Why did Delta stop free snacks on short flights?

Delta ends free snacks and drinks on short flights

Delta Air Lines is changing onboard service for some trips, reducing what passengers receive on flights under roughly 350 miles.

On those shorter segments, the airline will stop serving free snacks and drinks such as coffee and cookies. The intent is to remove these complimentary items from the short-flight experience while shifting service up for longer routes, where passengers will continue to see more offerings.

The change matters for travelers who rely on in-flight food to tide them over—especially on routes that may otherwise be short enough that a passenger expects to eat or drink without buying it separately.

For food news readers, this is also part of a broader pattern: airlines and other hospitality businesses have been adjusting “included” perks in response to cost pressure. In practical terms, flyers will likely need to plan differently—either bringing their own snacks or budgeting for purchases onboard—if they’re traveling on shorter Delta flights.