Major airline ditches snacks during short flights as ‘zero service’ sparks debate

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Some Delta Air Lines passengers are voicing frustration over upcoming changes to onboard service, with critics questioning whether the move is more about cost-cutting than efficiency.

The reaction comes after Delta confirmed it will eliminate food and beverage service on roughly 450 daily flights — about 9% of its network. The changes, which take effect May 19, apply to flights of 349 miles or fewer, many of them under an hour in the air.

"Delta is adjusting onboard beverage service to create a more consistent experience across our network," the airline said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

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"Customers traveling in Delta Comfort and Delta Main on flights 350 miles and above will now receive full beverage and snack service," the carrier said.

"Shorter flights will no longer offer food and beverage service — with the exception of Delta First, which always receives full service," the Atlanta-based airline added.

"Shorter flights will no longer offer food and beverage service — with the exception of Delta First, which always receives full service," Delta Air Lines said about their planes (not pictured). (iStock)

On X, some travelers described the move as "nickel-and-diming," while others questioned the removal of even basic drink service.

Under the new policy, full drink and snack service — including alcoholic beverages and multiple snack options — will be available on flights of 350 miles or more, about 14% of Delta’s daily departures. 

Shorter routes that previously offered a limited "express service" will lose those offerings entirely.

Delta noted that many of the affected flights already had minimal or no service, particularly those under 250 miles, meaning some routes won’t see much change.

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First-class passengers will continue to receive full service regardless of flight length.

Travelers were split about whether airlines should serve snacks and beverages on short routes. (iStock)

"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," Delta said.

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Lee Abbamonte, a New York-based travel expert, applauded Delta for the policy update.

"It's a reasonable decision," he told Fox News Digital. "Short flights don't need food and beverage — you're done in an hour and can easily plan ahead or just wait."

An aviation expert said it's a reasonable decision not to serve snacks on routes that are under 350 miles. (iStock)

"Airlines have been cutting costs for years now, and it will only continue as fuel prices continue to rise and competition lessens," he added.

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One passenger on Reddit wrote a post blasting the decision, calling it "zero service."

Others passengers took to Twitter to debate the pros and cons.

"Airlines could charge for food to offset some of the costs. It's better than going out of business," an X user suggested. (iStock)

"They can’t even spot me those three pretzels?" one X user wrote.

"They’ll charge you for a $9 water but keep paying the big guy like a king," another chimed in.

"Airlines really out here squeezing every last dollar," a third said.

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"Airlines could charge for food to offset some of the costs," one suggested.

Yet many travelers praised Delta's decision.

"A 350-mile flight is less than 45 minutes. I don’t know why anyone would worry about this at all," an X user said. (iStock)

"A 350-mile flight is less than 45 minutes. I don’t know why anyone would worry about this at all. They can hardly serve the plane in the amount of time they have between takeoff and landing," an X user said.

"It’s ridiculous to do a beverage service when you only have maybe 20 usable minutes. Half the plane gets served, and the other half write complaint letters when they don’t get served," another added.

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A third agreed with that.

"On those shorter flights, it’s already a race to get everyone their small bag of chips. … Who cares?"