This Major Airline Is Eliminating Its Food And Beverage Service On Shorter Flights

With the rising cost of fuel, major airlines are tightening their purse strings. Experts have warned budget-savvy travelers to book their summer vacations ASAP in order to avoid the fare price increases, and multiple airlines have started charging travelers more for checked baggage. Perhaps the rising operating costs are one of the reasons why Delta, a top U.S. airline, recently announced that it will no longer be serving snacks and beverages on short flights. 

Delta Air Lines has a loyal customer base. The airline transports around 200 million people each year, and is widely considered one of the best airlines. The company is known for excellent customer service and reliability. Customers also love Delta's many perks, which include offering passengers some of the best gourmet airplane snacks you can find in the sky. Unlike low-cost carriers that charge for snacks and drinks in-flight, Delta has always offered a complimentary snack and beverage on all of its domestic and international flights. The iconic Lotus Biscoff cookies are a treat that many Delta customers look forward to each time they board a Delta flight.

Starting on May 19, 2026, you'll have to either pack your own Biscoff cookies to enjoy in the air, or book a first-class ticket, because the airline will no longer offer a snack and beverage service on its shorter routes.

Delta's website states that, "all passengers on flights 251+ miles will be able to enjoy our snack selection," which includes both sweet and savory options. According to the website, complimentary coffee, tea, and water is also available in all of the cabins. Although it is not yet reflected on the company website, Delta officials told multiple media outlets that the snack and beverage policy is about to change.

On flights that are less than 350 miles (not 250), passengers in the main cabin will no longer be offered snacks and beverages. The goal is to create, "a more consistent experience across our network," Delta officials said in a statement (via CBS News). Delta has around 450 daily flights that are under 350 miles in length. In total, the new policy will impact around 9% of the airline's total flights. If you're flying on popular routes like Boston to New York City, or San Francisco to Los Angeles, snacks and beverages will no longer be available. A flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles is around 340 miles long, and usually lasts just under an hour and a half, so if your Delta flight is under an hour and a half, you may want to plan ahead and bring some snacks and drinks of your own if you think you'll be hungry or thirsty in the air.

"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," an airline spokesperson said via USA Today.

The new snack and beverage policy will affect the majority of Delta passengers, but those who purchase first-class or business-class tickets can still expect all of the same perks they're used to. The first-class cabin "always receives full service," a Delta representative told CBS News.

Delta Air Lines has tried to soften the blow by mentioning that even more snacks and beverages will be offered to passengers who book longer flights of 350 miles or more. Instead of the Express Beverage Service that is currently offered on 251 to 499-mile flights, which usually only includes water and a light packaged snack for customers in the main cabin, Delta Comfort and Delta Main passengers will be offered a full snack and beverage service on flights that are 350 miles or longer. In total, snack and beverage options will be added to 14% of Delta's total daily flights.

If you think you'll be needing a snack on a Delta flight that's under 350 miles, you can avoid the high cost of airport food by packing your own snacks from home. You can bring food through TSA, but there are some exceptions. Packing a reusable water bottle that you can fill up at a drinking fountain before boarding is another good way to save money and ensure that you stay hydrated.