We compared Business Class meals to Economy Class meals on 8 different airlines — and the difference was staggering

Sophie-Claire Hoeller
Tuesday 18 July 2017 14:59 BST
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(Flickr/Kyle Harmon)

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Eating well on a plane? It's possible, but it will cost you.

While plane food is notoriously bad (though some dishes are better than others), spending a few extra thousand dollars can make all the difference.

We looked at the in-flight meals served on Business and on Economy Class on eight different airlines to see just how different dishes are.

Worth it or not? You decide.

UNITED AIRLINES: Economy Class

(Flickr/Takaokun
(Flickr/Takaokun (Flickr/Takaokun)

As the man who posted this picture put it, "meh."

UNITED AIRLINES: Business Class

(Flickr/Alan Light
(Flickr/Alan Light (Flickr/Alan Light)

Not sure what's up with all that cutlery, but that salmon sure looks good.

SINGAPORE AIR: Economy Class

(Flickr/Jonom1
(Flickr/Jonom1 (Flickr/Jonom1)

Is this photo blurry? Or is this meal just unidentifiable glop?

SINGAPORE AIR: Business Class

(Flickr/juandazeng
(Flickr/juandazeng (Flickr/juandazeng)

Steak in a black pepper cream sauce? Don't mind if we do ...

DELTA AIRLINES: Economy Class

(Flickr/Charles Kremenak
(Flickr/Charles Kremenak (Flickr/Charles Kremenak)

These cannelloni actually look delicious.

DELTA AIRLINES: Business Class

(Flickr/Jeff Wilcox
(Flickr/Jeff Wilcox (Flickr/Jeff Wilcox)

Prawns and prosciutto!?

AMERICAN AIRLINES: Economy Class

(Jessica Spengler/Flickr
(Jessica Spengler/Flickr (Jessica Spengler/Flickr)

Generally we like anything drowning in cheese, but this might be overkill.

AMERICAN AIRLINES: Business Class

(Flickr/Darren Foreman
(Flickr/Darren Foreman (Flickr/Darren Foreman)

This delightful looking sesame crusted tuna is, as the photographer points out, just the starter.

JETBLUE: Economy Class

(Flickr/Kai Hendry
(Flickr/Kai Hendry (Flickr/Kai Hendry)

You're outta luck when it comes to meals on JetBlue, though they do offer a wide range of complimentary snacks, like their famous Terra chips.

JETBLUE: Business Class (Mint)

(Flickr/Jun Seita
(Flickr/Jun Seita (Flickr/Jun Seita)

​In JetBlue's Mint Class, you get not one but three epic dishes: Pork tenderloin porchetta, burrata stuffed ravioli, and chilled tomato soup.

LUFTHANSA: Economy class

(Flickr/Jun Seita
(Flickr/Jun Seita (Flickr/Jun Seita)

That pasta looks so plain and dry we're getting thirsty just looking at it. Props for the three sad sprinkles of garnish?

LUFTHANSA: Business Class

(Flickr/Jun Seita
(Flickr/Jun Seita (Flickr/Jun Seita)

Lufthansa's Business Class, however, is so fancy you get hors d'oeuvres.

AIR FRANCE: Economy Class

(Flickr/Pat Guiney
(Flickr/Pat Guiney (Flickr/Pat Guiney)

Looks like two bottles of red wine are needed to get this down. The baguettes are a nice touch though.

AIR FRANCE: Business Class

(Flickr/LWYang
(Flickr/LWYang (Flickr/LWYang)

Flying Business on Air France? You'll get an entire dessert flight, including, of course, a macaron.

EMIRATES: Economy Class

(Lisa Ryan/INSIDER
(Lisa Ryan/INSIDER (Lisa Ryan/INSIDER)

This actually looks surprisingly fresh.

EMIRATES: Business Class

(Flickr/Jojo
(Flickr/Jojo (Flickr/Jojo)

Nothing says Business Class like shrimp, but who cares about the meal when there's an in flight bar serving canapes?

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