Food and drink are two huge aspects of the travel experience and that extends to the time it takes to reach your destination.
Award flight search and loyalty platform point.me recently published its 2026 Best Airline Food and Drinks Survey, revealing which airlines are and aren't succeeding when it comes to pleasing travelers' taste buds along their journey.
Two-thirds of survey respondents hold more than 200,000 points and more than half fly five or more times per year, so the study paints a remarkably accurate picture heading into the peak summer travel season.
Here are some of the notable takeaways.
Delta Air Lines Is a Big Winner
Delta Air Lines was a big winner in point.me's 2026 Best Airline Food and Drinks Survey.
After all, the U.S. carrier ranked best for economy snacks (30%) with popular offerings like Cheez-Its, Biscoff cookies, Sun Chips Minis and MadeGood Granola Bars.
Delta also took the top spot for high-protein meal options for GLP-1 travelers (31.6%). That's a big deal considering that approximately one in eight Americans is taking GLP-1 medications to manage their weight.
Delta Air Lines teamed with Starbucks. (Photo Credit: Delta Air Lines Media)
Delta also ranked best for in-flight coffee (24.8%) thanks to its Starbucks partnership. However, travelers flying 10 or more times per year prefer Alaska Airlines' Stumptown Coffee (35 percent).
On the other end of the spectrum, JetBlue's Dunkin' coffee ranked as the least favorite among frequent flyers.
point.me's 2026 Best Airline Food & Drinks Survey. (Photo Credit: point.me)
Emirates, Air France Lead the Way in Business Class
Emirates leads the way when it comes to premium dining in the sky. The luxe Gulf carrier ranked best for business-class meals (26.3%), business-class breakfast (25.2%), economy meals (23%) and cocktail program (24%).
Singapore Airlines came in second for business-class meals but serves the preferred business-class meals among travelers who fly 10 or more times per year.
Air France was another big winner in this year's study, with more than one-third of respondents choosing it for the best business-class wine selection. A similar amount (34.5%) said it offers the most generous wine pours.
point.me's 2026 Best Airline Food & Drinks Survey. (Photo Credit: point.me)
Where to Find the Best Cocktails
When it comes to tracking down the best airport lounge bar, American Express Centurion Lounge reigns supreme, with nearly 36% of respondents placing it at the top.
Interestingly, male travelers favor Centurion Lounges (40%), while women were more evenly split between Centurion (30%) and Chase Sapphire Lounges (29%).
The study also found that travelers with household incomes of $150,000 or more preferred Amex Centurion (37%), compared to Chase Sapphire (26%).
Frequent flyers prefer Virgin Atlantic when it's time to enjoy cocktails in the cabin. After Emirates' top-rated program, Virgin Atlantic's onboard cocktail program was the number one choice among travelers who fly more than 10 times per year.
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