The airlines with the cheapest booze and food revealed – and how you can save money

ONCE upon a time, the short haul flying routine went something like this.

Around 20 minutes after take-off, you put your seat in the recline position, pulled out the in flight magazine, took a deep breath of contentment as a complimentary gin and tonic was poured for you in an actual glass.

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No longer. These damp-eyed memories are being replaced by squinting at a digital menu on your phone and gasping as you read how much that same gin and tonic will cost you. And yep – that glass is made of plastic.

Yet some airlines are giving better value for money than others when it comes to feeding and watering us in the skies, as our table shows.

Our survey of the menus shows it’s Hungarian provider Wizzair that charges the most for a G&T at a whopping £8.33.

Not content with having just been announced as the airline with the worst punctuality in 2022 — with flights departing the UK on average over 46 minutes late — its drink prices are an added sting to the online flight experience with the budget carrier.

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At the other end of the scale, Ryanair offers the cheapest G&T at £6.50, while British Airways and its Speedbird Café menu give the best value for a snack.

Its sandwiches, starting at £4.20 for a ham hock and cheddar created by celeb chef Tom Kerridge, are the cheapest out of the five major short-haul carriers we surveyed.

Ryanair let itself down here with its cheapest sarnie costing £5.50, higher than the airlines featured.

Jet2 offers, by some margin, the cheapest chocolate and crisps with its price for a Twix, Kit Kat, Twirl or a bag of Harvest Snaps £1.30 each.

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Beleaguered Wizzair does redeem itself if it’s just a cuppa that you’re hankering for.

At £2.63, it offers the cheapest high-altitude brew.

EasyJet and Ryanair share the “most expensive cuppa” stigma, at a scorching £3 for the drink.

But ultimately, none of the airlines can compete with the option of simply buying your food in the departure lounge.

Boots offers a meal deal of a sandwich, crisps or chocolate and drink for £4.19 at all major airports.

The cheapest option of all is, of course, to bring your own food from home.