With ever-shrinking legroom, airfares and fees that keep getting more expensive, and seemingly endless delays, one of the few pleasures left in flying these days is that free can of ginger ale and a Biscoff cookie once you reach cruising altitude. But if you’re traveling on a shorter flight, you may not have that to look forward to anymore: One airline recently announced it’s eliminating in-flight service on hundreds of flights. Here are all the details.

Delta Air Lines Adjusts In-Flight Service

Starting May 19, Delta Air Lines will be eliminating in-flight service in economy class on flights under 350 miles. Previously, flights that were 250 miles or less did not receive in-flight service, so this move will cut free snacks and drinks in coach for an additional 450 daily flights throughout the airline’s network. Of note, those seated in first class will continue to receive beverages and snacks on all routes. 

Flying from L.A. to San Francisco, Chicago to Minneapolis, or Atlanta to Charleston, South Carolina? You’ll want to make sure you grab a cup of coffee and refill your water bottle before boarding that plane. Fortunately, these flights are typically around an hour or less, but no doubt many travelers will still be disappointed by the reduced amenities. 

A Delta spokesperson shared with The New York Times that the change means 9% of the airline’s flights will now have no snack and beverage service in economy class, and that the move was to “create a more consistent experience across our network.”

On a positive note, the airline is restoring full beverage service on flights that are 350 miles or longer. Currently, the airline offers only an “express” beverage service on flights between 251 and 499 miles, consisting of water, tea, or coffee for those in economy class. 

After May 19, flyers on routes over 350 miles will be able to choose any beverage (with alcoholic drinks costing extra), along with a complimentary snack such as Biscoff cookies, Sun Chips, or Cheez-It crackers. In total, around 600 daily flights will restore full beverage service, including popular routes such as Atlanta to Tampa or Orlando, Florida. 

Have a Delta flight coming up soon and wondering if you’ll still get a beverage service? Plug in the route on Delta’s flight status page and click “see more details,” where you’ll find the number of miles flown.

How Do Other Airlines Compare?

Delta’s recent service changes put the airline behind most of its competitors when it comes to in-flight service on shorter flights. 

American Airlines offers coffee, tea, juice, water, and soft drinks, as well as complimentary snacks, on flights over 250 miles. On shorter flights, nonalcoholic beverages are available by request. Southwest Airlines also offers complimentary soft drinks and snacks on flights over 250 miles, as does JetBlue. (On flights under 250 miles, JetBlue still offers a choice of two snacks and water, coffee, or tea.)

On United Airlines, the threshold to receive beverage service is 300 miles, though the airline says that beverages are served on request for flights shorter than an hour. Alaska Airlines now matches Delta, offering beverage service on flights 350 miles or longer. 

But if you look at carriers outside the U.S., you often find more generous service policies. Air Canada, for example, offers not only complimentary snacks and soft drinks but also free wine and beer to those in economy class on every flight, with no minimum distance required.  

Featured image credit: Image courtesy of Delta Air Lines