I flew on 2 long-haul flights, one in business and another in economy. The meal service couldn't have been more different — take a look.

Monica HumphriesJul 15, 2023, 16:17 IST

The meals in business class and economy class had more differences than similarities, Insider's reporter found.Monica Humphries/Insider

Last summer, I flew business class on an Air New Zealand flight from Los Angeles to Auckland.
This year, I had a 12-hour flight from Denver to Tokyo, where I sat in United's economy cabin.

I already had a glass of Champagne in my hand before economy-class passengers even got to their seats.

If this was how my first business-class flight was going to start, I knew I was in for a treat.

I was traveling with Air New Zealand from Los Angeles, California, to Auckland, New Zealand, and a long-haul flight meant airplane meals — something I was eager to experience in business class. From tender seafood to a chocolate tart served with real cutlery, the meal met my wildest dreams.

Six months later, I took a long-haul economy flight from Denver, Colorado, to Tokyo, Japan, on United, where I ate food like a veggie stir fry and a Milk Bar cookie from a tray.

While I was traveling on a different airline, the experience showed me how dining can vary between economy and business class while flying. And if I'd been sitting in business class on United heading to Tokyo, I would've had many of the same perks I did on Air New Zealand.

Read on to see how the food on each flight compared.

Before I was even considering food, the meal service in both Air New Zealand's business cabin and United's economy cabin kicked off with a drink.

A glass of sparkling wine at the author's business-class seat on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

In business class, traveling with Air New Zealand, I had what felt like unlimited choices. Options included wine, beer, Champagne, soda, and an array of liquors.

An Air New Zealand flight attendant pushes a beverage cart in business class.Monica Humphries/Insider

Traveling with United in economy, there was complimentary wine and beer as well as soda, but a gin and tonic or any other alcoholic beverage came at a cost.

The author's red wine in a plastic cup on a United economy flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

In business class, I spent a solid 10 minutes eyeing a lengthy menu.

A menu was waiting for me at my business-class seat on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

It outlined a choice between two appetizers, three main courses, and two desserts.

The menu on the author's Air New Zealand business-class flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

In economy, flight attendants shared the main course offerings as they arrived with the meal cart at my seat.

The author's economy-class seat on a United flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

Options on my Air New Zealand flight were descriptive. I could pick between "slow-cooked beef with polenta, orange, and lemon gremolata" or "Alaskan cod with saffron sauce."

The menu on the author's Air New Zealand business-class flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

Options on my Air New Zealand flight were descriptive. I could pick between "slow-cooked beef with polenta, orange, and lemon gremolata" or "Alaskan cod with saffron sauce."

In economy, there were two options: "chicken" or "veggie stir fry." I wondered what vegetables. What type of chicken? What else would be served on my plate?

A galley on a United flight from Denver, Colorado, to Tokyo.Monica Humphries/Insider

But there wasn't time to ask questions. Instead, I blindly picked the veggie stir fry and was handed a tray of food.

A veggie stir fry meal on a United economy flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

Meanwhile, in business class, the meal was an experience. Before delivering my first course, a flight attendant laid down a cloth napkin, a ceramic tray with salt and pepper, silverware, and an individual-sized olive oil on my tray table.

Bread, salt, pepper, butter, and olive oil were served to the author on her business-class Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

Meanwhile, in business class, the meal was an experience. Before delivering my first course, a flight attendant laid down a cloth napkin, a ceramic tray with salt and pepper, silverware, and an individual-sized olive oil on my tray table.

Each course in business class was served separately.

The author's first course in business class on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

Unlike in economy, where a tray with all my food was delivered at once.

The uncovered veggie meal on a United economy flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

The first thing I ate in business class was bread. A flight attendant came around offering three types: sourdough, garlic, and olive. Naturally, I tried one of each.

A plate of bread in business class on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

I also had bread on my economy tray. While the bread wasn't nearly as fresh as the sourdough in business class, there was luckily a pat of butter that added flavor.

The author's red wine in a plastic cup in economy class on a United flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

My first course in business class was a salad with stuffed grape leaves, quinoa, tomatoes, olives, and lettuce.

The author's first course on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

And in economy, I had a salad with grains, raisins, and lettuce.

My salad in economy on a United flight.Monica Humphries/Insideer

For my main course in business, I opted for the Alaskan cod. It was buttery, flaky, and shockingly delicious for airplane food.

The author's main course in business class on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

As for my main course in economy, a label outlined that the stir fry had seven types of vegetables. And while it wasn't nearly as good as the cod, I easily devoured the entire tray of noodles.

The vegetable stir fry served in economy on a United flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

As for my main course in economy, a label outlined that the stir fry had seven types of vegetables. And while it wasn't nearly as good as the cod, I easily devoured the entire tray of noodles.

Arguably the best part of both meals was the dessert. In business, I dined on a rich chocolate tart served with a strawberry garnish.

The chocolate tart served in business class on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

And for dessert in economy, I had a cookie filled with icing from the famous New York City bakery Milk. It was one of my favorite bakeries when I lived in the city, so I was thrilled to see a Milk cookie on my plate.

