Will Delta ever restore complimentary economy meal service on transcons?
#16
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Complementary no. Complimentary maybe.

#17
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Does DL view *coach* on the domestic D1 flights as a different product compared to coach on regular domestic flights (of a certain length)? I could see DL thinking of certain routes as requiring better meals (this applies to domestic FC and certainly made a difference preCOVID-19 in terms of domestic FC catering) but should coach passengers pay attention to whether they're choosing a flight marketed as D1 rather than regular domestic FC for these longer domestic flights?

#18
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
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Posts: 3,989
Does DL view *coach* on the domestic D1 flights as a different product compared to coach on regular domestic flights (of a certain length)? I could see DL thinking of certain routes as requiring better meals (this applies to domestic FC and certainly made a difference preCOVID-19 in terms of domestic FC catering) but should coach passengers pay attention to whether they're choosing a flight marketed as D1 rather than regular domestic FC for these longer domestic flights?

#19
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Houston, TX
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I dont think UA has meals on the EWR-HNL in main cabin, so I dont think any of the carriers are rushing to do this
I remember in the mid-2000s CO was the only airline still offering meals to all Y passengers and it was a huge marketing campaign for them. I remember flying them for a mileage run when they were still sky team and I got the meal. and let's just say it wasn't anything worth clamoring for
I remember in the mid-2000s CO was the only airline still offering meals to all Y passengers and it was a huge marketing campaign for them. I remember flying them for a mileage run when they were still sky team and I got the meal. and let's just say it wasn't anything worth clamoring for

#20
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
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Posts: 3,989
Or is it D1 vs certain competitive routes? I know I flew a fair amount in 2018 and 2019 between ATL and SFO/SEA. I don't recall receiving a complementary meal in Y in 2018 or 2019. The linked article seems to indicate this was a trial between JFK//LAX/SFO, as well as certain transcon AS/B6 routes.
Delta Airlines offer free meals on these routes:
New York (JFK) to/from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), San Diego (SAN), Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX)
Washington D.C. (DCA) to/from Los Angeles (LAX)
Seattle (SEA) to/from Boston (BOS), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Orlando (MCO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Boston (BOS) to/from San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX)
Atlanta (ATL) to/from Honolulu (HNL)
New York (JFK) to/from Honolulu (HNL)
Minneapolis (MSP) to/from Honolulu (HNL)

#21
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
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Or is it D1 vs certain competitive routes? I know I flew a fair amount in 2018 and 2019 between ATL and SFO/SEA. I don't recall receiving a complementary meal in Y in 2018 or 2019. The linked article seems to indicate this was a trial between JFK//LAX/SFO, as well as certain transcon AS/B6 routes.

#22
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Traditionally, it might have been based more on whether the route is high yielding (business rather than leisure oriented traditionally) rather than competition. DL certainly wouldn't offer meals in order to compete with LCC/ULCC carriers, although DL might decide to compete by matching or at least lowering fares.

#24
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Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 853
That's really absurd.
Flying small regional airlines in Asia has been quite an eye opener. Thai Smile, VietJet, Airasia etc manage to provide hot meals on $35 fares for flights under 2 hours.
Even during covid, your meal would be handed to you upon exiting the aircraft, boxed, bagged, and hot.
Flying small regional airlines in Asia has been quite an eye opener. Thai Smile, VietJet, Airasia etc manage to provide hot meals on $35 fares for flights under 2 hours.
Even during covid, your meal would be handed to you upon exiting the aircraft, boxed, bagged, and hot.

#25
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,593
To be honest the meal quality has greatly diminished over recent times. At least in economy TransPacific - TransAtlantic. As such, I would rather not be charged for something I would rather not eat when flying Trans-Con. That is the meals are not complimentary nor are they complementary to flighting. As flight times are known I will pack a picnic or get something at the terminal or lounge ahead of time. I realize that is not always possible and why I always have a couple of granola bars or similar in my bag when traveling. Sometimes they get eaten sometimes not. Either way they are in my bag.

#27
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: US
Programs: AA/UA/DL
Posts: 2,724
I dont think UA has meals on the EWR-HNL in main cabin, so I dont think any of the carriers are rushing to do this
I remember in the mid-2000s CO was the only airline still offering meals to all Y passengers and it was a huge marketing campaign for them. I remember flying them for a mileage run when they were still sky team and I got the meal. and let's just say it wasn't anything worth clamoring for
I remember in the mid-2000s CO was the only airline still offering meals to all Y passengers and it was a huge marketing campaign for them. I remember flying them for a mileage run when they were still sky team and I got the meal. and let's just say it wasn't anything worth clamoring for
They just forgot to load the main course on my flight lol....

#28
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, IHG Diamond Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 6,064
That's really absurd.
Flying small regional airlines in Asia has been quite an eye opener. Thai Smile, VietJet, Airasia etc manage to provide hot meals on $35 fares for flights under 2 hours.
Even during covid, your meal would be handed to you upon exiting the aircraft, boxed, bagged, and hot.
Flying small regional airlines in Asia has been quite an eye opener. Thai Smile, VietJet, Airasia etc manage to provide hot meals on $35 fares for flights under 2 hours.
Even during covid, your meal would be handed to you upon exiting the aircraft, boxed, bagged, and hot.
Spirit and Frontier have been doing fairly well it seems… because it’s been shown time and time again that a large segment of passengers will just book whatever is cheapest.

#29
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
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Posts: 3,989
Yes, but I’d think Europe is probably ahead of N America in where service standards are going, and Asia behind. Europe is basically Ryanair service now; even pre-COVID BA switched to BOB where not even water was complimentary. (Understand that changed during COVID, but in large part because at the time it was deemed the BOB service kept the FAs in too much contact with the passengers.)
Spirit and Frontier have been doing fairly well it seems… because it’s been shown time and time again that a large segment of passengers will just book whatever is cheapest.
Spirit and Frontier have been doing fairly well it seems… because it’s been shown time and time again that a large segment of passengers will just book whatever is cheapest.
Beyond cultural acceptance of LCCs vs what we see in the US, European flights are generally a lot shorter than US flights so there’s less backlash for diminished service.

#30
Join Date: Dec 2007
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