Plane food doesn't have the best reputation, especially in Economy. But for those fortunate enough to fly in Business or First Class, the dining experience is a world apart – with Michelin-starred dishes that wouldn't look out of place in fine dining restaurants, menus crafted by celebrity chefs and even in-flight sommeliers.
Click through this gallery to see the best in-flight culinary delights that await those turning left...
Passengers in Air France’s ultra-swish La Premiere cabin are treated to menus designed by Michelin-starred chefs. On routes departing from Paris, chef Glenn Viel offers delights such as Mediterranean bread with preserved peppers, sea bream with fondant potatoes and guinea fowl with zucchini mosaic. On US routes, chef Dominique Crenn (the only woman with three Michelin stars in the US) serves up inventive dishes including crab and caviar with lemon cream, while chef Regis Marcon’s menu includes pigeon fillet served with apricot sauce, lemon bulgur, mushrooms and butternut.
Qantas First Class passengers have Australian celebrity chef Neil Perry to thank for their in-flight dining experience. His menus are inspired by the destination of each route, so dishes on the airline’s new direct flights from Perth to Paris include classic French-inspired delicacies like bouillabaisse and pithivier of chicken and tarragon. Menu highlights on other routes include prawn and kimchi dumplings with marinated cucumbers, native Australian greens with Persian feta and coconut sticky rice pudding with mango and toasted coconut. As if that weren’t enough, Qantas has a ‘Sommeliers in the Sky’ programme, which sees trained sommeliers help passengers choose wine pairings to complement their meals.
There’s no need to worry about going hungry when flying in First Class on Qatar Airways – the airline’s on-demand a la carte service allows passengers to order meals at any time during the flight. Upon boarding, guests are welcomed with a glass of Champagne, fruity mocktails or freshly brewed coffee and tea, while menu options include French toast with red berries and creme fraiche, Arabic chicken kofta with oriental rice, braised beef cheeks with roast kipfler potatoes and pan-fried blue-eyed cod with mashed potatoes and cabbage.
Coffee lovers will be thrilled with the selection of Viennese speciality coffees offered in the Austrian Airlines Business Class cabin, perfectly paired with traditional Austrian cakes. But the real star of the show is the return of the airline's ‘Flying Chefs’ programme, which sees on-board professional chefs craft gourmet meals tailored to each passenger's preferences. Using the finest regional ingredients, they create a mix of international dishes and beloved Austrian classics, ensuring every meal is a high-altitude culinary delight.
SWISS continues to delight First Class passengers with its acclaimed ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ programme – and in 2024 the gourmet menu features dishes from Michelin-starred chef Franck Giovannini, as well as vegetarian and vegan creations from Zurich's Hiltl, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. Passengers can tuck in to the likes of langoustine with tomato mousse, veal fillet mignon with mustard cream sauce and chocolate parfait with meringue and strawberries. Is your mouth watering yet?
In the Premium Cabin on Hawaiian Airlines, you’ll find island inspiration in the food and drinks, all designed by Hawaii’s top chefs. In the style of Hawaiian hospitality, expect a Mai Tai cocktail on arrival followed by regional cuisine, including smoked salmon and beet poke, soy-braised beef short rib and coconut, and lemongrass braised chicken with eggplant and Israeli couscous. For dessert, passengers can indulge in decadent choices such as chocolate hazelnut cheesecake or orange cream pies, ensuring a sweet ending to a luxurious meal.
Etihad Airways' First Class dining experience is a true culinary journey, offering an a la carte menu that takes inspiration from around the world, with a focus on Middle Eastern flavours. Passengers can indulge in luxurious dishes like Oscietra caviar, black cod and steak frites. Got a sweet tooth? The menu also features an array of decadent desserts, including rainbow chiffon cake and more. Best of all, you can dine whenever you want – and there's a curated wine list and a cognac service to round off your meal.
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Emirates chefs take passengers around the world in more ways than one – with authentic dishes made using local seasonal ingredients. For example, you can expect Australian Angus beef, Italian olive oil and produce from farms in Japan. Feast on antipasti including Wagyu bresaola and Arabic mezze, tuck in to mains like pan-seared salmon trout, lamb biryani and Arabic spiced chicken, then finish off with orange frangipane tart or chocolate fondant. Oh, and First Class passengers can also enjoy unlimited caviar – served on a mother of pearl spoon and paired with Dom Perignon 2013 vintage Champagne, of course.
