How airlines are spreading Christmas cheer this year

Christmas has come early this year as airlines in Australia and around the globe get into the holiday spirit with special menus on the ground and in the sky, festive programming and even a bit of gift-giving for good measure.

From Sydney to Perth, Singapore to Los Angeles, here’s how airlines are spreading cheer this Christmas season.

British Airways

British Airways is embracing time-honoured tradition by dishing up some 380,000 classic Christmas dinners across all long-range flights (including to and from Australia) throughout the month of December.

Elevated Christmas fare on British Airways.

In first class, expect chestnut-stuffed turkey with yorkshire puddings and roast veggies, followed by a decadent yule log and fruits.

And in business, turkey with Brussel sprouts, carrots and potatoes, plus a silky smooth chocolate orange mousse.

The bauble makes a stylish addition to any Christmas tree.

The airline is also rolling out themed lounge menus featuring gingerbread, cookies and mulled wine, while first class flyers on Christmas Day will receive a bespoke glass bauble adorned in the BA logo and British icons such as Big Ben.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific is serving Christmas-inspired menus in first and business class on flights departing Hong Kong from December 15.

Succulent roast lamb and black cherry or cranberry sauce, followed by a delicious chocolate yule log take wing on every long-range flight, while regional journeys supplement the log for a creamy Black Forest trifle.

Sweet treats on Singapore Airlines.

Festive chocolates will also make an appearance on December 24 or 25.

Delta Air Lines

Travellers passing through Delta Sky Club at LAX will have the opportunity to jet off with a present tucked under their arm as Delta Air Lines kicks off a ‘12 Days of Christmas’ celebration in the lounge from December 13.

Different gifts will be offered throughout the '12 Days of Christmas'

Travellers can also enjoy a hearty helping of holiday cheer in the air with Frosty the Snowman, Elf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas just a few of the annual favourites available on the inflight entertainment.

Emirates

Emirates lounge visitors in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth will be treated to meals, drinks and snacks ‘with a Christmas twist’ this month.

On the menu? Plump and juicy turkey served with pistachio and cranberry roulade, topped with Christmas jus, and a decadent chocolate and raspberry log for dessert.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas with Emirates.

Christmas iced tea, cocktails and mocktails, as well as Emirates’ own mixology in the form of ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’, ‘Red-nosed Rudolph’ and ‘Jack Frost’ are also being poured alongside festive flavoured waters.

The joy then takes flight with a festive menu across all cabins – roast turkey will be available for all, alongside cured salmon gravlax with ginger, candied orange and Sevruga caviar in business class, and beef fillet with potato gratin in first.

Etihad Airways

Travellers climbing aboard Etihad Airways between December 23-25 can look forward to a festive menu of turkey roulade and roast veggies, followed by a Christmas yule log in first or business class, or a warm Christmas pudding with custard and berries in economy.

Etihad’s business and first class Lounges at the new Abu Dhabi Terminal A will also dish up a merry menu, plus themed mocktails and cocktails such as ‘Christmas Baubles’, ‘Glogg’s on Ice’ and a ‘Gingerbread Espresso Martini’.

Hot chocolate and a gingerbread latte will also be available in premium cabins.

On December 31, the Gulf airline will ring in the New Year in style with a countdown, celebratory drinks and props on all flights crossing midnight in the sky.

Qantas

Roving carollers, Santa visits and entertainers in terminals, festive lounge and inflight menu options and ‘Roodolph’ pyjama giveaways are all in the works at Qantas this holiday season.

Pyjamas may pop up on flights or be gifted to Qantas passengers when visiting a lounge, and in the Sydney International First Lounge an embroidery station can personalise those PJs with your initials between 1pm and 5pm.

The ‘12 Days of Christmas’ menu at the Sydney and Melbourne first class lounges includes prawn salads and the return of the minute steak, while first class passengers and Platinum One flyers seated in the dining room’s VIP section are treated to pours of stunning Penfolds Grange Bin 95 (which retails at $800+ per bottle).

Dasher-8 is one of two Qantas aircraft getting into the holiday spirit.

In addition, the airline has debuted two special Christmas aircraft – the QantasLink Q400 ‘Dasher-8’ and Boeing 737 ‘Roo-dolph’ – on which travellers hopping aboard will earn double points for their flight from now until December 31.

Singapore Airlines

IFE on Singapore Airlines has undergone a festive makeover, with Home Alone, The Santa Clause and The Polar Express just a few of the films now available for your viewing pleasure, alongside a ‘Christmas Wonderland’ music playlist. 

However, the holiday cheer will actually begin well before take off, at least in the Perth and Melbourne lounges, with the latter in particular plating up dishes such as whole salmon with dill, glazed ham, roast beef and pavlova between December 20 and 26. 

Travelling from Perth during that same time frame? Staff in the KrisFlyer lounge will start the holiday on the right note for young flyers, giving children 3-12 years a Kris Lion soft toy.

United Airlines

Christmas programming is great, but United Airlines has gone a step further this year, debuting its own rom-com called Love in Plane Sight – filmed at Denver International Airport and sitting alongside other movie classics available onboard.

Does United's original love story take flight? You’ll have to wait and see.

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia lounges are swapping standard fare for something a little more festive this month, dishing up hot turkey with cranberry sauce and mustard, sliced ham and potato with sour cream and herbs, alongside fruit mince pies and chocolate.

In the air, business class flyers can enjoy roast turkey with cranberry sauce and veggies for lunch and dinner, followed by a tasty gingerbread Christmas tree. Economy gets a treat too: a Davidson Plum chocolate provided by First Nations supplier, BSKT.

Festive menus are rolling out in the air and in the lounges.

Young flyers can also send a last-minute letter to Santa, with the airline bringing back ‘Santa Request Forms’ for kids to pen their Christmas wishes and questions for the man in red.