Signup for Airfare Alerts

In autumn 2010, Continental became the last of the major airlines in the United States to eliminate most free airline meals in coach. While snacks and soft drinks are still available, even on cheap flights, most meal service is relegated to long-haul flights, and it is rarely free in coach. But there are still some decent meals to be had in the air.

Hawaiian Airlines gets high marks for having complimentary meals – even in coach – on flights between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. Frontier‘s chocolate chip cookies (free on flights leaving at 10 a.m. or later) and Delta‘s Biscoff cookies are also favorites in the coach cabin. Though Virgin America charges for meals in coach, they are well-liked by passengers for the variety of food they offer.

Almost all airlines have switched to payment by credit or debit card for in-flight purchases, though United Express flights still operate on a cash-only basis, so be sure to have your plastic on hand if you get hungry or thirsty in the air. With airlines moving toward offering cheap tickets with various fees added on for services like checked luggage, getting a free meal in coach class is almost completely a thing of the past. The following chart shows our FareCompare readers what’s available for free and for purchase on major U.S. airlines.

Food and Drinks on Each Major Airline