Last edit by: michab
The following website seems to allow you to preview the menu options ahead of time: http://cloud.o.delta.com/fltInfo
The Delta App lets you pre-select meals 7 days prior to departure. You may or may not receive an email around the same time (it's inconsistent whether you even receive an email). On the "MY TRIPS" tab, any eligible trip in the list will have a SELECT YOUR ENTREE button; this also appears if you tap on a trip and are viewing the individual trip details. The app is able to handle selections for multiple passengers traveling on the same record (i.e. you will be able to make selections on behalf of traveling companions)
Sample screenshot:
PRE-COVID: If you don't get the email, or only one of multiple passengers receives the email*, you can ask a phone or Twitter/FB agent for the choices, and they can make your selection up until T-24h (not all agents are sharp about this, so you may need to explain that you want to pre-order a regular meal, *not* one of the special vegetarian/Kosher meals etc. HUCA as needed) Nowadays it is unclear if agents can even still do this (or if just the average phone/chat agent does not know how to do so anymore)
*If this happens, double check that you have an email address (for each passenger) in the reservation. (But this can happen at random anyway even if you do have an email address listed.)
The Delta App lets you pre-select meals 7 days prior to departure. You may or may not receive an email around the same time (it's inconsistent whether you even receive an email). On the "MY TRIPS" tab, any eligible trip in the list will have a SELECT YOUR ENTREE button; this also appears if you tap on a trip and are viewing the individual trip details. The app is able to handle selections for multiple passengers traveling on the same record (i.e. you will be able to make selections on behalf of traveling companions)
Sample screenshot:
PRE-COVID: If you don't get the email, or only one of multiple passengers receives the email*, you can ask a phone or Twitter/FB agent for the choices, and they can make your selection up until T-24h (not all agents are sharp about this, so you may need to explain that you want to pre-order a regular meal, *not* one of the special vegetarian/Kosher meals etc. HUCA as needed) Nowadays it is unclear if agents can even still do this (or if just the average phone/chat agent does not know how to do so anymore)
*If this happens, double check that you have an email address (for each passenger) in the reservation. (But this can happen at random anyway even if you do have an email address listed.)
Pre-ordering Meals on Delta, the Definitive Thread
#91
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
Yes upgrades should count at least somewhat. They're earned and sometimes also paid for with GUCs/RUCs/miles. By your logic, one could also argue that G A P fares shouldn't count either as the person hasn't paid the FULL F or FULL J/C fare and therefore should happily accept the leftovers.
In fact, why not make anyone in a premium cabin who hasn't paid the FULL F or FULL J/C fare wear sackcloth, a dunce cap, and a great big sign saying that they don't really deserve to be up front? FAs could make a point of serving them only coach meals or offering the coach food that's for sale (and charging an additional fee, in addition to the coach price, to bring it to the passenger in the premium cabin.
In fact, why not make anyone in a premium cabin who hasn't paid the FULL F or FULL J/C fare wear sackcloth, a dunce cap, and a great big sign saying that they don't really deserve to be up front? FAs could make a point of serving them only coach meals or offering the coach food that's for sale (and charging an additional fee, in addition to the coach price, to bring it to the passenger in the premium cabin.
Last edited by DL2SXM; Mar 25, 2016 at 6:24 am
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,193
My point of view is that if you're seated up front, it should be the same experience regardless of how you got there. Only caveat is if a DL non-rev then they should be asked to give up their meal etc if they run out and another pax wanted that selection.
#93
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Because they got an upgrade. Not a partial upgrade, not a kind of sort of upgrade, but an upgrade. Furthermore, most pax who get complimentary upgrades have paid for them by spending enough money to earn elite status. In fact, that DM who only buys Y tickets but has the "free" upgrade is a much more profitable customer than someone who only flies paid F a couple times a year.
#94
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
Because they got an upgrade. Not a partial upgrade, not a kind of sort of upgrade, but an upgrade. Furthermore, most pax who get complimentary upgrades have paid for them by spending enough money to earn elite status. In fact, that DM who only buys Y tickets but has the "free" upgrade is a much more profitable customer than someone who only flies paid F a couple times a year.
