A Complete Guide to Food and Wine on Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the United States and focuses on connecting from the Pacific Northwest, West Coast, and Alaska to over one hundred destinations including the United States, Hawaii, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

While not typically known for their food, the airline has spent a year of research and hosted tastings to come up with a concept to offer fresh and local ingredients on all their flights. You can expect to see items such as seasonal fruit, artisan bread and cage-free eggs onboard as well as a selection of meals that can be pre-ordered prior to your flight.

Early in the pandemic, Alaska Airlines, like other U.S. carriers, reduced the number of meals and drinks served on most flights, minimizing onboard interactions while saving money. Many Alaska Airlines passengers will begin to experience a level of onboard service comparable to what you may have expected before the outbreak, as the carrier restored some service on flights to and from Hawaii and boosted offers on other routes as well.

If you are planning to fly Alaska Airlines or are interested in what they offer we will break down a complete guide to their food and wine.

Cuisine Overview

Alaska Airlines flight menu features a variety of fresh, colorful flavors inspired by the West Coast culinary scene. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served with freshly prepared meals and snacks, with a vegetarian choice always on the menu.

Alaska Airlines food and beverage offerings have been changed to keep our customers and employees safe while Alaska airlines manage the COVID-19 epidemic. You’ll still get complimentary beer, wine, and cocktails because you’re in Premium Class. Some of the typical food and beverage choices, however, have altered. Before you fly, please examine the menu.

Whilethere is no inflight service available for flights under 350 miles, longer flights have a great selection of meals and snacks that can be pre-ordered prior to your flight to ensure you receive it onboard.

Also note that food is only free of charge for premium passengers. All others will need to purchase meals while onboard.

Culinary Partners

Alaska Airlines, like Delta, United, and Jetblue, have teamed up with a well renounced chef to bring better food to their onboard passengers. Alaska Airlines currently works with Tom Douglas, a James Beard Award winning chef, to bring signature dishes to the skies. Since early 2015, Alaska Airlines has worked with the chef to bring a rotating menu of signature dishes to be served in the lounge and onboard.

“Tom is a well-known chef in Seattle. For the past 25 years, he’s been at the heart of Seattle’s thriving restaurant scene, and the meals he’s created for Alaska are likely to amaze and inspire our adventurous patrons. “Alaska’s managing director of brand marketing, Halle Hutchison, agreed. “Our clients are always eager to try new things, and we can’t wait to show them what Tom has come up with.”

Tom Douglas’ Cascade Brisket Chili kicks off the collaboration, upgrading a savory winter classic with soft, smokey brisket chunks in a moderately spicy ancho chile tomato sauce. It’s served over a baked Yukon gold potato with melted cheese and roasted peppers on top. In early 2015, a rotating menu of signature Tom Douglas meals will begin flying.

Pre Departure Selection

On Alaska Airlines flights within the United States, you can pre-order a meal in the main cabin. Meal orders for Alaska Airlines are only available through the airline’s app or mobile website, and they open 14 days before departure. You do not have to pay for your meal when you place your order; payments will be collected inflight from you.

Using the Alaska app or online at alaskaair.com, First Class guests on select flights over 2 hours can pre-order meals (subject to availability). Note, First Class guests also receive their meal complementary.

In the near future, the pre-order service will be available in premium and main cabins.

Lounge Dining

Alaska also supports a network of lounge service in a calm environment where you can relax and rejuvenate or get some work done in between flights. Lounge areas typically include all the expected options but some also include unique features: a candy bar, a sourdough cart, and a children’s area.

When traveling to Mexico City, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, or Australia, Emerald and Sapphire’s members gained through Alaska or American Airlines are eligible for complimentary lounge access.

Onboard Dining

Onboard dining is where Alaska provides a selection of purchasable meals in economy and hot meals in First Class. The below is what you can expect on your next flight.

Domestic Economy

In Economy the below menus are what you can expect when you are onboard. Some of the more popular items include the Mediterranean Tapas Picnic Pack, Chipotle Turkey Wrap, and Croissant Breakfast Sandwich. Note that most are reasonably priced at about $6 – $8, which beats the price you would pay for these at an airport.

Domestic First Class

On transcontinental flights freshly prepared hot meal options will be offered in first class, and snacks can be pre-ordered for select customers, with full beverage service accessible in all cabins. Dishes you can expect include seasonal favorites like Guajillo Chile-Lime Salad with roasted lemon crème and Miso Marinated Cod in a sesame-miso butter sauce.

Alaska Airlines has also teamed up with Boxed Water to offer First Class passengers a 92 percent renewable paper-based carton as an alternative to single-use plastic. Another step forward in our quest for environmentally friendly travel.

Wine & Alcohol Selection

Alcohol is included with all premium cabin tickets and is available at a cost for main cabin. Options are included in the list below.

• Fremont Brewing Lush IPA
• Kona Brewing Longboard Lager
• Broken Earth Winery El Pasado Red Blend
• Canoe Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay
• Domaine St. Vincent Sparkling Wine*
• Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
• Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• Tanqueray Gin
• Tito’s Vodka
• Baileys Irish Cream

Special Meals

Special food requests are supported by Alaska Airlines in First Class but not in the main cabin. However, for $6, you can get a Vegan/Kosher/Gluten-free Mediterranean tapas picnic pack that is almost always on the menu. Other foods that may be friendly to special diets include organic multigrain snack chips, Mario snack olives, Truitt Family Foods natural hummus, Madi K’s almonds, Vacaville Fruit Company snackins’ apricots, and Seattle Chocolate dark chocolate.

Alaska suggests if you have dietary restrictions be prepared to bring your own snacks on board. Given the company does not have as extensive of a network and dining options, it simply cannot accommodate all diets.

Summary & Takeaways

Overall, Alaska Airlines has one of the more limited food and beverage options compared to most airlines. This is no surprise given their light route network.

While you may find a tasty snack on board you should manage your expectations to find a limited selection that will come at an added cost.