Delta Air Lines will stop offering free snacks or drinks on hundreds of flights starting in two weeks.
Delta will cut its express service on flights under 350 miles, meaning customers will no longer enjoy a complimentary snack and soda on shorter flights, a spokesperson for the airline toldThe Independent Tuesday.
Under the new changes, customers on longer flights will get an upgraded menu. Flights of 350 miles and above will include a full drink and snack service. The carrier’s premium Delta First section will not be affected by the changes as it always receives full service.
The changes to in-flight service are expected to begin on May 19. It comes as airlines struggle with the rise in jet fuel prices caused by the Iran war, which was a major factor in the collapse of Spirit Airlines.
X user JonNYC, who shares aviation news, first posted about the changes to Delta’s in-flight service on Thursday.
The Delta spokesperson said the changes are meant “to create a more consistent experience across our network.”
“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,” the spokesperson added.
Up to 5,500 Delta planes take off every day, meaning 14 percent of daily flights will shift to full service, and 9 percent will have service cut, an official with Delta told The Independent.
This means more than 700 flights per day would have full service and nearly 500 daily flights would have no service.
Delta also recently raised its checked baggage fees. In early April, the carrier started charging $10 more for passengers’ first and second checked bags and $50 more for a third bag.
This means customers are paying $45 for their first bag, $55 for their second and a whopping $200 for their third.
“These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics,” Delta said in a statement to multiple news outlets at the time.
The average cost of U.S. jet fuel in major cities increased from about $2.50 a gallon before the Iran war to around $4.13 a gallon as of last Thursday, according to Argus Media’s U.S. Jet Fuel Index.
Despite airfare prices rising amid the war, experts have advised travelers to buy their plane tickets sooner rather than later.
“Regardless of whether you’re looking to travel in two weeks, two months or even looking ahead to fall travel, waiting to buy airfare … in hopes the conflict will end soon is honestly riskier than some of the fashion choices we made as teens: Our future self is not going to be happy about it,” Katy Nastro with the travel deal website Going told CNBC.
