Delta Cuts Complimentary Snacks and Drinks on Short-Haul Flights

Travelers booked on Delta Air Lines may want to bring their own snacks starting May 19. The airline is overhauling its in-flight food and beverage service, removing complimentary offerings on certain short routes while keeping them on longer ones. Delta says the change is designed to create a more consistent experience across its network. The key factor is flight distance. On flights longer than 350 miles, passengers in Delta Comfort and Main Cabin will still get full beverage and snack service. But on shorter flights—like Chicago to Minneapolis—those same passengers will no longer receive complimentary water, coffee, tea, or snacks. Previously, they had at least two options. Delta First passengers are unaffected and will continue to get full service. Flights under 250 miles, such as Los Angeles to San Diego, already lacked food and drink service and remain unchanged. A Delta spokesperson stressed that even on flights without beverage service, crew members will remain visible and attentive. If your flight is under an hour, plan accordingly. For perspective, American Airlines offers complimentary snacks on flights over 250 miles, and United does the same on routes over 300 miles. So Delta’s new threshold is notably higher, leaving some short-haul flyers empty-handed.