First Class vs Business Class Food: What’s the Real Difference?

by Ellie Smith / May 30, 2025

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Airline food has come a long way from lukewarm mystery meat and foil-wrapped regrets! Today, in-flight dining is a full-blown culinary experience, often crafted by world-class chefs and paired with sommelier-approved pours. But what’s the difference between First Class and Business Class food, and is it worth the upgrade? Let’s dig in.

At a glance: First Class and Business Class food 

Not all airplane meals are created equal and if you're flying premium, the tray table tells the tale. We broke down the most important food features that separate business class food from first class, based on what top airlines are serving today.

* This average overview is based on our research into leading international carriers.

Domestic vs. international: how the route shapes the meal

The in-flight dining experience in Business and First Class varies significantly between domestic and international flights, influenced by factors like flight duration, aircraft type, and regional service standards.

Domestic flights

• Simplified meal service: Due to shorter flight durations, meals are often streamlined. For instance, Air France has introduced boxed meals in domestic Business Class, aiming for a balance between quality and efficiency.

• Limited dine-on-demand: The flexibility to order meals at any time is typically absent on domestic routes, with meals served at predetermined times.

• Beverage selection: While alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available, the range is usually narrower compared to international offerings.

• First Class availability: Some airlines, like ANA, do not offer First Class on domestic routes, focusing their premium services on international flights.

  International flights

• Enhanced dining experience: Longer flights allow for multi-course meals with elaborate presentations. Emirates, regularly ranked among those offering the best airline food, serves a diverse menu with over 4,600 recipes, including regionally inspired dishes.

• Dine-on-demand service: Airlines like Qatar Airways provide passengers the flexibility to order meals at their convenience during the flight.

• Premium beverages: A wider selection of top-shelf liquors, rare vintage wines, and signature cocktails is typically available.

• Elevated table settings: International First Class often features fine porcelain, quality cutlery, and linen tablecloths, enhancing the dining ambiance.

First Class vs. Business Class food experiences

While economy passengers might be familiar with pre-packaged snacks, those flying in premium cabins are treated to culinary experiences that rival top restaurants. In fact, the airline meals market is valued at approximately $15 billion in 2025, with a significant portion attributed to the elevated offerings in business and first class. So let's take a look at some of the airlines that are regularly praised for offering the best airline food, even in business class.

Emirates

Emirates has been recognized as the Best Airline Worldwide for the 12th consecutive year at the 2025 Business Traveller Middle East Awards. Additionally, it was named the best airline for food and drinks in the 2024 Global Tastemakers awards by Food & Wine, highlighting its commitment to exceptional in-flight dining.

Business Class: Flying Business on Emirates is like dining at 30,000 feet with a personal sommelier and a side of serious style. Your meal is plated on Royal Doulton china with custom Robert Welch cutlery, not that you’ll be thinking about the tableware once the Arabic mezze or Mauritian curry lands in front of you. The Late Night Dining menu lets you eat, then sleep like a pro. And if you're lucky enough to be on the A380, swing by the onboard lounge for cocktails, fresh fruit, and canapés.

First Class: Emirates First Class doesn’t just serve food, it serves an experience. Think caviar with a mother-of-pearl spoon, amuse bouche before takeoff, and an all-day menu that spans wagyu sliders to vegan jackfruit biryani. Everything is plated like it belongs in a chef’s tasting room, and even the movie snacks come with sliders and gourmet bites. Finish your meal with a pour of Dalmore King Alexander III, a whisky aged in six casks and served exclusively in Emirates First.

Lufthansa

In European aviation, Lufthansa is synonymous with quality and prestige. The airline was recently named Europe's Leading Airline and Europe's Leading Airline Brand at the 2024 World Travel Awards.

Business Class: Flying Lufthansa Business Class is elegant, thoughtful, and just the right amount of indulgent. Meals rotate every two months and are based on feedback from their own Miles & More frequent flyers. Expect restaurant-quality service with porcelain plates, handmade bread by World Baker of the Year Axel Schmitt, and a signature cocktail called the Avionic. You can pre-select your main course before departure on long-haul flights out of Germany, choosing from six chef-curated options. And while the service is polished, it’s not stiff. You decide when your dessert arrives or when your glass gets topped up.

