Air Canada introduces free beer and snacks for all cabins on every flight

Scott O'Leary, Vice President of Loyalty & Product at Air Canada, commented: “As part of our commitment to elevating the onboard experience, we’re delighted to introduce even more exciting new options to our menus. These upgrades offer something for everyone and proudly showcase Canadian brands so that our customers can sit back, relax and kick-start their travels no matter where they’re going."

In-flight snack and beverage offerings have evolved over time among major airlines. Many full-service carriers globally provide free snacks across all cabin classes regardless of flight length. The cost for airlines varies; light snacks can cost under $1 per passenger when purchased in bulk while premium or meal options may reach $5-$15 per person.

Most airlines reserve complimentary meals for long-haul international routes; food is typically sold separately on shorter domestic flights. According to a FinanceBuzz analysis in 2023 (https://financebuzz.com/airline-food-costs), JetBlue Airways charged an average of $13 per meal—the highest among major US carriers—followed by Delta Air Lines at $12 and Alaska Airlines at $10.50.

US legacy carriers such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines continue offering free packaged snacks and soft drinks on most flights. In contrast, low-cost carriers like Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines generally charge for all onboard refreshments including bottled water.

For alcoholic beverages specifically (https://financebuzz.com/airline-drink-costs), Spirit Airlines had the highest average price at $10.61 per drink in 2023 among ten analyzed US airlines; United Airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue each averaged around $9 per drink while Southwest offered the lowest price at $6.67.