This European Airline Is Famed For Having The Absolute Best First Class Meals

Surely, everything is fabulous when you're flying first class. The huge lie-flat seats with 600-thread-count sheets, the soft-as-silk pajamas, and the BVLGARI amenity kits make traveling first class almost as luxurious as staying at a five-star hotel. And then there's the food ... oh, hang on. Food isn't always something airplane passengers rave about, even in first class. (American Airlines, we're looking at your turkey sandwich.) However, one European airline doing first-class dining right is SWISS, the flag carrier of Switzerland. With an ever-changing menu showcasing Swiss cuisine, Swiss International Air Lines has become famous for its fantastic food.

The meals served in first class onboard SWISS snagged the top spot in a recent survey by MoneySuperMarket.com of over 27,000 passenger reviews. The airline itself is considered to offer one of the world's best first class experiences, and the eats are a big part of that. So, what makes the food on SWISS so special? The airline's Taste of Switzerland program invites a rotating cast of top chefs from restaurants with Michelin stars and Gault Millau points to prepare regional Swiss food. In the summer of 2024, the gorgeous mountainous canton of Vaud had its moment in the spotlight with first and business-class passengers, and a commitment to authentic, seasonal food cooked by incredible chefs has helped SWISS rocket to the top of the foodie charts.

First class passengers on SWISS can dine whenever they want, whether it's breakfast at midnight or dinner at dawn. At the time of writing, Vaud's five-course Taste of Switzerland menu includes steamed fjord trout, beef tenderloin, and chocolate parfait, all beautifully presented. As far as possible, SWISS pairs wines from the canton (or nearby areas) with the foods.

In addition, an a la carte menu is available. SWISS is famous for its Balik salmon, which YouTuber Points Travel Tech Austria said is so tender that it "melts in your mouth." Passengers also rave about the cheese selection, but would you expect anything else on an airline based in the land of fondue? The luxurious Swiss chocolates served in first class are also delicious. (All passengers on SWISS International Air Lines receive Swiss chocolate, including those in economy.) SWISS also has connoisseur weeks several times a year; in August 2024, there was a seafood buffet that would make any diner swoon.

If there are any disappointments in SWISS first class, one is that caviar is not routinely served. We think that is a minor issue in the scheme of things, but many first class passengers have come to expect caviar on tap. Several fliers also mention that the menu is fairly limited, though small menus allow the chef to concentrate on making each dish a masterpiece.

Australian airline Qantas took second place in the MoneySuperMarket.com rankings for the quality of its meals in first class. Qantas serves as much local Australian produce as possible, and top chef Neil Perry AM designed the seasonal menus in first class. Happy passenger Turning Left For Less called Qantas's signature steak sandwich "simply amazing" and said the steak in the main meal "cooked to perfection." Frequent first class flier The Luxury Traveller also rates the food on Qantas as "some of the best in the sky." Lufthansa (another European airline and owner of SWISS) came in third. Lufthansa is particularly famous for its caviar, which passenger Jet Albert reviewed as "absolute heaven." 

If you're flying domestic and looking for an American airline with incredible food, check out Hawaiian Airlines. The airline took 13th place in the table, the highest spot of any U.S. carrier. Finally, you don't have to fly first class to get your mitts on great food. Many airlines serve delicious gourmet snacks to all passengers, like Byron Bay Cookies on Qantas and delectable Turkish Delights on Turkish Airlines.