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I recently posted about a “fix” for the ridiculously broken Fly Delta App that would not let you pre-order your Delta Air Lines First Class meal.
But I need to apologize for that post.
Why?
It does not work!
Delta has been trying to clean up the mess they have made over the past few months with the destruction of the elegant, fast and working Fly Delta App to a bloated, slow, and bug-riddled mess. That mess includes issues with ordering food.
On my recent amazing value award ticket plus RUC cert (I only paid 11,000 SkyPennies!) First Class flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Anchorage, Alaska (ANC), I decided to sit in the middle of the First Class cabin just in case the flight attendant did not follow FEBO, as the company directs them to, for meal selection just in case my meal selection did not hold.
Guess what.
It didn’t.
The simply OUTSTANDING Delta lead flight attendant, working only his third flight ever as lead, did follow FEBO. When he came to my row, he said, “You have not pre-ordered a meal” (oh, brother – really) “and your choices are…” At this point, all the choices were available so, no harm, no foul. But I was disappointed the pre-order failed.
I had the Delta burger that really was as good as it has ever been. Both top and bottom bread was crisp and firm and the burger:
Yeah, it was also perfect and juicy and I ate every bite. Other than missing a piece of cheese (and maybe a strip or two of bacon), this is so impressive for a burger at 30,000 feet.
My return flight from Vancouver departing at 1:00 PM was also listed as a lunch flight. But at the 7-day mark, the Fly Delta App did not alert me to make a meal choice. I decided, even with the failure from the outbound flight, to try to message Delta.
Sigh. I hate having to train reps on what both Delta.com says as well as the Fly Delta App. I informed them it was a meal flight and was sent to a next-level agent — and I got what you see above.
Sigh. As Yogi Berra would say, it’s like deja vu all over again. Rather than continuing with the messenger, I decided to call the medallion line.
The nice rep answered almost right away and informed me that my flight was not a meal flight. Sorry, there was nothing they could do.
Sigh. Time to HUCB.
I called back and, this time, talked to a much more competent-sounding rep who did agree that this long of a flight is, as stated on Delta.com, in fact, a lunch flight and she would do what it took to get a selection for me.
Almost 45 minutes on hold later (again on the “Diamond Line” for a simple meal request?), she at last said the choices were Beef, Chicken, or a salad option. I assumed, since these were the exact same choices as the outbound, if I chose beef, I would get another Delta burger!
Well, no, not so much.
On this flight, the very senior ex-NWA flight attendant did not follow FEBO and, during this odd-numbered flight, started in row one.
By the time she got to our row, we only had one choice: a sad cheese box (we frequent flyers call these lunch/dinner boxes a leftover from COVID days, as you can CLEARLY see from the wording inside the lid, a “sad box” or “sad boxes” as they really are sad).
Sigh! 🙁
THIS IS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM DELTA FIRST CLASS IN 2023!
Delta IT really was completely “out to lunch” on the IT side as well as the information so many reps shared with me. The flight attendant was also out to lunch by not following FEBO, not doing most of the other bits you used to expect in Delta First Class, like closing the curtain between coach and First and paying regular attention to those in first on a long flight.
Ah, well.
Delta is currently charging top premium prices for domestic First Class travel — and yet the meals are hit and miss (not to mention the IT system), the wines are horrible out of a can, and service I have found is either good (to very good) or just a tiny cut above Spirit Air. – René
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I agree 100%. Recently had the same issue with selecting meals before hand. Called the Diamond Line 4 times. No one knew how to find the selections or help me make a choice!!!! Also today, I’m flying internationally to BKK. Both the Delta app and delta.com would not allow me to complete my check in online. Tried at least 4 times. Called the Diamond Line. Got a rep in Singapore. After about 30 minutes with her (she called the IT people), she came back and told me that both the Delta App and delta.com are having “issues” that they are trying to correct, and it’s best if I check in on the KE site. She gave me that record locator, and I was able to check in and get my boarding passes in 2 minute. I find the Singapore DL agents among the very best!!!!
I definitely wouldn’t want to eat that box. How long has that been sitting around? A year or more? There’s just no reason for that. Reminds me of Tucson. Delta has NO MEALS on flights out of Tucson even though it qualifies by a long country mile. Only a snack basket.
As for the wines, I don’t mind the Imagery chardonnay. I can’t comment on the reds. It’s not ideal coming from a can. But it’s 100% better than the (free) wine in the Sky Club. It’s about a $10-$13 bottle retail. The Sky Club (free) wine is maybe $5-$7 retail. The difference between a $7 bottle and a $10 bottle is much more significant than a $10 bottle and a $20 bottle.
Very frustrating. Did they offer any compensation for the disappointment?
@Barry Graham – LOL no. We are talking Delta 2023!
There’s no way the fruit & cheese box has been sitting around for a year. It’s made fresh daily and boarded on the previous leg. If you fly out of a spoke, there’s a decent chance you’ll get one of the boxes.
