TransWorldOne wrote:Let's take a look at how this differs from the current international main cabin offerings :
1. Bellini service replaces the first full beverage service that came with cocktail snacks. So if you want a diet coke or a gin and tonic, you're gonna have to wait for the beverage cart that accompanies the meal. Also, no snacks served with the bellini.
2. Although a choice of appetizers has been added, you actually get less than what you get currently since the fruit and cheese and salad that are currently served with the meal are being removed.
3. Dessert will now be served separately following the meal so if you're trying to maximize your sleep on the flight, you're going to have to wait a while longer if you want a sweet treat before your slumber.
4. Hot towels are currently offered after take off and landing so no change there.
5. Chocolates are currently offered before landing so no change there either.
Seems like a lot of brouhaha over nothing. If anything, main cabin passengers are getting less, not more. But Delta is excellent at putting a positive spin on these things and kudos to them for being able to do that and have people buy into it.
A couple of observations:
On #1 - I did not see it as taking away the first beverage service. It says "welcome" drink, which means to me that they will still have the first beverage service. Now, will they serve the little snacks? My vote says yes. On any DL flight I've been on, the FA has always been liberal on the snacks.
#2 - I agree, but the question is, would you rather have the cheese/crackers/fruit or a larger portion of the main meal? I guess that's for each person to answer.
#3 through #5 - Agree
Overall, I agree there is not much changing, but I would rather have the bigger main meal than the cheese/crackers/fruit. The big question (which is really not answered in the graph) is are they going to cut or downsize the mid-flight snack and/or pre-arrival meal? Remember that UA moved to this concept a couple of years ago. However, when they announced it, they got rid of the mid-flight snack on longer flights and replaced it with purchased snack boxes. It went over so well that they put the mid-flight snack back on the longer flights. I don't think DL will go this route, because that's not really their style, but I find it interesting that the mid-flight snack and pre-arrival meals are not in the graph.