Lufthansa Brings Hot Meals to Economy Short-Haul Flights

Finally, Something Hot at Row 24

Starting September 1, Lufthansa is adding five new hot meal options to its 'Onboard Delights' menu on short and medium-haul economy flights. The standard cold, pre-packaged sandwiches are finally stepping aside. Instead, you can actually get a hot, comforting dish served right at your tray table while crossing the continent.

It’s an intriguing move for a European legacy airline. Most carriers spent years stripping back economy catering to match low-cost rivals, but Lufthansa is betting you’ll gladly pay a little extra for something genuinely satisfying on an evening hop.

Long-Haul Business Gets a Refresh

Flyers upfront are seeing changes this autumn, too. Lufthansa is expanding its long-haul Business Class Pre-Select menu, adding a wider range of dishes designed for high-altitude dining that you can lock in long before reaching the terminal.

Airlines are slowly remembering that decent food drives actual loyalty. Now that travel is back in full swing, Lufthansa wants to retain customers by improving what is on the plate—whether you're sitting in row 3 or row 28.

How to Secure Your Meal

Getting one of the new hot dishes requires a little advance planning. You can browse and purchase your selection online anywhere from four weeks out up until 24 hours before departure.

Pre-ordering guarantees you won't watch the trolley run out of food two rows before it reaches you. It also solves a major operational headache for Lufthansa by cutting down on food waste, keeping the galleys organized, and ensuring exact headcounts before takeoff.