ATLANTA- Delta Air Lines (DL) swept three categories in a new 2026 survey on airline food and drinks. Emirates (EK) dominated premium cabin dining, while Air France (AF) won both the best business class wine list and the heaviest pour.
The survey covered in-flight coffee, business class meals, economy snacks, airport lounge bars, and the food items passengers least want a seatmate to unpack.
Alaska Airlines (AS) broke the pattern by winning over the most experienced travelers, and JetBlue (B6) collected the least wanted title of worst coffee in the sky.
What Frequent Flyers Actually Rank Highest in the Air
The respondent pool matters here. More than half of those surveyed fly at least 5 times a year, two thirds hold 200,000 or more points, and most report household incomes above $150,000. These are travelers with strong opinions and the flight hours to support them.
The results split along a clean line. Delta owns the domestic experience. Emirates and Air France own the long-haul premium experience.
Inside almost every category, though, the most seasoned flyers voted differently from the majority.
Best Airline for In-Flight Coffee Brand
Starbucks on Delta topped the in-flight coffee question, but the margin was narrow and the winner did not hold across every group.
| Rank | Coffee and Airline | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starbucks on Delta (DL) | 24.8% |
| 2 | Lavazza on American Airlines (AA) | 18.9% |
| 3 | Stumptown on Alaska Airlines (AS) | 16.5% |
| 4 | illy on United Airlines (UA) | 16.0% |
| 5 | Dunkin’ on JetBlue (B6) | 11.2% |
| 6 | Peet’s Coffee on Southwest Airlines (WN) | 8.7% |
A decisive 35% of frequent travelers selected Alaska’s Stumptown Holler Mountain blend instead of Starbucks. Stumptown developed the blend specifically for high-altitude drinking, accounting for the way taste buds function differently at 30,000 feet. Seasoned travelers noticed.
“This result also seems to reflect a growing coffee culture, where people are considering other brands outside of Starbucks,” says Jimmy Yoon, Head of Points Intelligence at point.me, which conducted the survey.
Millennials (37%) and high earners (27%) also skipped Starbucks for Stumptown. Gen X and Boomers stayed with Delta and Starbucks.
Top picks by demographic:
| Group | Winner |
|---|---|
| Road warriors (five or more trips per year) | Stumptown on Alaska Airlines |
| Millennials | Stumptown on Alaska Airlines |
| Gen X and Boomers | Starbucks on Delta |
Dunkin’ on JetBlue earned a separate distinction. Respondents voted it the worst coffee in the skies.
Best Wine Selection by Airlines
Do travelers actually book an award flight, or pay cash for a business class seat, because of an airline’s wine list? The survey says yes, particularly when the airline is Air France.
| Airline | Best Wine Selection | Heaviest Pour |
|---|---|---|
| Air France (AF) | 36.2% | 34.5% |
| Emirates (EK) | 21.4% | 14.9% |
| Singapore Airlines (SQ) | 15.1% | 13.3% |
| British Airways (BA) | 6.3% | 12.6% |
| Qatar Airways (QR) | 6.1% | 6.1% |
The program is curated by head sommelier Xavier Thuizat, named Best Sommelier of France in 2022, Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2023, and a Michelin Guide sommelier award winner in 2024.
His list runs from premium Champagnes to white Burgundies and Bordeaux reds, closing with French digestifs including Cognac, Calvados and Armagnac.
Air France did not stop at the list. It also won the heaviest pour at 34.5%, more than double the 14.9% recorded by runner-up Emirates. Better wine, and more of it.
Best Business Class Meal
Emirates (EK) won the best business class meal question and then kept winning.
| Airline | Best Business Class Meal |
|---|---|
| Emirates (EK) | 26.3% |
| Singapore Airlines (SQ) | 19.4% |
| Air France (AF) | 16.5% |
| Qatar Airways (QR) | 14.9% |
| British Airways (BA) | 7.7% |
“Emirates is known for having a premium product across the world,” says Yoon. “Their win in the best in-flight dining category isn’t a surprise.”
The airline runs a restaurant-in-the-sky model with regional menus developed alongside celebrated chefs, dine-on-demand service, and Royal Doulton china. The published menu on the Dubai (DXB) to Sydney (SYD) route illustrates the approach.
| Course | Selected Dishes |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Scrambled eggs with chicken chipolatas, baked beans and crushed potatoes; kale and spinach frittata with roasted potato wedges and portobello mushroom; spiced bean curd and peppers with hash browns |
| Light bites | Tofu poke bowl with barley salad, oyster mushrooms, avocado and soy chilli dressing; stir-fried vegetable noodles |
| Appetisers | Arabic dips of houmous and baba ghanouj; antipasti of Wagyu bresaola and roasted chicken with parmesan and marinated vegetables |
| Main course | Pan-fried beef tenderloin with jus lié and new potatoes; Bzar chicken in Arabic spice marinade on aromatic rice; kofta sweet and sour with tapioca-soy dumplings, pak choi and lotus root |
| Dessert | Chocolate mango tart |
Emirates also swept best business class breakfast at 25.2% and best economy meal at 23%, where Singapore Airlines finished a close second at 22.7%. It took the best cocktail program as well at 24.1%.