@PRFFAFG – The food is NOT a year old – the boxes clearly are as we do not need to wear a mask anymore to fly Delta Air Lines.
Thanks for the tip to avoid Delta out of Spokane!
He meant spoke as in hib and spoke, not Spokane.
@Jack.m – Ah. I assume you mean “hub and spoke” as no idea what “hib” is.
Well, progress has been made on meal boxes. On last Friday’s DTW-SAT flight, I noted that the Covid interior of the box has been removed. Sadly, the box contents had not been upgraded. Make me wonder about those who actually pay for first class. Do they feel it was worthwhile to be fed such lousy meal? Thankfully, mine was a comp upgrade. I got my money’s worth….
Why was there no meal? Detroit to San Antonio is a meal flight. Delta touted the return of meals almost a year ago. You should complain. I’ve been getting 5,000 miles and even 10,000 miles on paid first-class tickets and paid Delta One tickets when complaining to customer care as a Diamond and Million Miler about catering and other issues.
You just sigh when something like this happens because you fly so much its just one out of many.
Think about how devastating this is to someone who saves up to fly first class once every year or so.
This would be beyond aggravating and would start a vacation off on a very bad note, not to mention the dread of the return trip being just as bad or worse.
Complaining by an infrequent flyer would obviously do no good. That is why it is important for you to make as much noise a possible to help the little people.
Thank you for your service!
@Armando – You make such a great point and thank you. Yes, if this were a once in a lifetime trip and spend HARD earned cash – my such a disappointment.
My kosher meal didn’t show up on my last trip back from California to Atlanta, and I had spent more miles than I want to admit to get the upgrade in enough time to order that meal. So I know how you feel.
It’s one thing to be me: a picky, whiny eater. 🙂
But it’s a completely different situation for travelers with specific, important dietary needs.
@Barry – Ugg. Sorry.
I too had IT issues with Delta one from Reykjavik to JFK . two friends who are not even Medallion members received a letter a week out with multiple meal choices.. I received nothing. Days later I called as a Platinum and previous Diamond for 10 years + and got no help. They finally sent a link to see the Menu on the flight but no way to order anything. My second leg was to Ft Lauderdale and I got a letter allowing me to order my meal on that flight. IT is broken and there is no apology for it.
Hi, Wow! It’s really sad that you put that much energy and time into your FC meal.
Maybe you should meditate and find something else to worry about!
Some people outside of flying don’t even have a meal on their table!!
Really?? Sad!!
I personally love Delta!!
Jan
@Jan – Had my sad box been served to me in coach I would not have complained. Happy you are in love with Delta – I am no longer drinking their kool-aid.
Even if you were still in love with Delta, it’s perfectly OK to try to make them better. I still do love Delta and I put a lot of effort into helping to make them better, both here and privately.
Dry up
Attacking someone for their opinions? How is that meditation working?
Stick with meditation, quiet meditation. Also, how long have you worked for Delta?
@Roland – ZING and OUCH!
Last week pre-order on DFW-SLC (nearly 1000 miles) as I had done 10 days earlier. It was confirmed. Half way through flight, I asked FA about lunch and was told it supposed to be a meal flight, but not catered. He offered me a box (which I turned down – ‘nuff of those for a lifetime) and said he would get me points once he had WiFi (brand new A220-300 – no free WiFi and guess he didn’t have anything either) … as of today, no points from the FA or response from my inquiry from Delta. I am on my way to Scotland in DeltaOne next week and know there will be no Macallan on board. Ironic that on the trip to Edinburgh, I am just hoping they cater Woodford. Delta sure is having a tough time getting back to pre-covid service levels – all but pricing that is, they are getting back pretty well at that.
Per the FT thread below, these are the sad box outstations:
Current exception stations where only cold meal boxes (with no pre-selection) are offered in FC on 900+ mile flights (both to and from station):
ABQ, AUA, ASE, BOI, BZN, EGE, ELP, EYW, GEG, HDN, JAC, MCI, MTJ, NAS, OAK, PLS, PSC, PSP, PUJ, PVD, SAL, SAT, STT, SXM, TUS, YYC, YYZ, YUL, YVR
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/2106445-delta-flight-meal-food-service-definitive-thread-2023-edition.html?ispreloading=1
@BB – Ouch. So much sad box-ness! 🙁
Tell me about it, just had a roundtrip to SAT. ‘Breakfast’ choices were just the Bistro box or the Market snack box.
You should complain. I’m 100% certain there is no exception advertised. I’m also 100% certain that the Delta booking channels advertise a meal for those flights.
One or two airports is an exception. Twenty-nine airports is laughable. Where are these airports ever disclosed as an exception on Delta.com when they tout a meal and the first-class product? The answer? Unless something has changed, they don’t disclose the exceptions at all. Many of the airports on the list have arriving and departing flights of 3 or more hours. Many of them also had excellent catering pre-covid. I’m thinking Aruba (AUA) and St. Thomas (STT). How does Delta not have catering in Orlando?
