ATL - ANC meals for purchase?
Jan 14, 2019, 9:08 am
#1
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ATL - ANC meals for purchase?
Just booked ATL to ANC direct flight and my receipt says "meals available for purchase". I assumed (obviously wrongly), that a complimentary meal would be served on a flight of this length. Is this correct? Return flight has stop in SEA so didn't expect a complementary meal on either this or SEA-ATL.
Jan 14, 2019, 9:31 am
#2
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It's not so much flight length but competition in a market that determines meal service on domestic routes. DL has no competition for non-stops on ATL-ANC, so there you are.
Select is the key word here. https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...utes/97997860/
Select is the key word here. https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...utes/97997860/
Jan 14, 2019, 9:37 am
#3
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US carriers do not generally serve meals on domestic flights in Y. There are some very limited exceptions, not applicable here. Time and distance not relevant.
Be aware that food stock is very limited and that it would be quite usual for your selection or any selection to be available, all depending on where you sit. A strong piece of advice to bring with you whatever it is that you need for any domestic US flight.
Be aware that food stock is very limited and that it would be quite usual for your selection or any selection to be available, all depending on where you sit. A strong piece of advice to bring with you whatever it is that you need for any domestic US flight.
Jan 14, 2019, 9:40 am
#4
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It's not so much flight length but competition in a market that determines meal service on domestic routes. DL has no competition for non-stops on ATL-ANC, so there you are.
Select is the key word here. https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...utes/97997860/
Select is the key word here. https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...utes/97997860/
Jan 14, 2019, 9:48 am
#5
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While you're correct that it's market driven, ATL-HNL, MSP-HNL, and soon DTW-HNL have no nonstop competition either, yet these routes do receive complimentary meals while conversely, DL does compete against HA on a few West Coast to Hawaii routes (HNL, OGG, KOA, and LIH) yet HA gives free meals in Y while DL does not, so it's more than just whether a route has "nonstop competition" or not.
Jan 14, 2019, 9:56 am
#6
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Meals, such as they are, are provided when the competition calls for it. Has nothing to do with the length of the flight. DL was, at one point, providing a smallish sandwich on micro-haul Shuttle flights.
It's not worth parsing out the factors and I find it odd that anyone would choose a carrier for a long-haul flight based on whether there is a free wrap or not.
It's not worth parsing out the factors and I find it odd that anyone would choose a carrier for a long-haul flight based on whether there is a free wrap or not.
Jan 14, 2019, 10:01 am
#7
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I don't think anyone in this thread suggested that they would, or is that you think it's odd that DL offers food in select markets to be competitive?
Jan 14, 2019, 9:40 pm
#8
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Meals, such as they are, are provided when the competition calls for it. Has nothing to do with the length of the flight. DL was, at one point, providing a smallish sandwich on micro-haul Shuttle flights.
It's not worth parsing out the factors and I find it odd that anyone would choose a carrier for a long-haul flight based on whether there is a free wrap or not.
It's not worth parsing out the factors and I find it odd that anyone would choose a carrier for a long-haul flight based on whether there is a free wrap or not.
Jan 15, 2019, 8:59 am
#9
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There are some exceptions. Six flights (the three airport pairs cited, bidirectionally) doesn't change the value of the generalization. Look at the city pairs in the link I provided where DL brought back domestic coach food service: there's a competitor (or more) on every route. Why those, and not every route longer than x,xxx miles?
Jan 15, 2019, 9:06 am
#10
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Competitors provide meals in economy on long flights to Hawaii. They don't provide meals on the longer flights to Alaska. That's simply the difference.
The BOS-SEA/SFO/LAX is similar to the LAX/SFO-NYC exceptions-transcon markets that tend to get a premium over other markets.
I too wish that airlines went back to providing meals on all longer flights, but I don't see it happening soon.
The BOS-SEA/SFO/LAX is similar to the LAX/SFO-NYC exceptions-transcon markets that tend to get a premium over other markets.
I too wish that airlines went back to providing meals on all longer flights, but I don't see it happening soon.
Jan 15, 2019, 9:07 am
#11
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Also Delta is now providing (albeit light) meals on flights like BOS-SEA/LAX/SFO in Y, but not on routes like ANC-ATL or MIA-SEA which are longer flights. Wish Delta would just establish a blanket rule of flights over 6 hours get free meals in Y. The free meals in Y on BOS-SEA probably cost Delta $2 (it's just a luovo wrap).
Jan 15, 2019, 9:19 am
#12
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The quality of "to go" food available on airport concourses has improved so much over the last decade that it would still beat any domestic Y meal especially considering the increase in fare they would charge for the privilege of domestic Y dining systemwide on certain lengths. There is no free lunch.
To take it a step further, availability of domestic Delta One is also driven by competition.
DL's "hometown" airline has ZERO domestic D1 flights to/from ATL.
No Jet Blue Mint in ATL is one reason.
Competition on a given route affects the level of in-flight service in all cabins.
To take it a step further, availability of domestic Delta One is also driven by competition.
DL's "hometown" airline has ZERO domestic D1 flights to/from ATL.
No Jet Blue Mint in ATL is one reason.
Competition on a given route affects the level of in-flight service in all cabins.
Jan 15, 2019, 9:30 am
#13
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None of those examples are of the very short micro-haul routes (Shuttle) which demonstrate that block time is not a determinant, Please don't presume to suggest that others have or have no read something.