“To experience Emirates’ wonderful cocktail program, consider booking a flight on one of their A380s, which has a dedicated bar and lounge for premium cabin passengers,” says Yoon.
One caveat surfaced in that category. The true road warriors preferred the Virgin Atlantic (VS) bar program over Emirates.
Business class meal picks by demographic:
| Group | Winner |
|---|---|
| Road warriors | Singapore Airlines |
| High earners ($150K+ household income) | Emirates |
| Gen Z and Millennials | Tie: Emirates and Singapore Airlines |
Delta Is Ready for Ozempic Era
One respondent called the GLP-1 meal question “absurd.” With roughly one in eight Americans taking GLP-1 medication to manage weight or diabetes, it is a real concern for a growing number of travelers.
| Airline | Best GLP-1 / High-Protein Snacks |
|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines (DL) | 31.6% |
| Alaska Airlines (AS) | 17.4% |
| United Airlines (UA) | 15.3% |
| JetBlue (B6) | 13.7% |
| American Airlines (AA) | 9.5% |
| Southwest Airlines (WN) | 3.7% |
Delta nearly doubled second-place Alaska, and the menu explains why. Standard options include fish, chicken breast, lentils, edamame and chickpeas, with dishes such as chilled salmon salad, BBQ chicken thigh and citrus lime shrimp.
The airline also offers a special order Balanced Meal built around lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Best Airline for Snacks
Delta took the economy snack category outright, and it won every single age group without exception.
| Airline | Best Economy Snacks |
|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines (DL) | 30.0% |
| Southwest Airlines (WN) | 17.7% |
| JetBlue (B6) | 17.7% |
| United Airlines (UA) | 11.4% |
| American Airlines (AA) | 10.0% |
| Alaska Airlines (AS) | 10.0% |
The winning lineup consists of Cheez-Its, Biscoff cookies, Sun Chips Minis and gluten-free MadeGood granola bars.
Yoon offered a pointed caveat on the airline’s broader value. “No surprise here,” he says. “Delta has a pretty underwhelming program that won’t rank high when it comes to redemptions, but people love the in-flight experience.”
Southwest and American Are Losing “Snack Wars”
2026 has been a difficult year for Southwest. The carrier absorbed passenger criticism over the end of open seating and the arrival of checked bag fees. The snack cart is now another problem.
More than 32% of respondents said Southwest has the worst airline snacks, citing a lineup of Stellar Pretzel Braids, Remy’s Grahams and OREO cookies. Nearly 24% said the same of American’s options, which amount to Biscoff cookies or mini pretzels.
The position may not be permanent. “We could see a turnaround with American Airlines’ snacks,” says Yoon. “They’ve recently mentioned that they want to invest in a more premium experience.”
Top Airport Bars
| Lounge | Best Airport Lounge Bar |
|---|---|
| Amex Centurion Lounges | 35.4% |
| Chase Sapphire Lounges | 24.3% |
| Delta Sky Clubs | 12.6% |
| Capital One Lounges | 10.6% |
| United Clubs | 10.6% |
The specifics support the ranking. The Centurion Lounge at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) offers day beds, private showers, and craft cocktails. San Francisco (SFO) serves locally curated wines with tarmac views. Atlanta (ATL) houses The Reserve, the first dedicated American whiskey bar at any Centurion location.
“Centurion Lounges were the first airport lounges started by a bank, and they remain the best. They’re known for having a great food selection and bar program. It’s hard to beat,” says Yoon. He adds that the network’s size within the United States, compared with Chase and Capital One, also supports the result.
Preferences split by gender, income and generation. Men leaned toward Centurion at 40%, while women divided more evenly between Centurion at 30% and Chase Sapphire at 29%. Travelers earning $150,000 or more picked Amex at 37% against 26% for Chase Sapphire.
Generational preferences:
| Generation | Top Pick |
|---|---|
| Boomers | Amex Centurion Lounges |
| Gen X | Amex Centurion Lounges |
| Millennials | Amex Centurion Lounges |
| Gen Z | Capital One Lounges |
The swing toward Centurion begins immediately after Gen Z, tracking with the age at which travelers become eligible for premium travel card perks.
Voted Worst Meal to Bring Onboard
Travel days are stressful and most passengers extend some grace. The community drew one hard line. Do not stash a strong-smelling meal in your carry-on.
| Food Item | Voted Worst to Bring Onboard |
|---|---|
| Tuna sandwich | 40.6% |
| Hard-boiled eggs | 22.3% |
| Soup and messy liquids | 18.3% |
| Fried food | 6.7% |
| Fast food | 6.1% |
| Beans | 2.0% |
One reader summarized the case against it directly: “Sat next to a guy eating a tuna sandwich, with onion, on the way to Iceland. Nightmare.”
Most Seasoned Flyers Have Spoken
Travelers who fly more than 5 times a year, carry six-figure point balances and hold firm views on wine pours know what they want in the air. The 2026 results make the hierarchy official.
Delta owns the domestic experience across coffee, economy snacks and GLP-1 friendly options. Air France pours better wine and more of it.
Emirates operates in another class entirely on premium dining, breakfast, economy meals and cocktails. Alaska Airlines holds the loyalty of the most experienced coffee drinkers, and Amex Centurion Lounges remain the airport standard.
And every group agrees on one point. Leave the tuna sandwich at home.
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