Starting May 19, the airline will remove all food and beverage service on flights of 349 miles or less, affecting around 450 daily departures
Delta Air Lines is cutting food and beverage service on short flights, and the change takes effect soon. Beginning May 19, the Atlanta-based carrier will remove all in-flight food and drink offerings on routes of 349 miles or less. The adjustment affects roughly 450 daily flights, or about 9 percent of its total schedule. For travelers planning a quick hop this summer, that means no snacks and no drinks in the air.
Which flights lose service and which do not
The mileage cutoff is the key detail here. Delta will drop all food and beverage service on flights of 349 miles or less. Routes like Los Angeles to San Francisco fall into that category. On the other hand, flights of 350 miles or more will keep full food and beverage service for Delta Comfort and Delta Main Cabin passengers. That accounts for about 14 percent of the airline’s daily flights.
Delta First customers are the exception. They will continue to receive full service on all flights, regardless of distance.
What changes for passengers on board
Even on flights without beverage service, Delta says its crew will remain present and attentive. The airline noted that staff will still focus on customer care throughout the flight, just without the food and drink cart in the aisle.
Currently, Delta offers at least a complimentary snack and beverages on flights of 251 miles or more across all cabins. The May 19 change raises that threshold significantly. The airline framed the move as a way to create a more consistent experience across its network.
How Delta compares to other major carriers
Delta is not alone in pulling back service on shorter routes. In fact, other major U.S. airlines have operated this way for some time. United Airlines offers snacks only on flights over 300 miles. American Airlines does not provide food or beverages on flights under 250 miles at all. By those comparisons, Delta’s new 349-mile cutoff actually sets a higher bar than what American currently applies.
For frequent short-haul travelers, the adjustment is worth noting before the next booking. Passengers on affected routes may want to grab something at the airport before boarding, especially on early morning or midday departures where hunger tends to be a factor.
The change positions Delta more in line with the broader industry standard, even if it marks a step back from what the airline previously offered on its shorter routes.
Source: USA TODAY
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