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Last year, TPG conducted a taste test of free breakfast on board at major US airlines, and TPG staff and social media followers weighed in.

Although inflight breakfast options have changed since then, one thing has remained the same: not all breakfasts are created equal, and some airlines are better at breakfast than others.

However, we are happy to report that some airlines have improved their overall food selection, including breakfast.

Here are TPG’s top economy snacks you can eat in the sky right now.

To no one’s surprise, Biscoff is set to become the most iconic cookie in the sky in 2024. Although it is widely fan-favorite, it is currently available on one less domestic carrier.

“Delta Biscoff hits differently,” said TPG associate video producer Reena Lee.

Biscoff is offered to all customers on Delta Air Lines flights and in the main cabin of American Airlines for at least 250 miles. However, United Airlines replaced Biscoff with fruit bars and savory snack mixes (and a more controversial option we’ll get to in a bit) when it rolled out its revamped snack menu in March.

Speaking about United’s breakfast overhaul, TPG senior cruise editor Erica Silverstein said, “United’s options are generally absorbing — quinoa chocolate, really?”

As a United flyer myself, I’ll go ahead and congratulate United on providing options for travelers with dietary restrictions. I personally love their Undercover Snacks dark chocolate and sea salt (and yes, quinoa) crisps for a low-sugar sweet option.

However, Erica said she enjoys United’s Summer Harvest Snack Mix, a mix of rye bagel chips, garlic bread bites and mini pretzel twists.

“Savory beats sweet when it comes to onboard snacks, with the most popular snack being the complimentary Summer Harvest Savory Snack Mix,” United said in a Dec. 17 press release.

TPGers also enjoy the pretzels on Southwest Airlines — especially the Stellar Snacks Maui Monk Pretzels, a Maui onion-flavored pretzel braid that’s also vegan.

Another favorite airline among Delta flyers is Mini Sun Chips.

If you’re flying on an international carrier, you’ll have different snacks to choose from, such as rice crackers on Japan Airlines and Manner Hazelnut Wafer Cookies on Austrian Airlines.

The bottom line

Delta is recognized as a favorite airline among TPGers and readers alike, and its recent collaboration with Shake Shack exemplifies the reasons why.

As of this month, domestic first-class Delta fliers at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) can choose a Shake Shack cheeseburger as their entrée option on flights over 900 miles.

Burgers can be customized with tomato, lettuce and shake sauce. It comes with chips, Caesar salad and a dark chocolate brownie.

Delta plans to expand the Shakeburger menu option to additional markets during 2025.

Other airlines will benefit from paying attention to Delta, which continues to innovate and keep fans happy.

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