15k miles across seems unreasonably high to me. I guess I just view the statement about the meals as pointing out that this is a courtesy customer service gesture as opposed to compensation to which the passenger is entitled. This is similar to the "one-time courtesy" language that's often used.

We did not get to read the complaint that the OP wrote. If it said something along the lines of "I paid for first class and that includes a meal; I didn't get what I paid for" then I think that the response is reasonable to address that point. If not then I agree that it seems a little strange to bring it up out of the blue.

I'm any case I would be thrilled to trade an airline meal for 15k miles. The delay would be more annoying to me than the lack of a meal but we all know that these things happen occasionally.