INTRODUCTION
It’s been three years since Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines introduced their buy-on-board concepts for short- and medium-haul economy-class flights.
The complimentary snacks have been replaced with fresh, high-quality options that can be purchased.
Each airline refreshes its menu quarterly, offering new seasonal selections.
All three airlines let you pre-order meals and enjoy a 10% discount on onboard prices.
If you’ve already booked your flight, you can explore the pre-order menu here: https://www.pre-flight-shopping.com/
Having flown with each airline over the past year, here’s my take on what you can expect onboard. While some menu items may change or vary seasonally, this guide gives you a good idea of the overall experience.
LUFTHANSA
For flights under 30 minutes, passengers are treated to a complimentary chocolate.
On flights lasting 60 minutes or more, you’ll also receive a complimentary bottle of water.
The Onboard Delights buy-on-board program is available on flights over 45 minutes.
It offers fresh meals and snacks for purchase.
Check out the latest inflight menu here: Lufthansa Onboard Delights
ATHENS TO PARIS (via Munich)
On my recent journey from Athens to Munich, I pre-ordered the Best of Dean & David box, while for the Munich to Paris leg, I opted for the Chicken Teriyaki Bowl.
Don’t worry about forgetting to pre-order – you can still purchase meals onboard.
One unique aspect of Lufthansa’s pre-order system is that payment happens onboard, not online.
Instead of the crew delivering your meal directly to your seat, you request it as they pass through the cabin.
The Dean & David Box included a Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich, a small Chicken Teriyaki Bowl, and an indulgent semolina mousse with plum compote.
All this for just €11.90.
The sandwich was decent, but the other two were the real highlights – fresh, flavourful, and satisfying.
On the next leg I received the larger version of the Chicken Teriyaki Bowl, it was enjoyable and my favourite meal of the trip.
Maybe it’s because there was more of it to eat? Either way, it was delicious!
FINAL THOUGHTS ON LUFTHANSA
Overall, Lufthansa’s Onboard Delights program is a winner.
The variety of fresh, high-quality meals sets it apart from the reheated frozen options, which are standard on other airlines offering buy-on-board menus.
It’s great to see an airline prioritising fresh, delicious food that passengers can look forward to.
SWISS
For flights under 50 minutes, passengers are treated to a complimentary Swiss chocolate and bottle of Valser water.
The Swiss Saveurs buy-on-board program is available on flights over 50 minutes, offering fresh meals and snacks for purchase.
The menu features creations from iconic local brands, including the renowned Confiserie Sprüngli.
Passengers can enjoy fresh salads, sandwiches, and Sprüngli’s famous Luxemburgerli macaroons.
Check out the latest inflight menu here.
PARIS TO ZURICH/ZURICH TO LISBON
On my recent journey from Paris to Zurich, I pre-ordered the oats.
Unfortunately, being the first flight of the day, the oats had been sitting on the aircraft overnight, loaded in Zurich the previous evening.
Suffice it to say, they weren’t the best – definitely giving new meaning to the term “overnight oats.”
From Zurich to Lisbon I pre ordered the burger and fries (Chf22.30) and also purchased a salad from the onboard menu.
Served on a meal tray with proper cutlery, condiments, and toppings, it was a fun “build your own burger” experience.
The burger was impressive – beautifully presented and of high quality.
The salmon poke bowl (CHF 12.50) was a standout. The crew mentioned it was one of their favourites, and I could see why.
The quality was exceptional, bursting with flavour.
The bowl featured marinated salmon cubes, soba noodles, caramelised eggplant, cucumber, pineapple, and a spicy mayonnaise that tied it all together beautifully.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON SWISS
The Swiss Saveurs program delivers high-quality offerings, especially for a buy-on-board menu.
While many European airlines stick to unimaginative options, SWISS stands out with fresh and innovative choices.
It was clear from the inflight sales that passengers appreciated the selection.
That said, the prices are steep – I spent around €45 in total, which felt excessive, especially given the subpar quality of the fries and oats.
But considering SWISS is a Swiss-based carrier, such pricing is hardly surprising.
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES
The Austrian Melangerie program brings the best of Austria’s culinary traditions to the skies.
On short- and medium-haul flights, passengers can enjoy classic dishes like Wiener schnitzel and apple strudel, paired with premium coffee from Julius Meinl.
Pre-orders are available up to 36 hours before departure.
Passengers can also request free water during the flight and are treated to a chocolate taler from Salzburg Schokolade.
VIENNA TO COPENHAGEN
For this sector, I pre-ordered the schnitzel (€13.50 at the time, now €13.80).
It was good—flavourful chicken and nicely cooked potatoes—but it didn’t match the pre-COVID version I remembered.
The portion was smaller and more straightforward, but the quality was solid.
Next, I tried the Club Sandwich. It was fresh, generously filled, and even had the crusts removed—a thoughtful touch.
The onboard menu stood out with its focus on Austrian brands and various fresh, high-quality options. It’s a step above what you’d find on most low-cost carriers.
CONCLUSION
Each airline brings its own unique food culture to the table, and Austrian is no exception.
These aren’t your typical buy-on-board menus—there’s a real focus on quality and local flavours.
Some prices are high, but have you seen what airports charge for similar items?
Ultimately, these menus offer something unique and are clear-cut above most comparable buy-on-board services.
