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“Delta is not a low-cost airline. We can’t win by trying to provide the cheapest. We have to be able to win by providing the best.”
According to Fortune, that’s what Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said during an episode of Titans and Disruptors of Industry, a podcast about the business world.
Less than a month later, Delta made national news when it announced cabin service is no longer available on flights 349 miles (as the crow — not the plane — flies) or fewer. The exception is for Delta First.
The previous limit was 250 miles.
The change takes effect May 19 and affects roughly 450 flights. Megan Divers points out that some of the affected routes include “(some) of the country’s busiest short-haul corridors…including Los Angeles to San Francisco, New York JFK to Boston and Atlanta to Charlotte.”
Much Ado About Nothing?
I usually bring water or coffee (sometimes both!) on most flights, regardless of duration. Even when I sit in First Class. I’ve drastically curbed my alcohol intake (five drinks total in the past 18 months). I’ve flown 12-hour flights without booze; I can handle 75 minutes — even 75 days! — without needing a cocktail.) So, I don’t “need” anything. Going a couple of hours without a snack wouldn’t kill me.
But here’s where I shake my head: Delta prides itself on being a premium airline. And they command premium-priced airfares.
“The airline now commands roughly 20% more revenue per seat than its competitors,” notes Fortune’s Sydney Lake.
But they can’t serve some sodas, water, and some snacks during an hour-long flight?
“American Airlines and Southwest Airlines both provide snack and beverage service on flights over 250 miles, while United Airlines cuts off in-flight service at 300 miles.”
—Megan Divers, NBC
Even their competitors — who usually charge less — do better.
No matter how this is framed, the cut appears cheap — especially to those who expect Comfort+ service, which advertises complimentary alcoholic beverages (with fine print, of course).
My hunch? Depending on the flight crew and what is catered onto the flight, you can ring the call button and ask for something to drink or some of those amazing Biscoff cookies.
(Quick aside: Biscoff cookies taste better in the air. I will die on that hill.)
Before you jump to the Comments section, there’s more. And it’s not bad.
But There’s a Positive Tradeoff
Delta is making a decent compromise, though.
Flights over 350 miles no longer get the “Express Service” (or whatever it’s called) treatment. That’s basically coffee and water and some snacks. Beer and wine, too, if you’re in Comfort+.
Starting May 19, everything 350 miles and above receives full beverage service. Yes: Woodford Reserves and Coke Zeros all around!
The previous minimum was 500 miles.
So, we have a rare #KeepDescending and #KeepClimbing in one post.
Final Approach
New Delta cabin service minimums take effect on May 19. Honestly, it’s not terrible — but that’s just me.
What do you think? Do these affect you? Delta employees who read the blog (and I know you do!), what’s your honest reaction? (Or do we really want to know? 😉 )
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and and may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
So safety of the crew is less important than your cup of water? Just checking
@Jason – Oh pleeeeezzze! KLM offers express meal service on 30 minute flights and I mean a meal in biz and snack in coach. This is all about cost and profit not safety!
I agree on very short flights Air France does the same and not just up front!!
The ‘crew safety’ I’ve seen all too often is a crutch to sit or stand and shoot the $hit vs offering any service, or they sit/stand and do social media on their phones.
I regularly fly MCO-ATL-CLE. Both legs are over 350 miles. When flying C+, we rarely ever get offered anything other than water and sunchips/Biscoff. No alcohol. I will be very curious to see in anything changes.
If your flights are over 350 miles yes it will.
Ed’s comment “We have to be able to win by providing the best” is so hollow. You’re correct Chris that it is positive that they’ve lowered the minimum miles for service, and they’ve lowered the MM for ‘lifetime’ status although on the other hand things like award mile trips with the now long unpublished mileage chart is so ridiculous. Where it used to be not that many years ago a 100K mile round trip to Europe from JFK, ATL and LAX, those are now 500K+ and you can burn several hundred K on a domestic ‘first class’ where you may as well be on Southwest.
Since Ed and others like to crow about ‘our biggest cost is fuel’ (when DL has it’s own refinery that can help offset that to some degree), why not go where no man has gone before and instead of fixating on baggage weight (since the plane only knows weight), establish a baseline of people weight and offer dynamic pricing right at the boarding gate? At the baseline, proceed on. Below the baseline, credit! Above the baseline, pay more! I recall clearly Ed’s Wall Street Journal article with a photo opp picture of him and then American CEO Doug Parker with the headline ‘You want to sit up front? Pay up!’ where here, ‘You want to get on? Pay up!’ But it will never happen as there will be too much pushback.
I love there’s no mention in the headline that more flights are getting enhanced full beverage service then are losing express service. Nothing like some good click bait.
What would you have liked the headline to say, Robert?