ticket however extra snacks can be purchased from in-flight menu.	N/A	N/A	Complimentary bottles of mineral water are provided to passengers Snacks, meals and beverages are complimentary.	Special Dietary Meals need to be ordered 24 hours prior to flight Asian Hindu Bland Diabetic Fruit Platter Gluten Free Low Calorie Low Cholesterol Child Baby Vegetarian Oriental Raw Veg Seafood
KLM	On flights before 9.00am passengers will receive a breakfast sandwich. Snacks are provided on short flights.	N/A	N/A	Passengers will receive regular meals, snack and drinks free of charge.	Passengers that require specialty meals will need to pre book meal 24 hours before flying
Lufthansa Group	Free drinks and limited snacks on all short haul flights. A breakfast sandwich is provided if flight is before 9.00 am.	N/A	N/A	Passengers will receive a meal, one snack and drinks free of charge.	Passengers who require special food have a choice of 19 different meals.
Monarch Airlines	Meals can be purchased when booking flight. Free filter coffee or tea.	Tea: £2.00 Sandwich: £3.50 Online discount available.	N/A	Free filter coffee or tea.	Passengers can book meals when they make their flight booking. Specialty meals are not available on scheduled flights, however there are healthy options available to purchase from the in-flight menu.
Quantas Group	Complimentary meals or refreshments are included on all flights.	N/A	N/A	Complimentary meals or refreshments are included on all flights.	Passengers that require a specialty meal will need to request on at the time of booking.
Ryanair	Passengers can purchase snacks and a wide variety of beverages from the menu that is available in the in-flight magazine.	Tea: £2.10 Sandwich: £3.55	N/A	N/A	Passengers are allowed to bring their own food on board if needed.
SAS Group	Drinks and snacks are available from in flight menu.	Coffee & muffin £4.50 Snack and beer £5.00 Sandwich & drink £5.00 Candy box £7.00 Tapas & wine £12.50	N/A	N/A	Special meals are available on intercontinental flights. All special meals must be ordered at least 24 hours before departure. Special meals can not be offered on Domestic flights or flights between the Scandinavian countries, nor in Economy class on European routes Diabetic No gluten Low calorie No lactose Low fat No salt Hindu Kosher Moslem Asian vegetarian Baby meal Child meal Vege-strict Vego-lacto ovo Sea food
South African Airways	Food and drink included in flight.	N/A	N/A	Food and drink included in flight.	Special meals are offered on selected flights only. Special meals must be requested at least 24 hours before flying.
Thai Airways	Passengers will receive a wide variety of food and drink options that are included in ticket price	N/A	N/A	Passengers will receive a wide variety of food and drink options that are included in ticket price	Passengers can request a specialty meal at least 24 hours before flying.
United Airlines	Complimentary meal. Complimentary soft drinks, juices, tea and Starbucks® coffee. Passengers can purchase alcoholic beverages from the in-flight menu.	Snack box available at around £4.30	N/A	Complimentary meal service. Complimentary soft drinks, juices, tea and Starbucks® coffee. You can purchase alcoholic beverages from the in-flight menu.	Passengers can place their special meal request when booking their flight or by calling Reservations at least 24 hours before scheduled flight time.
US Airways	Meals and snacks can be purchased on selected US Airways flights over 3.5 hours. Soft drinks are provided free of charge.	Breakfast bagel sandwich £5.00 Fruit and cheese platter £5.00 Café Snack £2.80	N/A	Meals and snacks can be purchased on selected US Airways flights over 3.5 hours. Soft drinks are provided free of charge.	Special meals are only available on transatlantic flights. Special meals must be ordered at least 24 hours in advance.
Virgin Atlantic	Complimentary meals and drinks including alcoholic beverages.	N/A	N/A	Complimentary meals and drinks including alcoholic beverages.	Special meals need to be ordered at least 48 hours before the flight.

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