Boarding the plane has always marked the start of my holiday. I look forward to settling into my seat with my latest Netflix series downloaded and my noise-cancelling headphones for a little ‘me time’ before jetting off on the next adventure.

I’ll always have my water bottle filled ahead of the flight, having topped it up after passing through airport security, and I might have once had some snacks buried in my bag. However, over the years, I’ve stopped buying an extortionate pack of Haribo for almost £5 and a small tube of Pringles for £2.50 at the airport, instead relying solely on the onboard perk that not many people know about.

I’ve been lucky enough to experience my fair share of long-haul flights over the years, with my first being a solo trip to China – what a way to throw me into the deep end. However, it was from these flights that I discovered what was nestled at the back of the plane for economy passengers: the snack basket.

I must have stumbled across it by chance, having nipped to one of the loos at the back of the plane, but there it was, amid the galley, a basket filled with snacks. I asked one of the cabin crew, having craved something sweet after dinner, and they cheerfully told me I could simply help myself.

There was a variety of treats, from a Cadbury chocolate bar and biscuits to mini pretzels and crisps – I was in heaven. After I chose my preferred movie snacks, a sweet and savoury option, I asked if I could take a drink from the tray filled with orange and apple juice, and they happily handed me one over. Unlimited drinks, yes please.

You can also ask the cabin crew in the galley for a hot drink, such as tea or coffee, so you don’t have to wait until they come around during the next service. If you’re lucky, sometimes you can even find cans of beer or glasses of wine in the galley – it’s not just first-class passengers who get to enjoy some perks.

Over the years, I’ve taken full advantage of the back-of-the-plane snacks. One highlight was during a trip to Japan with British Airways, when I discovered a basket filled with super noodle pots available for economy passengers, which the cabin crew filled with hot water before I returned to my seat.

Another personal favourite was when I picked up a pack of caramel stroop wafels during a flight from the Dominican Republic. Not to mention the never-ending supply of crispy snacks and biscuits I’ve found in the galley during my flights with Emirates, or the tub of ice cream I was handed during a flight to Florida.

The economy class complimentary snacks and drinks are available on most long-haul flights with various airlines. Availability can be limited, but there are typically lots of goodies to choose from, and they are in addition to the full meal and drinks service.

During my travels, I’ve never actually seen the free snacks and drinks advertised for those flying in economy class. Yes, you get a pre-dinner drink and wine with your meal, but when you’re settling into a movie, it’s nice to have some additional snacks, not to mention how dehydrated we can feel due to the low humidity in the cabin.

So it’s unsurprising that many travellers, even those who are frequent jetsetters, have gone blissfully unaware of the goodies that are available just a few aisles away. So the next time you question that packet of £5 Haribo before that long-haul flight, it might be worth waiting to see what nibbles are waiting onboard.