Snack Basket Losing Variety?
May 14, 2019, 8:03 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HHonrs Diamond
Posts: 1,336
So nobody this far is seeing the unique items mentioned above anymore. Add the stroopwaffles to that list.
Not sure why DL would cheapen their brand by stocking a bunch of unimaginative, 100 calorie snack bags that anyone can buy in bulk at Costco.
And if they are pushing being "healthy" then why drop the bananas which beat any manufactured processed food hands-down.
These 100 calorie bags just remind me what is inherently wrong with the mega-corporate processed food industry. They get us addicted to the stuff then think they look like saints by charging more per ounce, and rationing it out into 100 calorie bags. If I need to stop at 100 calories, I will simply save some of the snack bag for later.
The AS snack basket is now better than DL's by a mile.
The smaller unique snack brands and the variety gave DL a bit of class, and enhanced what is otherwise a very uniform experience among domestic premium products.
Over the last 10 years, how many people knew what a Biscoff cookie was before flying DL?
That item gave DL a little bit of class and uniqueness, and gave Biscoff a ton of business. They need to keep that going with the Michel et Augustin, Stroopwafel and other stuff that we cannot just find in our local grocery store and stick into our carry-ons before the trip.
Seems like somebody at DL corporate is mailing it in planning the snack baskets, because I doubt all of these smaller brands all priced themselves out of a huge bulk order simultaneously.
Not sure why DL would cheapen their brand by stocking a bunch of unimaginative, 100 calorie snack bags that anyone can buy in bulk at Costco.
And if they are pushing being "healthy" then why drop the bananas which beat any manufactured processed food hands-down.
These 100 calorie bags just remind me what is inherently wrong with the mega-corporate processed food industry. They get us addicted to the stuff then think they look like saints by charging more per ounce, and rationing it out into 100 calorie bags. If I need to stop at 100 calories, I will simply save some of the snack bag for later.
The AS snack basket is now better than DL's by a mile.
The smaller unique snack brands and the variety gave DL a bit of class, and enhanced what is otherwise a very uniform experience among domestic premium products.
Over the last 10 years, how many people knew what a Biscoff cookie was before flying DL?
That item gave DL a little bit of class and uniqueness, and gave Biscoff a ton of business. They need to keep that going with the Michel et Augustin, Stroopwafel and other stuff that we cannot just find in our local grocery store and stick into our carry-ons before the trip.
Seems like somebody at DL corporate is mailing it in planning the snack baskets, because I doubt all of these smaller brands all priced themselves out of a huge bulk order simultaneously.
May 14, 2019, 9:44 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
So nobody this far is seeing the unique items mentioned above anymore. Add the stroopwaffles to that list.
Not sure why DL would cheapen their brand by stocking a bunch of unimaginative, 100 calorie snack bags that anyone can buy in bulk at Costco.
And if they are pushing being "healthy" then why drop the bananas which beat any manufactured processed food hands-down.
These 100 calorie bags just remind me what is inherently wrong with the mega-corporate processed food industry. They get us addicted to the stuff then think they look like saints by charging more per ounce, and rationing it out into 100 calorie bags. If I need to stop at 100 calories, I will simply save some of the snack bag for later.
The AS snack basket is now better than DL's by a mile.
The smaller unique snack brands and the variety gave DL a bit of class, and enhanced what is otherwise a very uniform experience among domestic premium products.
Over the last 10 years, how many people knew what a Biscoff cookie was before flying DL?
That item gave DL a little bit of class and uniqueness, and gave Biscoff a ton of business. They need to keep that going with the Michel et Augustin, Stroopwafel and other stuff that we cannot just find in our local grocery store and stick into our carry-ons before the trip.
Seems like somebody at DL corporate is mailing it in planning the snack baskets, because I doubt all of these smaller brands all priced themselves out of a huge bulk order simultaneously.
Not sure why DL would cheapen their brand by stocking a bunch of unimaginative, 100 calorie snack bags that anyone can buy in bulk at Costco.
And if they are pushing being "healthy" then why drop the bananas which beat any manufactured processed food hands-down.
These 100 calorie bags just remind me what is inherently wrong with the mega-corporate processed food industry. They get us addicted to the stuff then think they look like saints by charging more per ounce, and rationing it out into 100 calorie bags. If I need to stop at 100 calories, I will simply save some of the snack bag for later.
The AS snack basket is now better than DL's by a mile.
The smaller unique snack brands and the variety gave DL a bit of class, and enhanced what is otherwise a very uniform experience among domestic premium products.
Over the last 10 years, how many people knew what a Biscoff cookie was before flying DL?
That item gave DL a little bit of class and uniqueness, and gave Biscoff a ton of business. They need to keep that going with the Michel et Augustin, Stroopwafel and other stuff that we cannot just find in our local grocery store and stick into our carry-ons before the trip.
