Most Unique Economy Class Meals: Worldwide Guide 2025

Introduction

Tired of the same chicken-or-beef choice on every flight?

Airlines are quietly offering some seriously impressive meal upgrades in economy class – from €115 lobster dinners to vending machine airline meals.

Most passengers are unaware of these options.

Here’s your guide to the most unique (and some surprisingly affordable) meal upgrades you can actually book in economy.

Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines used to let passengers pre-order some pretty fancy stuff like canapés and fruit skewers.

Sadly, they’re gone now – all services transferred to Smartwings.

They offered 1kg of chicken schnitzel for €33.

One kilogram!

You’d definitely want to share that with your seatmate.

A white plate with a variety of 20 canapés including smoked salmon, Tyrolean ham, Eidam cheese, Hermelin cheese, and smoked duck breast, garnished with herbs and olives.

Plate of chicken schnitzel (1 kg) with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and pickles, served with bread slices. — All images courtesy of Czech Airlines.

Corsair

Since 2018, French airline Corsair has been doing something special in economy with its Prestige menu.

We’re talking blue lobster from Brittany, caviar, tarama, and salmon from Petrossian, plus dessert from Dalloyau (that’s a big deal Parisian pastry house).

Assortment of gourmet food on white plates includes beverages, cheese, dessert, smoked salmon with crackers, a mixed meal, and a tin of caviar on a blue background. — Image courtesy of Corsair

At €115, it’s not cheap, but you can book it up to 48 hours before departure on flights from Paris—basically, restaurant-quality dining at 35,000 feet.

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

This one’s brilliant.

At Shonai Airport in Japan, ANA installed vending machines selling their actual inflight meals.

Two white vending machines stocked with various food items. The touch screens display product images, prices, and descriptions in Japanese. Store signage and price tags are visible around the machines. — Image courtesy of ANA – Vending machines handling ANA’s inflight meals at Shonai airport.

For about $7.50 (1,080 yen), you can grab the same meals they serve in economy:

Beef Stew & Omelette Rice
Beef Hamburger Steak
Tandoori Chicken with Saffron Rice
Stewed Beef and Eggplant with Cream Penne
Paella

The locals love them too – people buy them for picnics or to keep in their freezers at home. Smart idea, really.

Xiamen Air

Chinese airline Xiamen Air lets domestic passengers pre-order local dishes through social media, which is pretty clever.

Their standout is the “Buddha Skipping Walls” dish for about $26.

It’s inspired by Fujian cuisine and made by renowned chef Lin Qingxiang.

It’s packed with abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, scallops, snail meat, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots – ingredients that symbolise blessings and longevity in Chinese culture.

Xiamen Air Review

KLM

KLM keeps it simple but effective.

Flying economy from Amsterdam? You can upgrade your meal for €19-30.

I tried their Indonesian option on an Amsterdam-Montreal flight recently.

A tray full of food and drinks on an airplane.

Bami goreng with sticky tempeh and beef pedas, rice, rujak salad with sambal and fried onions, bread roll, coconut bavarois, and a layered Dutch/Indonesian cake.

Properly presented and actually delicious.

Worth the upgrade if you’re on a long-haul route from Amsterdam.

KLM Upgrade Meal Review

Conclusion

These economy meal options aren’t cheap, and they won’t suit every budget.

But they show airlines are getting more creative with economy dining.

Whether you’re willing to spend extra on these options or appreciate seeing innovation in airline food, it’s encouraging that carriers are putting more effort into meal service.

If you’re flying any of these routes and want something beyond standard service, these upgrades are worth considering.