What’s the Best Airline Snack? A New Survey Has the Answers
If you’ve ever judged an airline by its tiny bag of pretzels or that first sip of coffee at 35,000 feet, you’re definitely not alone. A new survey from travel…
If you've ever judged an airline by its tiny bag of pretzels or that first sip of coffee at 35,000 feet, you're definitely not alone.
A new survey from travel rewards platform Point.me asked 556 of its members to weigh in on the best and worst food and drinks in the skies. The results prove that what you're served on a plane can leave just as much of an impression as the flight itself.
Delta Wins the Domestic Snack Battle
When it comes to economy-class snacks, Delta Air Lines came out on top. Travelers gave high marks to favorites like Cheez-Its, Biscoff cookies, Sun Chips Minis, and MadeGood granola bars. According to the survey, Delta earned about 30% of the vote for best economy snacks, beating out competitors like JetBlue and Southwest.
The airline also won praise for offering snacks that travelers taking GLP-1 medications said they appreciated, including higher-protein options.
Coffee Matters More Than You'd Think
For many travelers, in-flight coffee is serious business.
Overall, respondents named Delta's Starbucks coffee as the best available on a U.S. airline. But among the most frequent flyers, there was a different favorite: Alaska Airlines' Stumptown Coffee. The survey notes that Stumptown's Holler Mountain blend was developed with high-altitude taste changes in mind, something experienced travelers seemed to notice.
On the flip side, JetBlue's Dunkin' coffee landed at the bottom of the rankings.
Emirates Dominates International Dining
When it comes to premium cabin meals, Emirates was the clear favorite.
Survey participants ranked Emirates highest for:
- Best business-class meal
- Best business-class breakfast
- Best economy meal
- Best onboard cocktail program
The airline's reputation for restaurant-style dining and its onboard lounge on select Airbus A380 aircraft likely helped earn those top marks.
Not every airline received glowing reviews.
More than 32% of respondents selected Southwest Airlines as having the least-favorite economy snacks, while American Airlines also ranked near the bottom for its limited snack selection. Next time you're heading in the air, see how the snacks rank on your personal list.