Seems like somebody at DL corporate is mailing it in planning the snack baskets, because I doubt all of these smaller brands all priced themselves out of a huge bulk order simultaneously.
I think the unique products add not only class, but adds something interesting to look forward to. Junk I can get in a variety pack at the grocery store cheapens the experience.
I suppose the question is does the less variety basket influence flight purchase decisions. Other than death by a thousand cuts, this particular issue makes no difference in my choice of airline. I wonder if I am not alone and Delta figured this out?
However if they ever get rid of Biscoff... that is another story.
May 14, 2019, 9:48 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,182
When you fly a ton like many of us do I am a little bit sick of the Biscoff cookies-especially when sitting in F over Y and some variety or unique items like the french cookies would make yet another flight more bearable.
May 14, 2019, 10:35 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
The current snack basket is ideal for those of trying to insure we get our required daily dose of trans fatty acids, preservatives and various assorted other chemicals that are useful in killing rats.
I don't eat this crap at home, so do not see why I need to eat it just because I am stuck in a tube, Nobody dies of hunger on a plane.
I don't eat this crap at home, so do not see why I need to eat it just because I am stuck in a tube, Nobody dies of hunger on a plane.
May 14, 2019, 10:51 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR / BHX / MAN / ATL
Programs: DL DM 2MM - IHG Diamond
Posts: 4,053
Actually, the manufacturers pay DL to place their products in the basket. Sorta similar to supermarket slotting fees. So what we get is whatever a manufacturer is paying to slot. (I sat next to a snack food manufacturer exec on a DL flight a few years back that explained how it worked. His product was in the basket at that time and he said that his company paid DL $.25 per package to have it in the basket.)
May 14, 2019, 10:56 am
#24
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,884
Big decline in snacks ex-SEA as well. All but one trip has been west of the Rockies this year, but I have been in F on every flight. Several flights have only had biscoff, kind bars and almonds but most have been those three items plus a couple of heavily processed items like cheeze its or oreos.
May 14, 2019, 11:10 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HHonrs Diamond
Posts: 1,336
Actually, the manufacturers pay DL to place their products in the basket. Sorta similar to supermarket slotting fees. So what we get is whatever a manufacturer is paying to slot. (I sat next to a snack food manufacturer exec on a DL flight a few years back that explained how it worked. His product was in the basket at that time and he said that his company paid DL $.25 per package to have it in the basket.)
Easier to manage 3 slots than 8-10? Let the mega-corporate partner switch out stuff from their own portfolio en masse seasonally?
And who pays the slotting fee for the banana which seems to be disappearing?
For a company that is leading the pack with their domestic in-flight service, and trying hard to create value for paid C+ (just read their comments when the boarding order changed in January), this move just looks lazy and complacent.
May 14, 2019, 11:40 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,884
So simultaneously, they sell all of the "slots" to the mega-sized corporate processed food makers like Kellogg (Cheez-Its), Mondelez, and Kind (newer but still quite mega-corporate) over the lesser-known "treasure hunt" brands?
Easier to manage 3 slots than 8-10? Let the mega-corporate partner switch out stuff from their own portfolio en masse seasonally?
And who pays the slotting fee for the banana which seems to be disappearing?
For a company that is leading the pack with their domestic in-flight service, and trying hard to create value for paid C+ (just read their comments when the boarding order changed in January), this move just looks lazy and complacent.
Easier to manage 3 slots than 8-10? Let the mega-corporate partner switch out stuff from their own portfolio en masse seasonally?
And who pays the slotting fee for the banana which seems to be disappearing?
For a company that is leading the pack with their domestic in-flight service, and trying hard to create value for paid C+ (just read their comments when the boarding order changed in January), this move just looks lazy and complacent.
May 14, 2019, 1:19 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,240
Unfortunately the Oreos and cheeze its remind me more of my college dorm snack food than anything else, which was definitely not a premium experience. Nothing says classy like coffee in china, a tablecloth, and bag of Oreos I guess!
Bananas and almonds were my go tos. I’ve been settling for the kind bars most recently but I’d also like the old selection back
Bananas and almonds were my go tos. I’ve been settling for the kind bars most recently but I’d also like the old selection back
May 14, 2019, 7:24 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 909
Actually, the manufacturers pay DL to place their products in the basket. Sorta similar to supermarket slotting fees. So what we get is whatever a manufacturer is paying to slot. (I sat next to a snack food manufacturer exec on a DL flight a few years back that explained how it worked. His product was in the basket at that time and he said that his company paid DL $.25 per package to have it in the basket.)
Ohhhh wait...unless flight crew takes the remainders (I partially don't fault them) and the service count is good to DL.