Intro

Three years ago, Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines eliminated complimentary economy meals on short and medium-haul flights, promising “fresh, high-quality options” for purchase instead of reheated mediocrity.

A woman is holding a cup of coffee on an airplane.

After flying all three carriers extensively, I can report the results are mixedโ€”sometimes brilliantly successful, occasionally disappointing, and always expensive.

Here’s what you get when you pay for airline food in 2025.

A tray table with a meal featuring a burger with lettuce and cheese, a side of fries in a box, small containers of sauce, and cutlery, seen inside an airplane. This could be one of the offerings from Swiss International Airline meals.
A sandwich placed on a white napkin, featuring toasted bread, lettuce, tomato, chicken, and bacon. A brown paper bag and a partial view of an airplane window are in the background.
A meal with breaded meat, vegetables in a white box, a cup of tomato juice, a napkin, and cutlery packet on an airplane tray table.
A box of food sitting on the seat of an airplane.
A bowl of vegetables on an airplane seat.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa’s “Onboard Delights” program offers the most straightforward approach. For short flights, get complimentary chocolate; for longer flights, add water, and buy-on-board kicks in after 45 minutes.

The pre-order system offers 10% discounts but has an odd quirk: payment happens onboard, not online.

You commit to a meal without paying, then flag down the crew during service to receive what you ordered.

A bottle of water on a table in an airplane.
Screenshot 2024 11 27 at 15.03.02
A promotional menu features seasonal specials: Golden Autumn, Christmas Delight, and Family Time, each with pricing and available periods. Items include sandwiches, drinks, and a bottle of wine.

Athens to Paris (Via Munich)

On my Athens-Munich leg, I pre-ordered the Best of Dean & David box for โ‚ฌ11.90: a tomato mozzarella sandwich, a small chicken teriyaki bowl, and semolina mousse with plum compote.

A row of seats in an airplane with a window.

The sandwich was forgettably adequate, but the teriyaki bowl impressed with authentic Japanese flavours.

A box sitting on the seat of an airplane.

The sweet-savoury glaze enhanced rather than masked the chicken, while the vegetables retained proper texture despite airline reheating.

A box containing food and utensils on a plane.
A sandwich is sitting in a box on a plane.
A sandwich with tomatoes and spinach on a brown paper bag.

For Munich-Paris, the larger chicken teriyaki bowl was even better.

Sometimes, quantity does improve quality, especially at altitude, where everything tastes muted.

A bowl of vegetables on an airplane seat.

Conclusion

What sets Lufthansa apart is its commitment to fresh preparation rather than reheated frozen options.

You can taste the difference immediately, ingredients maintain better texture and flavour complexity.

Swiss

SWISS Saveurs is the premium option, featuring partnerships with iconic Swiss brands like Confiserie Sprรผngli.

Short flights include complimentary Swiss chocolate and Valser waterโ€”nice touches featuring Swiss hospitality traditions.

An open airplane tray table features a red "SWISS" chocolate on top. Behind it, magazines and safety pamphlets are tucked into the seat pocket, reflecting the attentive service of Swiss International Airline meals. The tray table is mounted on a grey airplane seat.

The buy-on-board program offers the most ambitious menu in the group, with options like salmon poke bowls and “build your own burger” experiences that sound more like restaurant offerings.

Menu titled "SWISS Saveurs" placed on an airplane fold-out tray table, displaying various Swiss International Airline meals. The tray and pocket on the back of the seat in front are visible.

Check out the latest inflight menu here.

A bowl of quinoa salad with vegetables and herbs, part of the SWISS Saveurs menu for Autumn/Winter 2024/25, placed on a dark tabletop.
A menu detailing various meal deals and specials including Swiss Aperitif, All-time Classic, Swiss Hot Dog and Fries, Afterwork Deal, Cocktail Special, and Sweet Treat with prices and descriptions.
Menu featuring a chicken breast sandwich, Balik salmon brioche, Swiss hot dog, and French fries, each with detailed descriptions and pricing in CHF.

Paris to Lisbon (Via Zurich)

My experience revealed both the heights and depths of SWISS’s approach.

The pre-ordered oats on the morning Paris-Zurich flight were genuinely awfulโ€”loaded the previous evening, they’d achieved that mushy, oxidised texture that gives “overnight oats” a bad name.

The interior of the airplane cabin, featuring rows of empty seats with headrest covers, overhead bins closed, and lit ceiling panels, awaits passengers eagerly anticipating their Swiss International Airline meals.
swiss.muesli.delivered

For premium prices, serving day-old breakfast feels unacceptable.

An in-flight meal on a tray table, offered by Swiss International Airlines, includes yogurt topped with granola, a bottle of Swiss Altitude 1150 water, a spoon, and a napkin with Swiss branded materials.

However, the Zurich-Lisbon leg showcased SWISS at its best.

The burger and fries (CHF 22.30) arrived as a complete “build your own” experience with proper cutlery and fresh toppings.

