The Airlines With the Best (and Worst) Food and Drinks in 2026

Airline food often gets mixed reviews. However, a new survey shows that some airlines are doing much better than others, and these results could affect your choice the next time you book a flight.

The Award flight search platform point.me just released its 2026 Best Airline Food and Drinks Survey, polling frequent travelers on everything from economy snacks to business-class wine. The respondents aren't casual flyers — more than two-thirds hold over 200,000 points and more than half fly at least five times per year, which makes their opinions about as informed as it gets.

Why Frequent Flyers Rank Delta at the Top for Snacks and Coffee

Delta Air Lines was one of the biggest winners in the survey. The airline took the top spot for best economy snacks, offering favorites like Cheez-Its, Biscoff cookies, and Sun Chips Minis. Delta also ranked first for high-protein meal options, which is becoming increasingly important as about 1 in 8 Americans now take GLP-1 medications for weight management. Thanks to its partnership with Starbucks, Delta also received high marks for in-flight coffee among most travelers.

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The One Category Where Alaska Airlines Beats Delta for Northwest Travelers

However, there is an exception for travelers in the Pacific Northwest. Among frequent flyers who take ten or more trips each year, Alaska Airlines' partnership with Stumptown Coffee beat Delta for the top coffee spot, earning 35 percent of the votes in that category. This is especially notable for a carrier that is the primary airline serving Sea-Tac for many Wenatchee Valley residents.

For premium dining, Emirates stood out in several areas, leading in business-class meals, breakfast, economy meals, and its cocktail program. Air France was the top choice for wine, with over a third of respondents picking it for the best business-class wine selection and the most generous pours.

The Best Airport Lounge Bar and the Worst In-Flight Coffee Partnership

Photo by Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty Images For American Express

When it comes to airport lounge drinks, the American Express Centurion Lounge took first place with nearly 36 percent of the votes. I tried this award-winning lounge at Sea-Tac last summer. It's worth all of the hype.  Virgin Atlantic's onboard cocktail program was a favorite among frequent flyers.

JetBlue's Dunkin' coffee partnership was the least favorite among frequent flyers in the survey. This shows that not all airline beverage partnerships are equally popular.

So, when you book your next flight, it might be worth checking the food and drink rankings.