The Delta first class can of wine has to go! It’s embarassing and so boring
Rene
You whine way too much over the small stuff. Get over it…
@Vic Harden – Thanks for your first comment on the blog.
You are right, first class Delta passengers should NOT expect the following:
* Working Airline App
* Properly trained digital agents that give correct information
* Properly trained phone agents that give correct information
* Meal orders that work
* Quality meals in first class
* Drinkable wine choices
* Flight attendants who follow company policy
These are clearly “small stuff” as you say and first class passengers should get used to this from Delta? 🙁
As long as people pay the crazy prices DL will continue to give skimpy service in FC to these outstations. I frequent GCM frequently and the company Delta used (and everyone else uses) in GCM for catering is still the same company as pre-covid…..Delta refuses to pay the price because this is a low frequent flyer route and most people don’t realize any different……until “Joe Public” realizes the difference then we will get sad boxes and minimal service.
In addition to this, the service offered on long haul RJ flights (ex think flights to/from LGA-JFK) getting boxes is sad…..most of these planes have ovens and are capable of better.
Rene;
Correct on rhe App. My wife and I took Delta One from Atlanta to Frankfurt. So weird that I got advance notice for my meal choice but she did not. The other choices weren’t bad but the Sea Bass I chose…..my wife loved while I got the short ribs. The App is really.a shortfall.
You’re lucky you get food. I flew Delta First Class and all i got were potato chips. WTH
Wow such
A verbal group!!!
I do not know if the wine in a can thing is only for domestic flights but
I flew JFK to LGW and was
Served wine in bottles and I was quite happy!
Kindly RSVP
Recently, I saw a YouTube review of one guy’s United Business transcon flight from EWR to LAX. This is United’s premium domestic service. This guy’s ticket price was higher than Delta One and the occasional Flagship First fare. This guy’s meal was very similar to the box meal in this article. Holy smokes! Someone else always has it worse. Still, Rene is justified in his disappointment.
@Rene, we know that the DL app, the meal email system, and FEBO at DL are all broken. I just got off a DL codeshare run by KE (JFK to ICN), and everyone got their first choice meal. KE does not have a “Select Your Entree” in advance system. I fly KE in Biz (through DL codeshare) about 6 times a year, and have ALWAYS gotten my first choice meal, no matter where I sat. So today, I asked the purser how many people got their first choice meal (choices: Korean bibimbap, chicken linguine alfredo, or beef stew. She said everyone got their first choice, no one was forced to take a second choice, and no one got stuck with a meal no one wanted. How do they do that? She said there were 44 Biz passengers, and they stocked 55 Biz meals. And usually that’s enough to get everyone their first choice. (Obviously the math says it is possible that some day the system will fail, but most days it works.) How’s that for CUSTOMER SERVICE as opposed to pinching pennies (DL) having only enough meals at a 1:1 ratio.
Rene, I appreciate you posting the Diamond Medallion phone number for the rest of us hahaha
Plug in a non-Diamond SkyMiles number and see if you get transferred to the Diamond line. (Although, the Medallion lines ain’t what they used to be.)
I think it works the other way too. You get transferred to the Diamond line even if you call the regular number. If so, I’m not sure why they don’t just have one number, unless it’s for performance/capacity reasons.
I have had no problem with the app or meal service, but the ham quiche was like little grilled parts ony flight from mco to sea on 5/22.
Coming back the grill burger from slc to mco was gross for a first class meal.
Oh no, they didn’t pull the curtain to separate you from the peasants in the back?!!! I mean don’t they know who you are???
@Sarah – I take it you don’t fly 1st much? Do keep in mind premium seats help make the economics of a flight work – (you really really should watch this linked video)!
Right, Sarah? I’ll speak with Rene about this.
Curtain complaints aside: no one should expect a consistent in-flight experience from Delta anymore.
Especially those folks in the premium cabins.
The worst, AmIRight?
There used to even be some meal of ?? in C- in the old days now just the “snax basket”UHHHH! Now even on a very long flight FC only gets the “snax basket”… But on a D1 recently JFK to SFO I got breakfast. YThe choices were an omelet thing or overnight oats.. The overnight oats were great!!!
Delta still doesn’t properly cater (‘sad box’) SAL-ATL. It’s frustrating as when I fly first I really enjoy the meal. I’m flying today from SAL to ATL. It was a sad box to SAL a month ago. I’m sure it’s still the sad box as no meal choice offering showed up. I really enjoy Delta normally I just wish this detail would be improved.ATL to MSP, my second leg, won’t have a meal but that’s because it’s a red eye.
I spend cash and am almost always disappointed. Which is why my loyalty to Delta only extends to when it is the most convenient options. Flying much more on other lines now. You get almost nothing for your money or loyalty so why bother? Especially since I’ll be a Diamond for life from rollover and Amex.