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
Nov 22, 2021, 11:08 am
#1396
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: DL 4MM; DM
Posts: 1,397
The slice was pre-packaged.
Nov 22, 2021, 1:43 pm
#1397
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
Was really surprised to see 5 choices on D1 LAX-JFK pre order. Chicken picatta, a veggie dish featuring broccoli, pork shoulder, a beef dish and the usual J & V meatballs when departing LAX. This was for the 11:59pm red eye too. Def all sounds good and more than what I am used to with AA especially for such a late departing flight.
How come DL doesnt do pre order earlier than 3 days? If one makes their reservation more than 3 days out they wont know to pre select? I guess they send the email but for me I didnt get an email I had to look in the app and choose "view more" and then saw meal choice-select and from there I could select.
How come DL doesnt do pre order earlier than 3 days? If one makes their reservation more than 3 days out they wont know to pre select? I guess they send the email but for me I didnt get an email I had to look in the app and choose "view more" and then saw meal choice-select and from there I could select.
Nov 22, 2021, 4:39 pm
#1398
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,034
As promised, after bidding adieu to the Sad Boxes, here is a pic of my breakfast this morning on AA (DCA - DFW). Bevvies still in paper / plastic, but food in crockery on a tray with metal cutlery.
Croissant (with cheese and egg salad) was cold but not too bad. The bowl of fresh fruit was lovely and the blueberries livened up the cereal thing (chia?) which was ok. Big improvement on DL not having pigs feeding out of their troughs.
Croissant (with cheese and egg salad) was cold but not too bad. The bowl of fresh fruit was lovely and the blueberries livened up the cereal thing (chia?) which was ok. Big improvement on DL not having pigs feeding out of their troughs.
Nov 22, 2021, 6:24 pm
#1399
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 74
Scheduled to fly redeye DL1602 SEA-DTW in FC on the A339. Online says no meal and my understanding is that since this flight departs at 23:00 there is no snack box. Will there be drinks/snacks or will nothing be catered?
Nov 22, 2021, 6:32 pm
#1400
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Premier Gold
Posts: 2,936
No fresh "sad box" but probably a variety of shelf stable snacks, either in the form of Bistro/Market boxes or snack basket. Things in the basket lately include granola bars, potato chips, Goldfish, pretzels, Biscoff, almonds and chocolate chip cookies. I have not seen a banana in a basket since March of 2020.
Nov 22, 2021, 7:52 pm
#1401
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
Looks like updated D1 meals out of LAX coming. Flex LAX-BOS recently and had choice of 3 items, had the meatballs which was quite good. Have another trip and my ruc cleared and the meal choices are 5 items - marinara braised meatballs, chicken piccata, grilled broccolini (veggie meal), herb crusted salmon, and roast pork shoulder sandwich.
Nov 22, 2021, 7:54 pm
#1402
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
AMS-MSP.
Pleasant, friendly & attentive crew. Prosecco offered as PDB.
Pre-selected one of the 'limited'options; Pan fried cod with lobster sauce and baby dutch shrimp, sauteed spinach, pickled red onions and roasted new potatoes. Enjoyed it, the cod was a little bit dry.
Almost there: good old crabcake salad (other choice was the hamburger)
Pleasant, friendly & attentive crew. Prosecco offered as PDB.
Pre-selected one of the 'limited'options; Pan fried cod with lobster sauce and baby dutch shrimp, sauteed spinach, pickled red onions and roasted new potatoes. Enjoyed it, the cod was a little bit dry.
Almost there: good old crabcake salad (other choice was the hamburger)
Nov 22, 2021, 7:58 pm
#1403
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
Those meatballs are from Jon and Vinny's restaurants in Los Angeles. They are really great when served in the restaurant along with some fresh ricotta and delicious garlic toast. Not sure how well they will travel. I live close to their Brentwood location and when delivered or packed to go, not nearly as good as the dish served in restaurant. Still a better choice than most airplane food.
As far as their catering on D1 I actually did a self imposed boycott since summer of 2018 b/c 3 straight J & V meals were absolute crap. The salads & salad dressings were horrible. And I agree the meatballs looks great and i love ricotta but I dont eat red meat so I cant partake. First D1 LAX J&V flight in 39 months later this week. Hope its good.
Nov 22, 2021, 8:19 pm
#1404
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
These are actually the exact options on my JFK-CDG flight this coming Saturday, NOT doing the Cioppino but am conflicted between the short rib and the meatballs - anybody have this variation of the meatballs? Or the chicken thigh? Similiar dishes to the meatballs seem to have good reviews here. This is my first D1 flight ever (mileage needed was low) - Flying Economy on the way back so this is my one chance to enjoy D1.
Nov 22, 2021, 9:28 pm
#1405
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: 27,042
These are actually the exact options on my JFK-CDG flight this coming Saturday, NOT doing the Cioppino but am conflicted between the short rib and the meatballs - anybody have this variation of the meatballs? Or the chicken thigh? Similiar dishes to the meatballs seem to have good reviews here. This is my first D1 flight ever (mileage needed was low) - Flying Economy on the way back so this is my one chance to enjoy D1.
Nov 22, 2021, 9:57 pm
#1406
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
So hold on a second - I booked J from NYC to/from Caribbean over New Year's, and the mid-day departure is listed as "lunch" and the late afternoon departure is listed as "dinner". That normally means a "real" meal, whereas if it was a snack box it would just say "snacks", right? Or are they really still just doing the cold meal boxes?
Nov 22, 2021, 10:30 pm
#1407
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: MCO
Programs: Delta 360/DM/3MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 729
Had some new options today on the lunch flight from DTW-MCO. They were the salmon salad, foccacia sandwich (they ran out so don't know what is actually on it), and the prosciutto sandwich. I had the salad...maybe four pieces of salmon with some lettuce, a few small slices cucumbers and radishes and some little green circles (peas?). Same crackers as the last salad and a chocolate chip cookie from a brand I hadn't seen before.
Nov 22, 2021, 11:11 pm
#1408
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
So hold on a second - I booked J from NYC to/from Caribbean over New Year's, and the mid-day departure is listed as "lunch" and the late afternoon departure is listed as "dinner". That normally means a "real" meal, whereas if it was a snack box it would just say "snacks", right? Or are they really still just doing the cold meal boxes?
The transition from snack box to cold meal boxes occurred from late July through mid-September and the Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner listings for meal service were used to identify which flights had moved from snack boxes to the cold meal boxes (they started with 1500+ mile flights first). They are definitely not an indication a flight will have hot meals. Hot meals are rumored to be returning to FC in 1Q 2022, but there have been no public announcements from DL (see WIkipost at top).
Last edited by xliioper; Nov 23, 2021 at 12:44 am
Nov 22, 2021, 11:30 pm
#1409
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,885
Breakfast options were charcuterie, cioppino (nobody selected this) or smoked salmon. I had the salmon and it was outstanding! Huge pile of smoked salmon (maybe 6 oz?) and with a caper, cream cheese, crackers, pickled onions and something else. The lunch/dinner options have been awful, but breakfast is significantly improved over the pre-COVID cheerios and other cheap garbage.
Nov 23, 2021, 6:16 am
#1410
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: VIE/PRG
Programs: FB Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,592
Going through the thread it looks like we can expect decent service on LAX-HNL-ATL-JFK? I guess drinks in plastic but that wouldn't be the US I guess.