It’s B.Y.O. snacks for thousands of Delta passengers.
Starting May 19, Delta Air Lines will no longer offer food and beverage service on 450 daily flights.
The removal of in-flight meals, snacks or drinks will apply to shorter flights, 349 miles or less, though those flying in first-class will still get the full service.
“Beginning May 19, Delta is adjusting onboard beverage service to create a more consistent experience across our network,” a Delta spokesperson told People.
“Customers traveling in Delta Comfort and Delta Main on flights 350 miles and above will now receive full beverage and snack service, while shorter flights will no longer offer food and beverage service — with the exception of Delta First, which always receives full service.”
The in-flight service change will affect about 450 flights every day, which is about 9% of Delta’s flights.
Since 2015, Delta has not offered food and beverage service on flights under 250 miles, and the new change expands that. Flights under 349 miles switched from full service to express service in 2017.
Currently, Delta flights of 251 miles or more offer at least one complimentary snack and beverages to all cabins.
Passengers on shorter flights will now see a downgrade in service, but Delta will now offer full food and beverage service on flights of 350 miles or more — about 14% of its daily flights — for Delta Comfort and Delta Main Cabin passengers.
Previously, flights between 350 and 499 miles only received express service, and the new change will bring full service to those flights.
Delta First customers will continue to receive full service on all flights, no matter the distance.
“Even on the small number of flights without beverage service, our crew will continue to be visible, available, and focused on caring for our customers, like they do on every flight,” the airline added.
Delta isn’t the only major carrier to not provide in-flight service on shorter flights.
United Airlines only offers snacks on flights over 300 miles, while American Airlines and Southwest Airlines don’t offer food or beverages on flights under 250 miles.
Delta still has the highest minimum distance for snack service among legacy carriers at 350 miles.
Travelers on social media were seemingly irritated by the news.
“Meanwhile, Delta is the premium airline charging 30% more than all others. This is ridiculous,” one person commented on Instagram.
“Take take take but charge more,” another wrote.
“Farewell, SunChips and water, you saved so many travelers from starvation,” a Reddit user said.
“Didn’t the CEO call Delta a ‘premium’ airline? Such nonsense,” one questioned.
Many even linked the decision back to Spirit Airline’s shutdown.
“Damn. Spirit ain’t been down for a full day,” someone said.
“Every time an airline dies, the legacy carriers take away a perk,” a user added.
“I was wondering what airline would move to fill Spirit’s void. I didn’t expect it to be Delta,” one wrote.
“When you lose your competition, might as well increase profit,” another noted.
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