Airline food being a fine dining experience seems like a distant possibility, but in recent years in-flight menus really seem to have taken things up a notch. From an elegant afternoon-tea service on select Delta routes, to Alaska Airlines bringing on a celebrity chef to add some upscale flavor to its first-class menu, to Qatar Airways launching a caviar service, it's started to feel like vacation dining begins before the flight even lands—and we're seeing it on airlines and routes across the globe in increasing frequency.

Delta Air Lines

Chef Jereme Leung's flavors can be tasted on the route from Seattle to Taipei, which includes includes Asian delicacies such as braised beef brisket with stir-fried beans and Chao Zhou olives, potato, tomato and steamed rice; avocado and crab meat salad with tobiko fish roe; and soup noodles with minced pork, shiitake mushrooms, greens and carrots. Other great menus found on routes include Chef Mashama Bailey’s, who designed a menu for domestic first-class customers departing from Atlanta. This menu includes Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q’s short rib open-faced sandwich with sweet pickles and a side of cheddar and broccoli, or the Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q smoked chicken salad with cabbage and beet slaw, crumbled queso fresco and toasted pepitas.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines recently launched a partnership with Brandon Jew, chef/owner of San Francisco-based Mister Jiu’s, to curate a special menu for first class passengers on the San Francisco to New York route.

American Airlines

American Airlines is always refreshing their first and business class menus to keep things fresh and interesting, and they have been partnering with chefs from the James Beard Foundation along the way. For example, first class customers traveling to Europe have options that include miso saba roasted sea bass with toasted sesame, Yukon gold mashed potato, Shimeji mushrooms, savoy cabbage, baby carrots or an artichoke ravioli with blistered cherry tomato sauce or green olive pistachio pesto—these are dishes that are part of a partnership with Chef Sarah Grueneberg.

Turkish Airlines

This airline has a cool Flying Chefs program that even includes on-demand wine pairings. Business class passengers on certain routes also can enjoy a romantic meal by candlelight—that's something you won't see anywhere else. In another fun fine dining feature: Turkish Airlines recently announced they were adding “The Oldest Bread” to its in-flight service menu. This bread is made from Einkorn and Emmer Wheats, and is a classic part of Turkish history. It will be served heated with butter and olive oil before meals, as part of the meal service for intercontinental business class passengers.

Air France

Air France has a new partnership with triple Michelin-starred French chef Dominique Crenn in La Première and business class cabins, which offers twelve original dish options. It's truly like having a Michelin-star experience inflight. Some dishes she's created include in La Première, lobster, pico de gallo and tea sauce or root vegetable mille-feuille with truffle sauce; and in Business, Californian charbonnier with quinoa and marinière sauce or open raviole, courgette and tomato, hazelnut and parmesan sauce.

Singapore Airlines

Wellness travelers love Golden Door wellness resort for its spa and healthy menu, and this spa resort is the official wellness partner for Singapore Airlines. Chef Greg Frey Jr. from Golden Door partnered to create a menu that focuses on anti-inflammatory properties, with dishes that include luxury options like poached lobster—that's great for avoiding those sugar spikes and falls during or after the flight.

Scandinavian Airlines

We all love great food, but a solid cocktail program is important too. It's hard to come by those in the sky. However, a great example of a solid airline cocktail comes at Scandinavian Airlines. Swedish Purity Distillery is the official vodka of Scandinavian Airlines and is seen in cocktails such as the Mile High Martini, a classic dirty martini with a mile high twist. It's made with Purity Signature 34 Edition Vodka, dry vermouth, olive brine and olives.

Aero

Aero's in-flight menu is created by Los Angeles-based Erewhon, and its wine hails from Napa-based Sullivan Rutherford Estate. On the cocktail front, Brother's Bond Bourbon teamed up with Aero, who is now offering their classic old fashioned on Aero flights. This cocktail is made with barrel-aged bitters, aromatics, and a cherry blossom garnish. This airline is also known for doing some fun collabs, such as they partnered with celebrity chef Nancy Silverton to design a tasting menu for Aero’s flight to Aspen’s major food and wine festival last year.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has some great in-flight dining experience in their World Business Class, all of which are inspired by Dutch culinary traditions. Right now that includes a menu designed by Dutch top chef Jonnie Boer, paired with wines selected by sommelier Thérèse Boer.