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
Sep 28, 2021, 12:45 pm
#1006
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; OW Emerald; MVP Gold 100k;Marriott/SPG LTPlat; HH Diamond
Posts: 965
Sep 28, 2021, 3:44 pm
#1007
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
Programs: I've gone underground!
Posts: 4,589
OK, so I'm struggling with this one... on flights Sunday and again today from ATL-SLC and v/v, they ran out of sad boxes before they got to me. I really don't understand how this happens. Today sucked because I had only a 35 minute layover in SLC and couldn't get any real food in the airport before getting on the plane... and my departing airport didn't have any open restaurants. So some food would have been nice.
Sep 28, 2021, 7:04 pm
#1008
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 38
Flew JFK-LAS-JFK on Delta One (767-300 there, 767-400 back) last week and ugh, pretty gross. The mozzarella sandwich was freezing cold (you can see how weirdly dark the arugula in the pic below is, indicating it had been cold to nearly or past frozen at some point). Also who puts mayo on a mozzarella sandwich? I ended up taking one bite before deciding it definitely wasn't worth the calories. Cookie was fine.
On the way back I got the banana bread, which was actually very good but MINISCULE. Should have come with a full size portion of fruit on the side.
LAS-JFK had no pass of the snack basket: we were handed mini pretzels and Biscoff and didn't see the FAs for most of the rest of the flight. On the way back, or friendly FAs walked through the cabin with the full snack basket and let us have as much as we wanted.
Very grateful for the food in SkyClub on my way out of JFK, but I was so hungry when I landed after my early morning return flight that I visited the JFK club on my way out of the airport to grab a banana and biscotti to eat in my cab!
On the way back I got the banana bread, which was actually very good but MINISCULE. Should have come with a full size portion of fruit on the side.
LAS-JFK had no pass of the snack basket: we were handed mini pretzels and Biscoff and didn't see the FAs for most of the rest of the flight. On the way back, or friendly FAs walked through the cabin with the full snack basket and let us have as much as we wanted.
Very grateful for the food in SkyClub on my way out of JFK, but I was so hungry when I landed after my early morning return flight that I visited the JFK club on my way out of the airport to grab a banana and biscotti to eat in my cab!
Sep 28, 2021, 7:23 pm
#1010
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: 27,040
Delete
Sep 28, 2021, 7:24 pm
#1011
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: 27,040
Flew JFK-LAS-JFK on Delta One (767-300 there, 767-400 back) last week and ugh, pretty gross. The mozzarella sandwich was freezing cold (you can see how weirdly dark the arugula in the pic below is, indicating it had been cold to nearly or past frozen at some point). Also who puts mayo on a mozzarella sandwich? I ended up taking one bite before deciding it definitely wasn't worth the calories. Cookie was fine.
On the way back I got the banana bread, which was actually very good but MINISCULE. Should have come with a full size portion of fruit on the side.
LAS-JFK had no pass of the snack basket: we were handed mini pretzels and Biscoff and didn't see the FAs for most of the rest of the flight. On the way back, or friendly FAs walked through the cabin with the full snack basket and let us have as much as we wanted.
Very grateful for the food in SkyClub on my way out of JFK, but I was so hungry when I landed after my early morning return flight that I visited the JFK club on my way out of the airport to grab a banana and biscotti to eat in my cab!
On the way back I got the banana bread, which was actually very good but MINISCULE. Should have come with a full size portion of fruit on the side.
LAS-JFK had no pass of the snack basket: we were handed mini pretzels and Biscoff and didn't see the FAs for most of the rest of the flight. On the way back, or friendly FAs walked through the cabin with the full snack basket and let us have as much as we wanted.
Very grateful for the food in SkyClub on my way out of JFK, but I was so hungry when I landed after my early morning return flight that I visited the JFK club on my way out of the airport to grab a banana and biscotti to eat in my cab!
All meals for both directions come loaded this way. FA pulls them out just before boarding to allow to "warm" up.
Sep 28, 2021, 7:42 pm
#1012
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Premier Gold
Posts: 2,925
Just curious, how does this work with RONs at outstations? Catered from the hubs the afternoon before and sit in bags with ice all night?
Sep 28, 2021, 8:42 pm
#1013
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,548
flying SEA-JFK right after thanksgiving, noon departure. Any special meal experiences since they re-introduced meals? I feel like playing with fire and ordering the hindu/halal/kosher/asian veg meal LOL 
Pre-pandemic (ca. 2017/18), i ordered an asian veg meal on a SFO-SEA flight...thai veg curry....it was AMAZING, extremely flavorful, i still remember it, it was THAT good!.
Pre-pandemic (ca. 2017/18), i ordered an asian veg meal on a SFO-SEA flight...thai veg curry....it was AMAZING, extremely flavorful, i still remember it, it was THAT good!.
Sep 28, 2021, 9:07 pm
#1014
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern California
Programs: United MileagePlus Premier 1K, Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
Posts: 1,150
Sep 28, 2021, 9:13 pm
#1015
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,296
Whats the point of DL still having ovens onboard narrowbodies if they refuse to serve actual hot meals? I have never had good experiences with cold meals onboard DL with the exception of cereal as most of the time the food is essentially served frozen. On my recent two meal flights, I was served a frozen sandwich for Lunch and frozen oatmeal for breakfast. I complained and they threw a canned automated response and some miles my way to shut me up. Absolutely ridiculous that there are no hot meals at this point.
Sep 28, 2021, 9:20 pm
#1016
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: SJC
Posts: 1
Had one of these sad boxes on SEA -> ANC. The chicken salad sandwich actually tastes pretty good. Not bad for a midnight snack considering I already had salmon and asparagus at the SEA skyclub.
Sep 28, 2021, 10:52 pm
#1017
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 325
“Breakfast” this morning in D1 LAS-JFK.
Choices were coconut chia oatmeal, banana bread, or fruit cheese cold cut.
Banana bread box contents:
3 small pieces of banana bread … essentially one larger piece sliced three times. The banana bread measured about 2” x 1” x 1/2”.
HALF of a strawberry (Delta can’t afford to give an entire strawberry?!)
About 16 blueberries.
Three wooden spoonfuls of yogurt.
A bag of granola.
Pathetic to say the least.
Choices were coconut chia oatmeal, banana bread, or fruit cheese cold cut.
Banana bread box contents:
3 small pieces of banana bread … essentially one larger piece sliced three times. The banana bread measured about 2” x 1” x 1/2”.
HALF of a strawberry (Delta can’t afford to give an entire strawberry?!)
About 16 blueberries.
Three wooden spoonfuls of yogurt.
A bag of granola.
Pathetic to say the least.
Sep 29, 2021, 4:44 am
#1018
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,359
The Sad Boxes
Perhaps a movement to rename the “Sad boxes” the “Sad Ed boxes” could gain some traction and make an impact. Sadly, Ed has chosen to provide boxes which may be more suitable for, and more appropriately served in the main cabin, to his most profitable and most loyal customers in the premium cabin. Just Sad, Ed.
Sep 29, 2021, 6:08 am
#1020
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,033
I'm using up the Delta credits from my canceled trips last year before investigating new options. Unfortunately UA is the only one serving hot food and it flies out of IAD which is too much hassle to get to on public transport. If AA resumes hot meal service (and now that we're guaranteed no 35X departures from DCA), I'm switching. It is indeed a disgrace.
