Jul 8, 2021, 6:40 am
Last edit by: xliioper
Current 2021 First Class meal service status -- Current FC meal service consists of cold meal boxes with the exception of JFK-SEA and BOS-SEA/SFO FC marketed flights which receive hot meal service. This includes both domestic and international DL FC marketed flights. Otherwise, only D1 marketed flights receive hot meals. All flights over 900 miles which depart before 9PM receive meal service in FC. In addition, flights over 2300 miles will receive meal service in FC for departures after 9PM.
There have been no official announcements from DL concerning when hot meals will return to FC, however, it is rumored it will return Q1 2022.
Click here for the 2017 version of this thread.
Click here for the 2018/2019 version of this thread.
Click Here for the 2020 (Prior to COVID) Version of this thread
2020/Early 2021 - COVID Inflight Version of this Thread
There have been no official announcements from DL concerning when hot meals will return to FC, however, it is rumored it will return Q1 2022.
Click here for the 2017 version of this thread.
Click here for the 2018/2019 version of this thread.
Click Here for the 2020 (Prior to COVID) Version of this thread
2020/Early 2021 - COVID Inflight Version of this Thread
Delta In-Flight Meal/Food Service: The Definitive Thread — 2021 Edition
Dec 24, 2021, 12:59 pm
#1621
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,885
Was offered what I presume was the same pastrami sandwich, a salami / mozzarella cheese plate or mozzarella/tomato grain bowl on my flight today. Went for the salami plate, was OK, but Delta needs to get back go it’s standard first class catering ASAP, they are charging top dollar for F nowadays
Dec 24, 2021, 1:46 pm
#1622
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,474
It’s a shame they can’t at least have the FAs heat up the sandwiches, even if they are still served in a box. (I think I’ve received warm sandwiches in boxes in coach in the past, like on certain international flights on other carriers.)
Dec 24, 2021, 3:03 pm
#1623
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: DL DM 3MM 360
Posts: 372
If discount euro airlines like Ryanair and easyJet can serve/sell heated sandwiches so can delta!
Dec 24, 2021, 3:26 pm
#1624
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,856
BOI-ATL yesterday. Lunch choices were a grain bowl, turkey and brie sandwich, or salmon salad. I went with the salmon salad because I remembered the grain bowl being underwhelming and I don't like brie. Big mistake. The portion size was tiny. The salmon itself was pretty good, but the rest of the dish was awful. The greens consisted of a couple of green beans and a few sprouts. The pumpkin swirl bread (I've seen pics in earlier threads), however, was better than it looked.
Dec 24, 2021, 5:02 pm
#1625
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Dec 24, 2021, 5:18 pm
#1626
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,033
They have no plates on board. An FA tried to heat up my frozen sad box before I gave up on domestic DL but had to put the whole box in, creating a fire risk, so didn't leave it in for long, so still frozen after, but box was warm. It's just an abomination the whole thing.
Dec 24, 2021, 6:00 pm
#1627
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,474
They have no plates on board. An FA tried to heat up my frozen sad box before I gave up on domestic DL but had to put the whole box in, creating a fire risk, so didn't leave it in for long, so still frozen after, but box was warm. It's just an abomination the whole thing.
Dec 24, 2021, 6:20 pm
#1628
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,033
Agree and it's not occasional - the freezing is fairly common. And as you say, even when not frozen, slightly warm would be nice. Still, serving crap in a box when charging >$1k a seat is an abomination. I've switched to AA.... who just canceled my flight tomorrow :-(
Dec 25, 2021, 3:39 am
#1629
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Found one person who's not complaining about the service cuts
Dec 25, 2021, 5:24 am
#1630
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: KANSAS CITY
Programs: DL DM, MARRIOTT AMBASSADOR LIFETIME TITANIUM
Posts: 453
Was offered what I presume was the same pastrami sandwich, a salami / mozzarella cheese plate or mozzarella/tomato grain bowl on my flight today. Went for the salami plate, was OK, but Delta needs to get back go it’s standard first class catering ASAP, they are charging top dollar for F nowadays
Dec 25, 2021, 8:17 am
#1631
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: London/JAX
Programs: DL PM, BA Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Radisson Premium, Global Entry, CLEAR
Posts: 870
That's actually too vague. Mayo Clinic thinks that COVID only lives in ovens on non Delta One routes, JFK-LAX ovens are safe from COVID. The 764s that fly JFK-LAX but also do non Delta One routes like ATL-SAN it then becomes a major safety hazard because it's not Delta One anymore 
Dec 25, 2021, 8:56 am
#1632
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb
Posts: 1,337
Dec 25, 2021, 11:06 am
#1633
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,032
I was 1A on DL1863 last night, was given the option of a pastrami sandwich, turkey or something she called soup. I opted for the Pastrami.
When it arrived bit into it, and well it was frozen solid, didn't feel like complaining so I just put it back in the box and munched on the chips.
15 minutes later FA comes to me and asked if my sandwich was frozen and apologized when I told her it was. She then came back with a turkey sandwich and one of the boxes that are sold in coach.
She also saw that I liked the chips so much she brought me some extra bags.
But Delta needs to do better, food shouldn't be frozen.
When it arrived bit into it, and well it was frozen solid, didn't feel like complaining so I just put it back in the box and munched on the chips.
15 minutes later FA comes to me and asked if my sandwich was frozen and apologized when I told her it was. She then came back with a turkey sandwich and one of the boxes that are sold in coach.
She also saw that I liked the chips so much she brought me some extra bags.
But Delta needs to do better, food shouldn't be frozen.
Dec 25, 2021, 11:35 am
#1634
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA silver, Bonvoy silver
Posts: 2,819
Oh yes, totally get they can’t heat up what is being served now; but what the catering planners could do is have the sandwiches provisioned in oven safe packaging (like another poster reminded us that ULLCs in Europe do for their coach buy on board)… not just to alleviate this occasionally issue with the dry ice freezing the sandwiches, but it might actually make the sandwiches a lot more palatable.
Dec 25, 2021, 12:11 pm
#1635
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.4MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,213
AMS-ATL on 12/21 on the A350 happy to report real glassware is back. Identical service to pre-Covid except 1 tray. Food was fine. I was supposed to fly MXP to JFK on EK F but I had every single item I own stolen from above my head on the Thalys from Paris to Amsterdam in First Class so had to cut my trip short and get back to start dealing with insurance just in time for Christmas! Yay!
