Sep 24, 2019, 9:23 am
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
Apr 10, 2019, 10:57 am
#991
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Just wanted to report that our recent r/t SEA-AMS the pre-order worked perfectly for my spouse and I. I do wish they would include the pre-arrival meal with this, or, alternately, allow one to order a special meal for the pre-arrival but choose the main meal.
Because the special meals tend to be SO SO AWFUL, the pre-ordering allows those of us who are dairy vegetarian or pescatarian or have other restrictions to choose something from the main menu if it meets our needs and not have to order something that is likely to inedible from the special meal menu. However, we are then often stuck with a pre-arrival meal that does not meet our needs. It seems like they should be able to do this just as easily.
Because the special meals tend to be SO SO AWFUL, the pre-ordering allows those of us who are dairy vegetarian or pescatarian or have other restrictions to choose something from the main menu if it meets our needs and not have to order something that is likely to inedible from the special meal menu. However, we are then often stuck with a pre-arrival meal that does not meet our needs. It seems like they should be able to do this just as easily.
Apr 10, 2019, 12:42 pm
#992
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: DL; AA; UA; CO; LHLX; NZ; QR; EK; BA
Posts: 7,404
Plus pretty sure fish is not completely gone from the menu and we will see 'salmon tataki' as a starter in the AMS-US 2019 spring menu later this week 
Add to that; betting that the 'almost there' options 'Cuban pork sandwich' or the 'mixed green salad with grilled chicken' are also the same as the March 2019 spring menu (and 2018 spring menu).
Add to that; betting that the 'almost there' options 'Cuban pork sandwich' or the 'mixed green salad with grilled chicken' are also the same as the March 2019 spring menu (and 2018 spring menu).
TATL D1 menus are currently on a 3 month rotating cycle; the current Spring menu started in March 2019, so the summer menu won't start till June.
Apr 10, 2019, 2:38 pm
#993
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pagus Bracbatensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Programs: DL SPlat, KLM Bump, Privium Plus, GOES
Posts: 2,065
Will find out next month, last year there was also the 'spring menu' but there was a 4/18 and 5/18 'spring menu' with slightly different options
Apr 10, 2019, 3:32 pm
#994
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: Delta Platinum/1MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 652
Reporting on AMS-BOS from a few weeks ago, the Cuban sandwich from the "Almost There" selections is excellent.
Also, on the special meals, my wife had pre-ordered the non-dairy vegetarian for both TATL segments. For the segment to Europe (we flew DTW-LHR), everything was perfect. For the return (AMS-BOS), the catering company seemed to group all vegetarian dishes as the same "Asian Vegetarian" selection, and my wife was not happy. Thankfully, one FA was very sympathetic and was able to get a spare pasta meal from coach for her.
Also, on the special meals, my wife had pre-ordered the non-dairy vegetarian for both TATL segments. For the segment to Europe (we flew DTW-LHR), everything was perfect. For the return (AMS-BOS), the catering company seemed to group all vegetarian dishes as the same "Asian Vegetarian" selection, and my wife was not happy. Thankfully, one FA was very sympathetic and was able to get a spare pasta meal from coach for her.
Apr 15, 2019, 11:47 am
#995
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Delta DM MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite, TSA Pre-Check
Posts: 341
Was curious if someone could answer this question. I am currently booked on a ATL-LAS flight on a paid F ticket. I am booked on an early morning flight but plan to SDC to a later flight. If I SDC and the flight I am going to take is more than 24 hours prior to my departure time will I be able to call and pre-select a meal?
Apr 15, 2019, 7:48 pm
#997
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PNS
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA
Posts: 700
Was curious if someone could answer this question. I am currently booked on a ATL-LAS flight on a paid F ticket. I am booked on an early morning flight but plan to SDC to a later flight. If I SDC and the flight I am going to take is more than 24 hours prior to my departure time will I be able to call and pre-select a meal?
Apr 16, 2019, 8:52 am
#998
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Apr 23, 2019, 11:24 am
#999
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
I just got the preselect email for my thousand mile mainline LUNCH flight with exactly these options. It's not a route where I would expect a particularly better meal or other special treatment, although it's not a leisure route either.
Apr 23, 2019, 12:32 pm
#1000
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL MM (thanks PMNW!), DL PM, UA PLT, just about every darn hotel program-generally GOLD type level
Posts: 783
Was able to preorder dinner for last night’s AUS-MSP. The Beef/Pork Meatballs were surprisingly good. Other choice was Pesto Chicken (cold salad)
Apr 23, 2019, 12:44 pm
#1001
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I have noticed that they now, on domestic flights, seem to be offering two meat options instead of one meat and one vegetarian (pasta) dish. This is disappointing considering how extremely bad the special vegetarian meals are.
Apr 23, 2019, 1:02 pm
#1003
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Was curious if someone could answer this question. I am currently booked on a ATL-LAS flight on a paid F ticket. I am booked on an early morning flight but plan to SDC to a later flight. If I SDC and the flight I am going to take is more than 24 hours prior to my departure time will I be able to call and pre-select a meal?
I've been wondering the same. Does DL send out the preselect email in one batch, at about T-72? Or are there either additional sweeps or emails sent individually when a FC ticket is purchased within T-72 to T-24? My impression is that elites getting upgrades in advance do get the email when the upgrade clears before T-24, or is there some cutoff for this?
Apr 23, 2019, 7:37 pm
#1005
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
I wonder if the charcuterie plate will be similar to the deli meat plate that has been around for awhile and they just gave it a fancier name.