In 2024 Philippine Airlines introduced a collaboration with renowned chef Tina Legarda, who crafted a special 10-course menu for the airline's North American routes. Blending Filipino and Spanish culinary influences, the menu includes mouth-watering dishes like crab mie goreng, a spicy and savoury noodle dish, pan-fried snapper served with a light herb sauce and beef short ribs, slow-cooked to perfection. For dessert, passengers can indulge in the banana Budino trifle, a layered treat combining creamy custard with banana and a touch of caramel.
Chef Vottonen's special Signature Menu for Finnair's Business Class is all about authentic Nordic flavours, featuring dishes like slow-cooked beef in a dough crust with mushroom duxelles and panko-coated rainbow trout with sauteed leek and roasted vegetables. Alongside the main courses, the menu includes a selection of appetisers that offer a light and refreshing start to the meal, including salmon sashimi with pickled vegetables and shrimp tartlet with dill mayonnaise. For dessert, passengers can enjoy a variety of seasonal sweets, all served on elegant tableware created by Finnish designer Harri Koskinen.
First Class passengers on Cathay Pacific can enjoy the 'Hong Kong Flavours' menu created in partnership with Duddell's, a renowned Cantonese restaurant, featuring dishes like chilled abalone and cucumber with black vinegar, and minced pork with mixed vegetables. For those craving French-inspired cuisine, they also collaborate with Louise, a Michelin-starred French restaurant, offering dishes such as Obsiblue prawns in herb-infused consomme, steamed Chilean sea bass with chorizo sauce and chicken ballotine. Both menus are available on selected long-haul flights departing from Hong Kong.
Air New Zealand's Business Premier class treats passengers to a delicious menu created by famous Kiwi chef Peter Gordon. Known for his creative fusion dishes, Gordon's menu is all about fresh, local New Zealand ingredients – and you can look forward to tasty options like lamb and barley hot pot, baked snapper with a herb crust and salmon with tabbouleh. These culinary delights are served on tableware designed by local artists, adding a special touch to the dining experience.
In Business Class onboard China Southern Airlines, guests can enjoy both Western and Cantonese cuisine. Main courses highlight regional Chinese specialities such as rice noodles with beef tendon and marinated egg, while Western dishes might include French-style eggs and pastries. But the highlight of the culinary offering is the In-Flight Tea Garden, a chance to experience China’s traditional tea ceremony culture at 30,000 feet.
EVA Airways' Royal Laurel Cabin brings a touch of class to mealtimes in the air. Passengers can enjoy a variety of gourmet meals, starting with a welcome glass of Champagne (obviously). The menu includes dishes like fresh lobster, grilled prime beef fillet with crystal pink salt and local Taiwanese specialities such as pork belly with steamed rice and a traditional dessert called Bubur Injin – a sweet black rice pudding with coconut milk and sugar.
The First Class menu on All Nippon Airways is crafted by a group of chefs known as 'THE COLLECTIVE,' each contributing unique culinary expertise to the in-flight dining experience. Passengers can enjoy a variety of dishes including Wagyu beef rillettes with duck thigh confit and liver pate, black rockfish with steamed seasonal vegetables, and grilled Wagyu beef with morel mushroom sauce. For those seeking traditional Japanese cuisine, options like deep-fried chicken wings marinated in salted rice malt and John Dory fish wrapped in yuba tofu and lettuce are just two of the delicious options available.
Luxury airline Garuda Indonesia promises a ‘private feast above the clouds’ once you step into its First Class cabin. Passengers are welcomed with a glass of Champagne before take-off, while the menu features a mix of traditional Indonesian dishes and modern European cuisine. Highlights include pan-fried Wagyu tenderloin, lobster sandwiches, bebek goreng (Balinese fried duck) and oxtail soup. Finish things off by choosing from a selection of premium teas and coffees sourced from Indonesian plantations.
In Delta One, expect chef-curated menus that highlight local specialities and change with the seasons. For example, from June 2024, domestic Delta One passengers departing from Atlanta can tuck in to chef Mashama Bailey’s hearty Southern favourites. Enjoy a short rib open-faced sandwich with sweet pickles and a side of cheddar and broccoli, or a smoked chicken salad with cabbage and beet slaw, crumbled queso fresco and toasted pepitas. Conclude your meal with banana pudding for a true down-home delight.
