Customers hit out at Delta Airlines over 'ridiculous' change to food and drink policy
Thousands of Delta Airlines customers will no longer qualify for the airline's in-flight food and beverage service as new mileage restrictions are issued.
It’s estimated that around 5,500 Delta flights jet off from airports every single day, with those travelling more than 251 miles offering at least one complimentary snack and drink to passengers.
But change is now afoot, with the company electing to downgrade service for around nine percent of its fleet.
From 19 May, anyone who is jetting off on a 350-mile or less trip in the Delta Main and Delta Comfort Cabin will no longer receive goodies from staff while onboard.
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The upcoming cull, which may impact around 450 daily journeys, comes as part of the company’s desire to ‘create a more consistent experience’ across its network, a spokesperson confirmed to People Magazine.
It’s believed that routes such as Boston to New York City, which take 85 to 90 minutes, will be impacted by the new rules.
Delta noted that many of the affected flights already had minimal or no service, so some routes won’t see much change, as per Fox News.
Amid the cut comes some positive news - customers travelling in Delta Comfort and Delta Main on flights 350 miles and above will now receive full beverage and snack service.
This upgraded service will be rolled out on around 14 percent of its flights.
Passengers flying Delta First Class will still receive the ‘full service’ of complimentary premium snacks, beer, wine, and spirits, regardless of how far their flight is.
The Delta spokesperson added: “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.”
People Magazine wrote that Delta has not offered food or beverage service on flights under 250 miles since 2015.
In 2017, express service, featuring staples such as tea, coffee, and water, was introduced for flights under 349 miles.
Delta purists are in uproar about the service downgrade, with one taking to X to write: “I’ll be bringing anchovy sandwiches onboard for now on.”
A second said: “Meanwhile I was just on an under 2 hour flight from Hong Kong to Taipei and got a full meal service. What the hell is wrong with the USA airlines?”
Another commented: “I’m loading my bag up with all sort of stuff from that lounge. Ima get my money’s worth!!!!”
“Meanwhile, Delta is the premium airline charging 30% more than all others. This is ridiculous,” a fourth claimed.
“Went from full meals, to barely snacks, to nothing,” someone else remarked.
Meanwhile, Lee Abbamonte, a New York-based travel expert, applauded Delta for the policy update.
"It's a reasonable decision,” he explained to Fox News. "Short flights don't need food and beverage — you're done in an hour and can easily plan ahead or just wait.”
Another X user added: "A 350-mile flight is less than 45 minutes. I don’t know why anyone would worry about this at all. They can hardly serve the plane in the amount of time they have between takeoff and landing.”
FOODbible has contacted Delta for comment.
Ella Scott