Is Food Free on Emirates Flights?
The shortest answer I can give to the question above is a big Yes. Emirates is a full-service airline, so your ticket includes meals in every cabin. In Economy you usually get a full tray with a choice of main, sides and dessert. On very short hops they may switch to a lighter bite or snack service. Non-alcoholic drinks are free, and on most routes alcoholic drinks are complimentary too, subject to local laws and the time of day.
What you get by cabin
Now let me expand my answer slightly. Here are the things you get cabin by cabin on an Emirates flight. FYI, I’ve flown Emirates multiple times in Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First, so this breakdown comes from my own personal experiences.
Economy Class
For meals, you should expect a multi-course tray. This is inclusive of salad or starter, a hot main you choose at the cart, bread, dessert and chocolate, plus water. On medium and long haul there is often a second service later in the flight, which could be breakfast, a hot snack or a filled roll. Ultra-short sectors may be a snack only. You can request special meals in advance if you have dietary needs.
When it comes to drinks, expect water, juices, sodas, tea and coffee are complimentary. Beer, wine and standard spirits are also free on most routes. Exact availability can change with the departure country and local rules, so dry sectors are possible. Cabin crew will offer drinks with the meal and you can ask for water refills any time.
Premium Economy
Me in Emirates Premium Economy right after boarding. This is the cabin I keep choosing when I want extra comfort without going full Business.
For meals on Premium Economy cabin, think Economy portions turned up a notch. Meals are plated on china with metal cutlery, and the presentation is closer to restaurant style. You still choose from a printed menu and you will usually see a proper breakfast on morning arrivals.
As for drinks, expect a broader selection than Economy, including a sparkling option and curated wines, plus the usual soft drinks, beers and spirits. Coffee and tea are served in real cups and there is generally an extra pass for top-ups.
Business and First
The meals here are amazing. Multi-course dining with starter, soup or salad, mains, cheese and dessert. On long haul you can often dine on demand, which means you decide when your meal is served rather than being tied to a single trolley run. Signature items like Arabic mezze appear frequently, and on some routes First Class adds premium touches such as caviar or specialty courses.
When it comes to drinks, there is an extensive lists with champagne, wines, beers, spirits and mocktails. Espresso drinks and specialty teas are available, and crew are happy to pace service to your sleep schedule.
Take Note: Once again readers should take note of the fact that offerings vary by route length, aircraft and local regulations. If food is important to you, check your booking for sample menus and add any special-meal requests at least 24 hours before departure.
Special meals: how to order (and when they’re available)
If you need a specific meal, my advice to you is to sort it before you fly. The easiest way is Manage Your Booking on the Emirates website or app: enter your last name and booking reference, open Meal preferences, pick the meal you want, and save. Do this at least 24 hours before departure. Earlier is always better.
A few practical notes from experience:
- Short flights: Some special meals aren’t loaded in Economy on flights under two hours. If you’re hopping regionally, expect a standard snack instead.
- One request per flight: Special meals are tied to each flight segment. If you have a connection in Dubai, make sure the request shows for both legs.
- Kids and infants: When your booking has a child or infant, the system normally assigns a child meal or baby meal automatically. Only place a request if your kid needs a specific diet (for example, gluten free or vegan).
- Common options: Vegan, vegetarian (lacto-ovo), Asian vegetarian, gluten free, diabetic, low-salt, seafood free, and more. Kosher and a few other meals may require extra notice and aren’t available from every station.
- Halal:Emirates catering is halal by default, so you don’t need to request a halal meal.
My routine:
- Add the special meal as soon as I book.
- Recheck 2 to 3 days before departure in the app or website to confirm it’s still attached to the ticket.
- Mention it politely to the gate agent or cabin crew when I board. Special-meal trays often come out before the main service, which is great if you’re hungry or you want to sleep.
What’s different in Premium Economy?
This is where I felt the biggest jump in the experience (which I have documented in the video above). On my last Emirates Premium Economy flight the meal arrived on china with metal cutlery and a proper glass. Portions were noticeably larger than Economy and the presentation looked like something plated, not a foil-top tray. I had a chilled starter, a hot main that actually filled the plate, and a dessert I did not have to share with myself.
Drinks were stepped up too. The crew offered a sparkling Chandon soon after takeoff, then came back with wine and soft drinks during the meal. Top-ups were easy to get with a smile. Later in the flight they passed with water and juices again, and before landing there was a second service with a warm bakery item and fruit.
A few little things I appreciated on Premium Economy included the heavier tableware that made the tray feel stable and the larger napkin, which was super handy. Furthermore, the menu was printed so I could decide before the cart reached me.
My Premium Economy tips:
- Ask for water every time the crew passes, the cabin can be dry.
- If you have a dietary request, add it in Manage Booking and reconfirm a couple of days out.
- Keep a snack in your bag if your body clock is off, but in my experience the two services plus the drink rounds kept me perfectly happy.
Do I have to pay for alcohol?
Not at all! Soft drinks, tea and coffee are complimentary, and on most routes beer, wine and standard spirits are included as well. Two caveats from my trips – availability can change with the country you are flying to or from, and the crew will follow local laws, so a few flights are dry. If in doubt I just ask politely when the drinks cart reaches my row.