Are Meals Included on Lufthansa Flights? | What You’ll Get

Lufthansa typically includes meals on long-haul flights, while many short European Economy routes sell food onboard, with service shaped by cabin and flight length.

You’ve got a Lufthansa ticket and one practical question: will you be fed, or should you plan your own food? The answer comes down to two things: route type (European short-haul vs. intercontinental) and cabin class. Get those right and the rest is easy to plan.

This article lays out what’s usually included, what’s sold on board, and how to confirm your exact setup before travel day so you don’t board hungry.

Are Meals Included on Lufthansa Flights? What To Expect By Route

Intercontinental flights generally come with scheduled meal service and drinks. Short-haul flights inside Europe often work differently, especially in Economy, where you may purchase snacks or fresh items during service.

Start With Three Fast Checks

• Route: Intercontinental or long-haul vs. Europe short/medium-haul.
• Cabin: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or First.
• Operator: Lufthansa-operated vs. partner-operated under a codeshare.

That last point can change everything. The operating carrier controls catering and service flow.

What “Included” Really Looks Like

When a meal is included, you won’t pay at the cart. You’ll receive a planned service during the flight. The size and style still vary: a light tray on one route, a multi-course setup on another.

Long-Haul Economy: One Main Meal, Then A Second Service

On many long-haul Economy flights, the first service is a full tray meal after takeoff with drinks. A later service follows on longer flights, often a lighter meal or snack. Lufthansa’s long-haul Economy menu description outlines this general pattern and notes that the second service depends on flight length.

Premium Economy: Similar Timing, More Structure

Premium Economy is a catered cabin. Lufthansa describes composed menus and adds extra services as flight time stretches, including a second meal service on longer sectors and more hot meals on the longest routes.

Business And First: More Choice And Flexible Pacing

Long-haul Business and First Class focus on paced dining. On selected flights, Lufthansa offers pre-selection for the first main course in Business Class, which helps when you’d rather eat early, sleep soon, or lock in a preferred dish.

Short-Haul Economy: Buy-On-Board Is Common

On many European short-haul flights, Lufthansa Economy does not run a full complimentary meal service. Instead, food and many drinks are sold through its buy-on-board offering, often branded as “Onboard Delights” depending on market. You choose items from the onboard menu and pay during service.

Selection can depend on flight length and the catering station. Lufthansa notes that on flights meeting a minimum duration, the full range may be presented onboard without pre-order, and payment can include cards and common mobile wallets on many routes.

Short-Haul Business: A Meal Is More Likely

Business Class on short and medium routes often includes a meal service even when Economy is buy-on-board. Expect anything from a cold plate on shorter sectors to a fuller service on longer ones.

Meal And Drink Overview By Cabin And Route

Use this table to plan meals, snacks, and spending. Items vary by route, season, and aircraft, so treat it as a planning tool.

Flight Type And Cabin	Meal Status	Typical Pattern
Europe short-haul, Economy	Often sold onboard	Snacks, sandwiches, fresh items; pay by card/mobile wallet on many routes
Europe short/medium, Business	Usually included	Tray meal or plated service; size varies with flight length
Intercontinental, Economy	Included	Main meal after departure, plus later snack or second meal based on duration
Intercontinental, Premium Economy	Included	Composed menus; extra services added on longer flights
Intercontinental, Business	Included	Multi-course dining with more choice; pre-select main on some flights
Intercontinental, First	Included	Restaurant-style service with flexible timing on many routes
Special meals (dietary/religious)	Included when available	Requested ahead of departure; offered on many Lufthansa-operated flights
Children’s meals	Included when requested	Ordered in advance; helpful on odd departure times
Extra snacks on short-haul	Usually sold onboard	Bring a backup snack if you don’t want to rely on cart stock

How To Confirm Your Exact Meal Setup Before You Fly

If you want certainty, use Lufthansa’s own service pages plus your booking. Lufthansa keeps a central hub for onboard food and beverages, plus cabin pages that describe what’s served by route type.

A solid official starting point is Lufthansa’s food and beverages section, which summarizes onboard offerings and buy-on-board notes for European Economy.