First Class: This is Lufthansa’s white-glove moment, and it starts with caviar. First Class meals are crafted from regional and seasonal produce. The little details do the heavy lifting here: your own olive oil bowl, stylish glass carafes with three types of water, and salt and pepper mills at your seat. The service is quiet luxury at its best. After the main meal, an à la carte menu of soups, hot dishes, burgers, cold cuts, and cakes is available throughout the flight, tailored to the time of day. The wine list is award-winning and rotates monthly but always includes something a sommelier would be proud to pour.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific was ranked third in the Best Airline in Asia category for 2024 and is known for its elevated dining program, especially its curated wine cellar and refined East-meets-West menus.

Business Class: Cathay Pacific’s Business Class food keeps things fresh and flavorful. The menu balances traditional Hong Kong staples with modern international picks and a few plant-based options. You can reserve your meal ahead of time with the Choose My Meal service, which opens ten days before your flight. Their wine list holds its own among the best, and the Cathay Signatures program adds thoughtful extras that make your tray table feel more like a table-for-one.

First Class: Cathay First Class focuses on refined comfort, not over-the-top theatrics. Expect a mix of international favorites and Hong Kong classics like congee or barbecued pork rice, alongside healthy picks that still taste indulgent. The wine list is award-winning and includes vintage champagnes and rare cuvées, plus their own in-flight pale ale, Betsy, brewed specifically for cruising altitude. Like Business Class, you can book what you want before you fly and dine whenever you like.

British Airways

British Airways continues to elevate its premium cabin offerings, introducing award-winning English sparkling wines in First Class and enhancing the Club World dining experience with a refined, brasserie-style service.

Business Class: BA’s Business Class varies depending on how far you’re flying. On short-haul routes, Club Europe keeps it classic with a full English breakfast, light lunch, or afternoon tea. For long-haul, Club World offers a more complete service with a starter, main, dessert, and cheese course. You can snack throughout the flight and sip from a solid selection of drinks, including BA’s signature cocktails and a proper British afternoon tea on select routes.

First Class: BA First is all about flexibility, letting you dine how and when you want with an à la carte ‘Dine Anytime’ menu. The dishes lean into British ingredients and straightforward flavors done well, delivered with white-tablecloth service. Champagne and cocktails flow easily, and there’s a range of mocktails for when you want to keep it light. 

Air France

Air France's La Première has been celebrated as one of the most elegant First Class products in the world, consistently recognized for its French cuisine and carefully curated wine list. In 2024, it was ranked as the second-best First Class airline globally by Skytrax and received awards for Best First Class Onboard Catering and Best First Class Lounge Dining.

Business Class: Air France Business Class menus are built around French culinary traditions but always with a fresh twist. Depending on where you're flying from, you’ll get a taste of local talent. Paris departures feature dishes by Michelin-starred chef Jérôme Banctel and sweets by Nina Metayer, while flights from Canada, the Caribbean, or even Reunion Island bring their own regional flair.

La Première (First Class): La Première turns the cabin into a miniature Parisian restaurant, complete with menus crafted by culinary heavyweights. The wine and champagne selection is serious, the presentation is artful, and the service is intuitive. Everything feels choreographed. It’s haute cuisine with altitude, designed for travelers who know their foie gras from their fromage!

Premium experience beyond the airport

Business class and first class offer different experiences in many ways, and the meal service is just one of them. Whether it’s the elegance of first class dining or the elevated style of business class food, top-tier treatment doesn’t have to end at the cabin.

After landing, you can extend that level of comfort with a Blacklane chauffeured ride. Available at airports around the world, Blacklane offers seamless transfers from the terminal to your final stop. No taxi lines, no second-guessing. Flights are monitored in real time, so your ride is there when you are.

Book Now