Delta and JetBlue lead on in-flight food and beverage satisfaction, survey finds
Clifton Mark - April 2nd, 2025
As airlines compete not only on routes and rewards but also on the in-flight experience, new data from YouGov Surveys: Self-serve reveals how major US carriers stack up when it comes to onboard snacks, drinks, and meals. The survey asked 780 Americans who had recently flown on one of the five most-flown airlines—American, Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue—to rate their experiences with food and beverage service.
JetBlue tops the chart for snacks and drinks
Among travelers who had sampled airline snacks and drinks, JetBlue leads with 57% rating its offerings as “good,” the highest among the five airlines evaluated. Delta follows closely at 54%, while United (51%) and American Airlines (48%) trail slightly behind. Southwest Airlines ranks lowest, with only 46% giving a positive rating and 17% labeling the experience as “bad”—the highest dissatisfaction rate in this category.
Delta’s meals please the most, but JetBlue’s disappoint the fewest
When it comes to full meal service, Delta again emerges as a leader, with 60% of its passengers rating meals as good, beating out American Airlines (57%) and United (54%). JetBlue ties United on positive ratings (54%) but boasts the lowest dissatisfaction rate for meals at just 10%, compared to 14–20% for competitors.
Takeaway: JetBlue and Delta set the standard
While meal and snack preferences are subjective, the data signals a clear perception among flyers: JetBlue and Delta consistently outperform peers in in-flight food and beverage satisfaction. JetBlue excels in snacks and drinks, while Delta dominates in overall meal approval. For airlines looking to win over customers in the cabin, attention to food and drink quality remains a potentially potent way to enhance brand experience and loyalty.
Methodology: This article is based on a YouGov Surveys: Self-serve poll of 780 US adults who had recently flown on one or more of the five most-flown US airlines: American, Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue. The survey asked respondents to rate snacks/drinks and meal service on the airline(s) they had flown. The sample was weighted to be nationally representative. Fieldwork was conducted between March 21-22, 2025.