Clues You Can Spot In Your Booking

• If you see a pre-order flow for short-haul items, that points to buy-on-board service.
• If you see “special meal” selections for a segment, that points to a catered meal service.
• If you see a Business Class pre-select feature, that points to full dining service.

Codeshares And Aircraft Swaps

Don’t assume a feeder flight matches your long-haul service. Treat each segment on your itinerary as its own meal plan. Partner-operated flights can follow a different pattern, and last-minute aircraft swaps can change what’s loaded.

Special Meals, Diet Needs, And Allergies

If you need a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, religious, or medical diet meal, Lufthansa offers several special meals on many Lufthansa-operated flights, with advance selection required on many routes. The list and request path are on Lufthansa’s special meals page.

Allergy Reality Check

Airline catering is not a controlled kitchen environment, and cross-contact can happen. If you have a severe allergy, plan for self-reliance:

• Bring a safe snack or meal that fits security rules at your departure airport.
• Carry needed medication in your personal item, not in checked baggage.
• Ask crew about ingredient notes when they’re available, and be ready for limited detail.

Common Situations That Catch Travelers Off Guard

Even when food is included, timing and stock can shift what you get. These are the moments where planning pays off.

Late Departures Meant For Sleep

On short night long-haul flights, service can be compressed. You may see a quicker first meal and a lighter second service. If you want sleep early, eat at the airport and treat onboard food as optional.

Tight Turnarounds And Limited Choice

When an aircraft’s ground time is short, catering loads can be tight and choice can narrow. If you care about a specific main dish, use pre-select when offered and board early so you’re settled before service begins.

Planning Checklist For Staying Fed

This routine keeps you covered without overpacking.

Pick A Plan Based On Your Flight

1. European Economy: plan to buy food onboard, or eat before boarding and pack a snack.
2. European Business: count on a meal, yet pack a small snack for delays.
3. Intercontinental cabins: count on at least one full meal; pack snacks mainly for diet limits or personal habit.

Pack Snacks That Travel Well

• Dry, non-messy items: nuts, crackers, dried fruit, protein bars.
• Skip strong-smelling foods that can bother seatmates.
• If you’re carrying spreads or sauces, follow liquid limits at your departure airport.

Drinks: What You’ll See In Each Situation

Food gets the attention, yet drinks can be the real comfort factor on a long travel day. Lufthansa’s drink offering follows the same route split as meals: long-haul service is planned and included, while short-haul Economy often treats many items as a purchase.

Long-Haul Cabins

On intercontinental flights, you can normally expect soft drinks, water, and hot drinks served with meals, with beer or wine offered during meal service on many routes. If you want to stay hydrated without multiple trips to the galley, keep your cup and ask for a refill when the cart comes by.

European Short-Haul Economy

On short-haul Economy flights with buy-on-board service, drinks may be sold along with food, and selection depends on the route and what’s loaded. If you don’t want to spend onboard, bring an empty bottle through security and fill it at the airport. It’s a small habit that saves money and keeps you comfortable during delays.

Scenario Table: Match Your Trip And Decide What To Do

Find the row that fits your itinerary, then plan your food and timing.

Itinerary Scenario	Likely Meal Setup	Smart Move
1–2 hour Europe hop in Economy	Food sold onboard	Eat before boarding; bring a small snack in case the cart runs out
3–4 hour Europe flight in Economy	Buy-on-board with wider selection	Pre-order if offered; carry a backup snack for delays
Europe segment feeding into long-haul	Short-haul rules on the feeder	Plan separate food for each leg; don’t rely on the connection to “cover” you
6–8 hour intercontinental in Economy	Meal service plus later snack/meal on many routes	Bring snacks only for preference or diet limits
9+ hour intercontinental in Premium Economy	More meal services on the longest routes	Space out eating; drink water between services
Long-haul Business with early sleep plan	Full dining with pacing options	Use pre-select when offered; ask crew to align service with your sleep plan
Traveler with strict diet needs	Special meal if requested in advance	Request early, then pack a safe backup snack

Last Checks Before You Head To The Gate

• Long-haul Lufthansa segments usually include meals and drinks as part of service.
• Short-haul Lufthansa Economy often means buy-on-board, so plan food or budget for it.
• Diet needs call for an advance request plus a backup snack you trust.