REVEALED: BEST AND WORST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FOR FOOD

Airplane food isn’t exactly known for its gourmet quality, but whether you're planning a short or long-haul flight, you might be curious to know which airlines offer the best (and worst) in-flight meals before booking your next trip. 

Money.com.au has ranked Australia's top international airlines based on their average food and beverage ratings from review sites like Tripadvisor, ProductReview, and Skytrax. All food scores were converted to a standardised 10-point scale. 

Qatar Airways took the top spot for the best-rated in-flight food with an overall score of 7/10, followed closely by Singapore Airlines at 6.9/10 and Emirates at 6.3/10.

“Premium airlines dominate the top spots for in-flight food ratings, which is no surprise given you're likely paying top dollar to fly with them. Along with better meals, you’d expect greater customer service and overall comfort compared to mid-tier airlines,” says Money.com.au Finance Expert, Sean Callery. 

“For long-haul travellers, meal quality can be a game changer, and the rankings suggest that, sometimes, you get what you pay for.” 

Air New Zealand ranks 4th with a solid food score of 6.1/10, followed by Cathay Pacific at 5.8/10. Both stand out as relatively strong contenders for in-flight food quality based on the ratings, especially when compared to other airlines outside the premium category. 

“Air New Zealand ranking ahead of Qantas in meal quality is bound to ruffle a few feathers. It could stir up some friendly rivalry, but New Zealand’s national carrier is clearly winning when it comes to serving up better in-flight meals,” says Sean. 

Qantas landed in 6th place with a food score of 5.5/10. Australia’s second-largest airline, Virgin Australia, followed closely with a score of 5.4/10. 

“The fact that no domestic carriers made it into the top half of the table is not great news for people who regularly fly within Australia. The consolation is that many of the most popular internal flight routes are short enough that you probably don’t need a meal on board,” says Sean. 

Malaysia Airlines comes in 8th place with a food score of 5.1/10, while budget airlines Jetstar and Scoot tied at the bottom with matching scores of 3.9/10. 

“If you’re flying economy with a low-cost carrier, you'll generally have to pay for on-board meals. If these rankings are anything to go by, you might be better off saving the extra cost and packing your own snacks," says Sean.