You're promised ‘a restaurant setting’ in the sky onboard Singapore Airlines, and their frequent collaborations with acclaimed chefs definitely helps achieve that. Dishes like lobster thermidor and sirloin steak will soon be joined by a new First Class menu created by celebrity chef Monica Galetti, who will bring her culinary expertise and South Pacific heritage to flights departing from the UK, beginning in late 2024. Dishes will include seared scallops with citrus and herb dressing, pan-seared duck breast with a tamarind glaze, grilled king prawns with a coconut and lemongrass sauce and passion fruit.
Michelin-starred chefs are behind the menus served at JAL BEDD, Japan Airlines’ 'exclusive restaurant in the sky'. Passengers can savour a range of gourmet dishes including Japanese-style chicken curry, miso-marinated black cod and donburi rice bowls, while chef Fumio Yonezawa has ensured that vegetarians and vegans aren’t left out with a range of delicious dishes, including Japanese vegetable curry and plant-based ramen. Chocolatier Jean-Paul Hevin serves up the sweet stuff, including must-try macarons.
On Thai Airways, passengers are treated like royalty in Royal First Class. You can pre-select your meal before you fly, with tempting options such as chu-chee lobster (a kind of spicy lobster curry) and baked Chilean sea bass with lobster bisque and polenta cake waiting for you in the sky. A new collaboration with innovative chef Thitid 'Ton' Tassanakajohn also brings a fresh perspective to the menu, with dishes like yellow curry lobster and braised short ribs with massaman curry showcasing his trademark fusion of traditional Thai flavours with contemporary culinary techniques.
Book a seat aboard Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class to indulge in delicious cocktails, a great selection of dishes and plenty of scrumptious desserts. You'll get a glass of bubbly on arrival, then main menu highlights include dishes such as garlic and ginger prawns, breaded chicken breast with garlic truffle butter and miso-glazed cauliflower. There's a fine wine selection curated in partnership with London merchant Jeroboams too.
American Airlines' First Class features meals crafted by top chefs including James Beard Award winner Sarah Grueneberg, whose menu includes dishes like macadamia-crusted sea bass with citrus cream sauce, seared halibut steak with pomme puree and braised short ribs with red wine reduction. If you’re flying to or from Hawaii, Sam Choy’s delightful Hawaiian-inspired dishes include wasabi salmon with shiitake butter orzo, hibachi chicken with sweet potato mash and island braised short ribs with soy-ginger sauce. If you’ve got enough room for dessert, you’ll find signature sundaes and freshly baked cookies on offer.
A partnership with Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, known for his emphasis on British seasonal produce, brings a refined selection of dishes to the British Airways First Class menu. Passengers can expect options like beef bourguignon with mashed potatoes and pan-seared sea bass with lemon butter sauce – all served on beautiful white tablecloths and fine-bone china. The real highlight though is the airline’s signature afternoon tea service featuring sandwiches, cakes, scones (with jam and clotted cream, obviously) and a selection of teas.
On Asiana Airlines, meals have been crafted in collaboration with renowned chefs, and First Class guests on long-haul flights can pre-order from a range of refined dishes including highlights such as Korean grilled beef, shrimp and asparagus risotto and galbi-jjim (braised short ribs). These culinary offerings are complemented by a selection of fine wines and eco-friendly coffee.
Korean Air offers a luxurious ‘Farm to Flight’ dining experience in its First Class cabin, featuring high-quality ingredients sourced from their Jedong Ranch on Jeju Island. The menu includes Korean specialities like bibimbap, marinated crab, stir-fried spicy octopus, kimchi noodle soup and ginseng chicken soup, while Western options such as rib-eye steak and beef ribs are also available. To top off the experience, there’s Perrier-Jouet Champagne and quality wines.
Lufthansa's First Class dining experience begins with the tableware – fine china, high-quality cutlery and drinks poured from elegant glass carafes. Then there's the dedicated caviar service, seasonal small dishes inspired by the airline's various routes and the monthly changing wine list. As for the menu, dishes such as saddle of veal in tuna sauce, pear sorbet with Champagne, cod with beurre blanc and layered chocolate creme brulee are just some of the culinary delights on offer.
As well as a selection of meals from around the world, Vietnam Airlines' Business Class menu includes traditional Vietnamese dishes like Vietnamese braised pork with quail eggs, grilled sea bass with turmeric and tofu stir-fry with mixed vegetables. There's also a selection of cocktails inspired by the country, like the creatively named Hello Vietnam, Red River and Saigon Sunlight. On special occasions, such as Christmas or Oktoberfest, the airline makes the effort to include seasonal dishes.