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
The probability of being unhappy is independent pf the number of passengers. It's always going to be a maximum of half. The number of unhappy is less with fewer but the chances are always the same if you haven't preselected as long as the rest of the assumptions you posit hold.
(1) We flip a coin 10 times. If the number of heads isn't 5, you pay me $10 each for the difference (either way, it represents an unhappy customer). Repeat 10 times. This is the probability of being unhappy with 10 passengers.
(2) We flip a coin 100 times. If the number of heads isn't 50, I pay you $10 each for the difference (either way). This is the probability of being unhappy with 100 customers.
You say they're equal, so that would be a fair bet. I'll pay you $20 to do it.
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I truly believe that paid F should get a decent meal, pre-ordered. Anyone else should have the option but at an extra fee, other wise you can get whatever is left on the food cart. Why should someone who got into F on a comp upgrade get the same meal as someone who paid for F?
#98
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
I truly believe that paid F should get a decent meal, pre-ordered. Anyone else should have the option but at an extra fee, other wise you can get whatever is left on the food cart. Why should someone who got into F on a comp upgrade get the same meal as someone who paid for F?
The pre-order does not take away a meal choice from a paid F pax.
The pre-order allows DL to correctly cater the plane with meals pax want.
It really is a no brainer to allow pre-selection, and should apply as broadly as the system can handle.
#99
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
if you buy an F fare, than you should automatically have the option to pre-order. You spent the money on the F fare, you deserve a decent meal. If you bought a coach fare and got upgraded one way or another, then choosing a meal should be in the trip extra section of the itin. You want a decent meal in F but you paid for Y, then pay for it or get whats left on the cart. Plain and simple. I would have no problem with this.
This is not the 90's anymore. To many people still have that entitlement attitude.
This is not the 90's anymore. To many people still have that entitlement attitude.
#100
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,108
Re: surplus meals - I take lots of ATL-LGA (and return) flights in 16F M88/M90s.
I very often hear the caterers talking to FAs and see the little checkboxes they draw on the manifest. I specifically have noticed over the past few months that they seem to load 9 of each meal, so one surplus of each. Just today I flew LGA-ATL and heard someone in the galley say "9 chicken salads, 9 strombolis".
I very often hear the caterers talking to FAs and see the little checkboxes they draw on the manifest. I specifically have noticed over the past few months that they seem to load 9 of each meal, so one surplus of each. Just today I flew LGA-ATL and heard someone in the galley say "9 chicken salads, 9 strombolis".
The ATL-LGA meal actually looked a lot better (ravioli or some shrimp thing), but the flights into LGA were all delayed due to wind and almost everyone just ate in the terminal.
#101
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
if you buy an F fare, than you should automatically have the option to pre-order. You spent the money on the F fare, you deserve a decent meal. If you bought a coach fare and got upgraded one way or another, then choosing a meal should be in the trip extra section of the itin. You want a decent meal in F but you paid for Y, then pay for it or get whats left on the cart. Plain and simple. I would have no problem with this.
This is not the 90's anymore. To many people still have that entitlement attitude.
This is not the 90's anymore. To many people still have that entitlement attitude.
#102
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
While this is not a direct quote, here's what I read:
if you buy an F fare, then you are entitled to pre-order. You spent the money on the F fare, you are entitled to a decent meal. If you bought a coach fare and got upgraded one way or another, then you are not entitled to choose a meal unless you pay extra. You want a decent meal in F but you paid for Y, then pay for it or get whats left on the cart. Plain and simple. I'm entitled to think this.
This is not the 90's anymore. To many people still have that entitlement attitude.
This is not the 90's anymore. To many people still have that entitlement attitude.
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
And on ABQ-ATL last week the FA's paperwork (clearly visible as she wrote the orders down) said 8/8 (8 grilled chicken salad, 8 turkey wrap). Of course, when the option is "which fowl meal do you want" maybe you don't need to load extra.
The ATL-LGA meal actually looked a lot better (ravioli or some shrimp thing), but the flights into LGA were all delayed due to wind and almost everyone just ate in the terminal.
The ATL-LGA meal actually looked a lot better (ravioli or some shrimp thing), but the flights into LGA were all delayed due to wind and almost everyone just ate in the terminal.