It's a well-known fact by now: you'll save money on the ticket price but a low-cost airline could sting you for all the extras. If you're planning on having a snack or a drink on the plane, this newly updated research from Cheapflights is essential reading.
We've found out the cost of some staple items of food and drink from different airlines - a ham sandwich and a gin and tonic included. Our handy table lets you quickly see where you can get the best gastronomic deals... and on which airlines it would be better to take a home-made sarnie.
Most flag carriers continue to offer complimentary meals and drinks, but it may be surprising to see the difference in price from the low-costers. A full meal on Air Southwest, for example, costs less than the price of a sandwich on many other carriers.
| Airline | Meals | Ham Sandwich | Coca Cola | Gin & Tonic | Tea |
| Aer Lingus * | £5.40 | £3.38 | £1.35 | £3.39 | £1.70 |
| Air Berlin | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Air France | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Air Southwest | £2.50 | N/A | 50p | N/A | £1.50 |
| Alitalia | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| bmi | £6 | £3.50 | £1 | £3.60 | £1.60 |
| bmibaby | £4 | £3.50 | 70p | £3.70 | £1.60 |
| British Airways | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| easyJet | N/A | £3 | 70p | £3.70 | £1.60 |
| First Choice | £12 (return) | N/A | 70p | £3.40 | £1.50 |
| Flybe | £4.50 | £3.75 | £1.50 | £4 | £1.90 |
| Flyglobespan | N/A | £3 | 65p | £3.65 | £1.60 |
| Germanwings * | £3.39 | £2.37 | £1.70 | N/A | £1.70 |
| Iberia * | £6.78 | £4 | £1.70 | £4.40 | £1 |
| Jet2.com | £5 | £3 | 70p | £3.70 | £1.50 |
| KLM | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Monarch | £6 | £3.50 | 75p | £3.75 | £1.60 |
| Ryanair | >£3.90 | £3.55 | £1.15 | £4.80 | £2.10 |
| Wizz Air * | from £3.70 | £2.70 | £1.35 | £4 | £1.35 |
* Prices have been converted from euros for ease of comparison.
© Cheapflights Ltd
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