NWA/Delta merger - no meals?
Aug 2, 2009, 12:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
NWA/Delta merger - no meals?
I'm flying from London Heathrow to Minneapolis in September.
Originally I was booked on an NWA flight which had 'Dinner' listed as a meal option. The flight is now to be operated by DELTA and the latest confirmation notice says 'No meals'.
On querying this with NWA I'm told that there is no meal as the plane leaves London after lunchtime and arrives in the US before supper. This means that we will be in the air for over 9 hours with no food provided (unless paid for).
Has anyone else heard this? Do you think it is reasonable for an airline to change terms like this? (are they legally able to?)
Your view would be appreciated.
Originally I was booked on an NWA flight which had 'Dinner' listed as a meal option. The flight is now to be operated by DELTA and the latest confirmation notice says 'No meals'.
On querying this with NWA I'm told that there is no meal as the plane leaves London after lunchtime and arrives in the US before supper. This means that we will be in the air for over 9 hours with no food provided (unless paid for).
Has anyone else heard this? Do you think it is reasonable for an airline to change terms like this? (are they legally able to?)
Your view would be appreciated.
Aug 2, 2009, 1:06 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: back to my roots in Scotland!
Programs: Tamsin - what else is there to say?
Posts: 47,843
Tonks, welcome to FT 
I'm going to move this over to the Northwest forum, where others may have experienced the same and may be able to help you. Please continue to follow it there.
Jenbel
Co-moderator, Communitybuzz!
I'm going to move this over to the Northwest forum, where others may have experienced the same and may be able to help you. Please continue to follow it there.
Jenbel
Co-moderator, Communitybuzz!
Aug 2, 2009, 3:52 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Upstate, NY
Posts: 3,360
Of course if this is coach, don't get too excited about the food, it will be pretty nasty and not very filling. I would recommend bringing a protein bar or something else high in protein since the meals/snacks/food tend to be pretty carb laden...
Aug 2, 2009, 3:53 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Upstate, NY
Posts: 3,360
Oh and Welcome To FlyerTalk!
Aug 2, 2009, 4:15 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,310
While it has a NW flight number, it's actually operated by DL. I'm 99.9% sure you'll get a meal and that the system is mistakenly applying domestic meal rules to an international flight.
Aug 2, 2009, 4:22 pm
#6
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 35,555
Even on a domestic flight, DL would feed you something after X hours. (and X does not equal nine) As someone else said, you will have a regular meal and some kind of pre-arrival snack meal.
Aug 2, 2009, 4:34 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still PAL Premier Elite & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 25,419
They probably feed you on TPAC & TATL runs so they won't be jailed for abuse on arrival ... and maybe (just maybe) because the competition is also feeding the self-loading-cargo in the back of the plane.
To the OP -- you'll get a probably decent meal shortly after takeoff. The snack served before landing tends to be going downhill these days on most airlines.
Last edited by MikeMpls; Aug 2, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Aug 2, 2009, 4:43 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MSN/HOU
Programs: DL Silver (0.239 MM), DL SkyClub Life, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,107
Welcome to FT! You're probably going to be looking at a standard meal service post departure, followed by a pizza box before arrival.
Aug 2, 2009, 5:29 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,558
Funny, there is very little info on meals on international flights, but a lot of info when it comes to domestic flights with food for purchase. According tohttp://www.delta.com/traveling_check....../dining.jsp:
"We offer complimentary meal service on most international flights (approximately 6 hours or longer) and select flights to Alaska and Hawaii."
I wonder how many "select" flights there are to Alaska and Hawaii that actually offer free meals? Are there any?
Aug 2, 2009, 6:49 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,501
Funny, there is very little info on meals on international flights, but a lot of info when it comes to domestic flights with food for purchase. According tohttp://www.delta.com/traveling_check....../dining.jsp:
"We offer complimentary meal service on most international flights (approximately 6 hours or longer) and select flights to Alaska and Hawaii."
I wonder how many "select" flights there are to Alaska and Hawaii that actually offer free meals? Are there any?
Aug 2, 2009, 7:17 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,425
Aug 2, 2009, 7:20 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Upstate, NY
Posts: 3,360
If only Air France had stipulated that food quality has to be decent too...
Aug 2, 2009, 7:55 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still PAL Premier Elite & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 25,419
Aug 3, 2009, 9:59 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,425