As this years festive travel season looms and with veganism a global phenomenon, airlines are under pressure to cater to plant-based travelers. Some have risen to the occasion, delivering exceptional dining experiences, while others have left passengers disappointed. Here’s our 2024 updated ranking of the best and worst airlines for vegan in-flight meals, along with practical tips for vegan flyers.
Source: Emirates Airlines - Business and First Class vegan meals.
Top 5 Airlines for Vegan Meals 2024
The gold standard for vegan in-flight dining, Emirates offers over 300 vegan dishes across its menu. Passengers rave about jackfruit biryani, chickpea crepes, and pumpkin frittata, all made with high-quality, globally sourced ingredients. Vegan wine pairings and desserts like chocolate ganache elevate the experience further.
This airline's dedicated vegan menu offers satisfying dishes such as sweet and sour tofu, roasted vegetable medleys, and hearty curries. The meals are designed with flavour and nutrition in mind, making vegan dining on Singapore Airlines a delightful experience.
In partnership with Hiltl, the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant, SWISS offers top-notch vegan dishes like vegetable green curry and bulgur salad. This collaboration ensures authentic flavours and creativity in every dish.
With substantial portions and creative options like Indian daal and stewed okra, Qatar Airways proves that vegan meals don’t have to be boring. Pre-ordering guarantees a well-prepared meal tailored to dietary needs.
Regional airline Jetstar has gained recognition for offering surprisingly good vegan options at budget-friendly prices. Dishes like lentil stew and roasted vegetable wraps are simple yet satisfying, showing that quality plant-based meals aren’t limited to luxury carriers.
But without doubt there are airlines needing improvement and based on our research these are the top three worst airlines for vegan and plant-based meals. There is somewhat of a mystery about what food comes out of an airplane galley.
Source: © Chupina Yuliia | Dreamstime.com -Business & First Class Galley
While British Airways offers vegan options, consistency is an issue. First-class passengers have praised dishes like roasted butternut squash and vegan-friendly wines. However, economy passengers have reported disappointing meals, including dry rolls and sparse fruit, leaving much room for improvement.
Budget airline Ryanair has faced harsh criticism for lacklustre vegan meals, such as watery lasagna with minimal vegetables. The airline’s focus on affordability often seems to come at the expense of meal quality.
United Airlines has underwhelmed passengers with poorly prepared vegan meals. Complaints about under-cooked chickpeas and rice suggest the airline needs to improve its vegan meal preparation and presentation.
So how can you ensure your flying experience is complete? Based on this writers personal experience the key tip is to pre-order and use tech to 'get the info' on what airline is best. After all the food experience on board actually makes or breaks the overall experience. Here are some tips for vegan and plant-based flyers.
Pre-Order Meals: Most airlines require passengers to pre-order special meals at least 24–48 hours before departure. Failing to do so may result in limited or no options.
Pack Snacks: Carry vegan-friendly snacks like trail mix, protein bars, or dried fruit as a backup.
Use Apps: Tools like HappyCow and TripAdvisor can help identify vegan-friendly airlines and airports.
Check Reviews: Sites like AirlineMeals.net or forums on TripAdvisor offer insights from other vegan travelers.
Ask Questions: Upon boarding, confirm with the flight crew your meal is vegan to avoid any confusion.
So while airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines set the bar high for vegan in-flight dining, others like British Airways and Ryanair struggle to meet expectations. Regional carriers like Jetstar Australia show even budget airlines can deliver decent plant-based meals with effort and planning.
For travelers, the key to a smooth vegan flying experience lies in preparation and research. Happy flying this festive season.
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