Interior view of a Swiss International Air Lines plane with passengers seated in rows on both sides of the aisle. Flight attendants are standing and assisting passengers, providing exceptional service along with delightful meal options.
In-flight meal setup on a Swiss International Airlines tray table featuring a packaged salmon poke bowl and a utensils packet, with airline branding visible.
A meal consisting of noodles, vegetables, and various toppings served in a bowl on an airplane tray table alongside a fork and knife with a napkinโ€”a delightful example of Swiss International Airline meals.
In-flight meal on a Swiss International Airlines flight with a foil-covered main dish, a side salad, assorted sides, and a box labeled "French Fry Snack" on the tray table.

The burger itself was genuinely impressive, quality beef cooked properly, fresh vegetables, and a restaurant-style presentation.

Tray with a burger, fries, pickles, lettuce, red onion slices, coleslaw, and a wrapped napkin on an airplane seat tray table. This gourmet offering reflects the quality of Swiss International Airline meals.
An assembled cheeseburger with lettuce and slaw, showing the bun lifted up, placed on a rectangular white plate next to a fork and knifeโ€”reminiscent of the quality you'd expect from Swiss International Airline meals.
A burger with melted cheese on a bun, served on a tray beside a side of coleslaw, sliced red onions, pickles, and lettuce. This delicious offering is part of Swiss International Airline meals, making your flight dining experience truly enjoyable.
A tray table with a meal featuring a burger with lettuce and cheese, a side of fries in a box, small containers of sauce, and cutlery, seen inside an airplane. This could be one of the offerings from Swiss International Airline meals.

A hamburger with lettuce, tomato, and cheese on a square white plate in an airplane cabin. A fork and knife are placed next to the plate, showcasing the quality of Swiss International Airline meals.

The salmon poke bowl (CHF 12.50) emerged as the clear winner of my SWISS experience.

The crew mentioned it as their favourite, and I immediately understood why. Marinated salmon cubes had that characteristic silky texture of properly cured fish, while soba noodles provided textural contrast.

A meal tray on an airplane tray table, containing a bowl of food with noodles, vegetables, and sauce, alongside a napkin packet from Swiss International Airline meals.

Caramelised eggplant, cucumber, and pineapple created complexity you rarely find in airline dining, all tied together with spicy mayonnaise that enhanced rather than overwhelmed the delicate ingredients.

Conclusion

The pricing problem: I spent around โ‚ฌ45, which felt excessive when the fries were mediocre and the oats terrible.

Premium pricing demands premium consistency.

Austrian

The “Austrian Melangerie” program focuses on traditional Austrian cuisine adapted for airline service.

Passengers receive complimentary water on request plus chocolate taler from Salzburg Schokolade.

Inflight menu cover showing two plates with sandwiches containing bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheese on toasted bread, accompanied by a glass of soda.
A menu featuring a focaccia sandwich with mozzarella and tomatoes on the left, and a plate of Wiener Schnitzel with potato salad on the right. Prices and brief descriptions included.
Menu displaying three items: a club sandwich with turkey, bacon, and cheese; a pretzel roll with smoked turkey and cheese; and a falafel wrap with yogurt and vegetables. Prices listed in euros.
Screenshot
Inside view of an airplane cabin showing rows of grey and red seats with red headrest covers, "Austrian" written on them, and seatbelts. There are multiple windows along the cabin wall.

Vienna to Copenhagen

I pre-ordered the schnitzel (โ‚ฌ13.80) because I remembered genuinely excellent pre-COVID Austrian Airlines meals.

Austrian airlines schnitzel meal economy class upgrade meal by Do&Co

The current version is competent but diminishedโ€”smaller portions, simpler preparation, but still recognisably schnitzel with properly seasoned chicken and well cooked potatoes.
Airplane meal on tray table with boxed meal labeled "Henry" along with cutlery, napkin, and salt and pepper packets.
A meal with breaded meat, vegetables in a white box, a cup of tomato juice, a napkin, and cutlery packet on an airplane tray table.

The club sandwich revealed Austrian’s attention to detail: fresh ingredients, generous filling, and crusts removed.

A sandwich in a brown cardboard box is placed on an airplane tray table with a white napkin and an empty sachet labeled "Servus freshness.
A boxed sandwich with lettuce and bacon, placed on an airplane tray table alongside a napkin and a packaged moist towel, inside an aircraft cabin.
A sandwich placed on a white napkin, featuring toasted bread, lettuce, tomato, chicken, and bacon. A brown paper bag and a partial view of an airplane window are in the background.

What Austrian gets right is cultural authenticity.

Their menu feels distinctly Austrian rather than generically European, showcasing local brands and traditional preparations that connect passengers to their destination culture.

Conclusion

The Lufthansa Group’s buy-on-board strategy succeeds when it delivers on core promises: fresh, quality food justifying price premiums.

Lufthansa’s chicken teriyaki bowls, SWISS’s salmon poke bowl, and Austrian’s cultural details demonstrate what’s possible when airlines prioritise food quality.

When execution fails, or pricing becomes excessive, the concept falls apart. These aren’t traditional airline meals, they’re restaurant-style offerings adapted for aircraft service.

When they work, they’re genuinely impressive.

When they don’t, you’ve paid premium prices for expensive disappointment.

The key is understanding what you’re buying and managing expectations accordingly. Choose carefully, understand you’re paying restaurant prices, and skip those overnight oats.

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