Airline food has long been caught between two worlds: a logistical marvel and a culinary challenge. Serving hundreds of meals at 35,000 ft, with limited space, time, and resources, is no small feat—and yet, for decades, in-flight dining has been seen as… underwhelming to say the very least.
Scratch beneath the surface, though, and you’ll see the story is changing. Airlines around the world are transforming meals into genuinely memorable experiences. From regionally-inspired dishes to chef-curated menus and elevated wine pairings, in-flight dining has quietly evolved into a competitive arena of its own. One where flavour, presentation, and creativity all matter.
So, which carriers are truly delivering in the air?
To find out, Canstar analysed over 125,000 passenger reviews to rank the top 100 airlines in the world for inflight dining*. Fasten your seatbelt, stow away your tray table, here’s who’s turning meals at altitude into a legitimate dining experience.
The best airlines for in-flight dining: Who’s really cooking at altitude?
Fending off competition from global aviation juggernauts, Greek carrier AEGEAN topped the rankings with a score of 7.82 out of 10. Operating a modest fleet of approximately 83 aircraft (compared with over 1,000 at United Airlines) AEGEAN impressed with fresh, regionally-inspired dishes and authentic Greek hospitality.
The airline’s menu philosophy draws on the Greek concept of filema—essentially “love and kindness through food”—ensuring passengers in all cabin classes enjoy authentic Greek flavours, while business-class travellers experience meals crafted by top Greek chefs and sommeliers.
Other top performers included Qatar Airways, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air and Singapore Airlines, with Asian carriers dominating the rankings, claiming seven of the top 10 spots. South Korea and Japan were the only countries with multiple top-10 entries: Asiana (3rd) and Korean Air (6th) for South Korea, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) (7th) and Japan Airlines (8th) for Japan.
Several lesser-known airlines also punched above their weight: Kuwait Airways (9th), Garuda Indonesia (10th), Air Algerie (14th) and Azerbaijan Airlines (21st) all made the global top 25.
By contrast, some major carriers struggled to impress. Qantas (51st), British Airways (54th), Air France (70th), and Air New Zealand fell outside the top 50, while American Airlines and United Airlines barely scraped the top 100, placing 93rd and 94th respectively.
Australia and Oceania’s culinary leaders
In Australia, Virgin Australia leads the pack with a score of 6.54, placing 39th globally, ahead of Qantas (51st) and Jetstar (75th). One notable omission was Rex, which didn’t appear in the ranking due to limited reviews—though the small sample available suggests it would have scored an impressive 6.91.
Where luxury meets altitude: which airline serves the best first-class food?
First-class flights come with a premium, and airlines pull out all the stops to ensure passengers at the front of the plane are truly spoiled. Elevated menus, meticulous presentation, luxury wine lists, and in some cases, on-demand dining—order what you want, when you want, at 30,000 ft.
Top first-class dining was a three-way tie between Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Qantas, each scoring 8.4 out of 10. Others performing strongly were China Airlines (8.1), Etihad Airways (8.0) and All Nippon Airways (8.0).
For economy passengers, Turkish Airlines took the crown with a 7.6, followed closely by Air Algerie (7.5) and Emirates (7.5), then Thai Airways (7.4) and AEGEAN (7.3).
Routes that really deliver: Flights worth flying for the food
Though airlines typically standardise their food offerings across flights, individual options and service can vary depending on the route you fly. Economy passengers flying from Australia get some of the best dining experiences overall, with Emirates’ Melbourne–Singapore route rated the best. Expect multi-course meals with regionally inspired dishes—with an optional champagne upgrade for a premium.
Safety at 35,000 ft: can airline food make you ill?
Airline meals are subject to strict global food-safety regulations, so foodborne illness from a tray table is extremely rare. That said, any meal carries some risk—whether it’s on a plane, at an airport, or at a local restaurant abroad. travel insurance can help cover unexpected medical costs, some with unlimited coverage for doctors or hospitals.
With travel insurance from just $4.58* a day, you can compare the best-rated policies in Australia through Canstar, so you can safely sample all the local cuisine on your trip.
“Airline food has long been the butt of jokes, but major carriers now understand the inflight experience matters in such a competitive market.
“However, our study shows that not all inflight meals are created equal. While not all meals will wow you, it’s incredibly unlikely they’ll make you ill. With comprehensive travel insurance, you can be covered for the unexpected from just a few dollars a day.”
How to score a first-class upgrade without the hefty price tag
If all this talk of fine dining at 30,000 ft has your tastebuds racing, check out our top tips on how you could secure a first-class experience for less.
Upgrade with airline points
Most major airlines reward loyalty with frequent-flyer or points programs. Every flight earns points, which can then be redeemed for seat upgrades, lounge access, or even complimentary flights.
Many carriers, including Qantas and Virgin Australia, also offer rewards programs, allowing you to earn points on everyday spending. Just keep in mind — interest rates can be steep, so paying off the balance each month is key to making this worthwhile.
For a deep dive, check out Canstar’s expert guide to the best airline credit cards.
Bid for an upgrade
Some airlines now run auction-based systems where passengers can bid on seat upgrades. If you’re flexible, this could mean nabbing a first-class seat for a fraction of the retail cost.
The catch? Availability and pricing vary by flight, Status tiers play a part in this bidding process (e.g., higher status tiers may outweigh lower ones on the same bid).
You usually only find out whether your bid was successful around 24 hours before departure. But for the right route and timing, the savings can be significant.
Be flexible with dates
Flight pricing is heavily influenced by demand—not just for economy, but for first-class too. Shifting your travel by just a few days can save you hundreds, sometimes even thousands, off a first-class upgrade or ticket. Flexibility really does pay off.
With these tips, you can savour the ultimate inflight dining experience—from freshly prepared dishes to premium wine—without breaking the bank. Combine it with travel insurance from just $4.58* a day, and you can enjoy the journey worry-free.
Methodology – how we crunched the numbers
*In November 2025, Canstar analysed 125,849 passenger reviews from sites including Airlinemeals.net and Skytrax. Airlines with fewer than 50 total reviews were excluded.
Review scores were standardised, with Bayesian smoothing applied to weight each airline’s rating by review volume.
**Economy vs first-class fare comparisons were based on five flights from Qantas, Virgin Australia, United Airlines, Etihad Airways and Japan Airlines.
***Travel insurance pricing based on quotes from Canstar’s panel between 1 October–30 December 2025.