Dessert in economy class on a United flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

And for dessert in economy, I had a cookie filled with icing from the famous New York City bakery Milk. It was one of my favorite bakeries when I lived in the city, so I was thrilled to see a Milk cookie on my plate.

Beyond the food, other details set the meal service apart by cabin class. In business, the cutlery was metal, the napkins were cloth, and the plates were ceramic. I felt like I was at a fine-dining restaurant.

The author's breakfast in business class on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

Beyond the food, other details set the meal service apart by cabin class. In business, the cutlery was metal, the napkins were cloth, and the plates were ceramic. I felt like I was at a fine-dining restaurant.

In economy, as I've found in the same class on many other airlines, my food came out on a plastic tray and everything was wrapped in plastic.

The author's breakfast on a United economy flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

Another big difference was availability. On my two business-class flights, I could order anything on the menu in business class and there was always availability.

The author's menu in business class on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

When I was sitting in economy, the flight attendants told me the pasta option had run out by the time they reached my seat (which was in the back of the plane). Later, there was no Coke available either.

Since the author sat in the back of the plane while flying with United, some options had run out by the time flight attendants reached her seat.Monica Humphries/Insider

When I was sitting in economy, the flight attendants told me the pasta option had run out by the time they reached my seat (which was in the back of the plane). Later, there was no Coke available either.

Of course, if I'd been sitting in business class on United heading to Tokyo, I would've had many of the same perks I did on Air New Zealand.

United's business-class cabin.Monica Humphries/Insider

According to United's website, meal service in business class includes a welcome glass of bubbly, liquor, a three-course meal, and snacks.

A view of United's business class after passengers have departed.Monica Humphries/Insider

While the two meals were strikingly different, I devoured them both and was happily full — with plenty of time for a post-dinner nap.

The author in her business-class seat on an Air New Zealand flight.Monica Humphries/Insider

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I flew on 2 long-haul flights, one in business and another in economy. The meal service couldn't have been more different &mdash; take a look.

Before I was even considering food, the meal service in both Air New Zealand's business cabin and United's economy cabin kicked off with a drink.

In business class, traveling with Air New Zealand, I had what felt like unlimited choices. Options included wine, beer, Champagne, soda, and an array of liquors.

Traveling with United in economy, there was complimentary wine and beer as well as soda, but a gin and tonic or any other alcoholic beverage came at a cost.

In business class, I spent a solid 10 minutes eyeing a lengthy menu.

It outlined a choice between two appetizers, three main courses, and two desserts.

In economy, flight attendants shared the main course offerings as they arrived with the meal cart at my seat.

Options on my Air New Zealand flight were descriptive. I could pick between "slow-cooked beef with polenta, orange, and lemon gremolata" or "Alaskan cod with saffron sauce."

In economy, there were two options: "chicken" or "veggie stir fry." I wondered what vegetables. What type of chicken? What else would be served on my plate?

But there wasn't time to ask questions. Instead, I blindly picked the veggie stir fry and was handed a tray of food.

Meanwhile, in business class, the meal was an experience. Before delivering my first course, a flight attendant laid down a cloth napkin, a ceramic tray with salt and pepper, silverware, and an individual-sized olive oil on my tray table.

Each course in business class was served separately.

Unlike in economy, where a tray with all my food was delivered at once.

The first thing I ate in business class was bread. A flight attendant came around offering three types: sourdough, garlic, and olive. Naturally, I tried one of each.

I also had bread on my economy tray. While the bread wasn't nearly as fresh as the sourdough in business class, there was luckily a pat of butter that added flavor.

My first course in business class was a salad with stuffed grape leaves, quinoa, tomatoes, olives, and lettuce.

And in economy, I had a salad with grains, raisins, and lettuce.

For my main course in business, I opted for the Alaskan cod. It was buttery, flaky, and shockingly delicious for airplane food.

As for my main course in economy, a label outlined that the stir fry had seven types of vegetables. And while it wasn't nearly as good as the cod, I easily devoured the entire tray of noodles.

Arguably the best part of both meals was the dessert. In business, I dined on a rich chocolate tart served with a strawberry garnish.

And for dessert in economy, I had a cookie filled with icing from the famous New York City bakery Milk. It was one of my favorite bakeries when I lived in the city, so I was thrilled to see a Milk cookie on my plate.

Beyond the food, other details set the meal service apart by cabin class. In business, the cutlery was metal, the napkins were cloth, and the plates were ceramic. I felt like I was at a fine-dining restaurant.

In economy, as I've found in the same class on many other airlines, my food came out on a plastic tray and everything was wrapped in plastic.

Another big difference was availability. On my two business-class flights, I could order anything on the menu in business class and there was always availability.

When I was sitting in economy, the flight attendants told me the pasta option had run out by the time they reached my seat (which was in the back of the plane). Later, there was no Coke available either.

Of course, if I'd been sitting in business class on United heading to Tokyo, I would've had many of the same perks I did on Air New Zealand.

According to United's website, meal service in business class includes a welcome glass of bubbly, liquor, a three-course meal, and snacks.

While the two meals were strikingly different, I devoured them both and was happily full — with plenty of time for a post-dinner nap.

I flew on 2 long-haul flights, one in business and another in economy. The meal service couldn't have been more different — take a look.