Delta Considering Bringing Free Meals Back To Coach

Image courtesy of lkarasawa

After years of airlines taking away perks that once used to be included in the price of a ticket, Delta Air Lines could be bringing back one of those amenities from the bygone travel era: free meals in coach.

Passengers in economy class on flights between JFK International in New York City, and either Los Angeles or San Francisco will get to experience the sweet taste of a free meal, a spokesperson confirmed to blogger Gary Leff, who was tipped off to the tests by an economy traveler in the midst of eating one of said complimentary spreads.

“Delta is currently testing complimentary meals in the Main Cabin on Transcon flights as part of the airline’s focus on continuously looking at ways to enhance and elevate the on-board experience for customers,” the airline said.

The airline will gather customer satisfaction scores during the test period, and Delta will then determine the impact on the in-flight experience. “Additional details will be shared once the results of the testing have been reviewed and a go-forward plan has been finalized,” the spokesperson said.

After Consumerist reached out to the airline for some more details this afternoon, Delta posted an article in its newsroom on the topic with additional information on what will be offered:

“On flights that are participating in the testing, the complimentary meals include the option of a Honey Maple Breakfast Sandwich or Luvo Breakfast Medley on morning flights and an option of Mesquite-Smoked Turkey Combo with chips and a brownie bite or Luvo Mediterranean Whole Grain Veggie Wrap with grapes and a cookie on afternoon flights.”

If free food makes customers happy, perhaps Delta will consider making free meals in economy a permanent offering on those transcontinental routes and perhaps other longer flights as well. And if that happens, perhaps more airlines will follow suit.

It’s worth noting, as Bloomberg points out, that Delta and American brought complimentary meals in coach back for their longest routes to Hawaii, along with the free meals already offered on long-haul international routes.

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.