When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

steeler83 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:00 am

I had a free meal I think only one time, and it was on my second flight ever -- the return flight from Orlando to PIT on USAir. IIRC it was chicken. Wasn't too bad.

The only other time I had a "free meal" was on AA 971 PHL-MIA back in 2010. That doesn't count b/c I upgraded us to First Class for that leg.

It was nice to experience a free meal with real plates and glasses tho.

NWADC9 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:10 am

April 2004: NW SEA-MSP: Cheerios and a banana
June 2006: CO (ExpressJet) CLE-MCI: Deli sandwich (slider size), Twix bar (fun size), and probably something else like chips or something.

Late 90's NW would hand out bagels and cream cheese on the morning flights, even the 35 minute PIT-DTW run. Today, DL doesn't even serve water.

RJ321 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:22 am

Quoting hoons90 (Thread starter):

I think that it does not make sense not to serve complimentary meals on an airline that is not lowcost, unless if the flight is under an hour in duration. What is the advantage of flying a regular airline VS. Flying a LCC then ?

AWACSooner · Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:22 am

Quoting UltimateDelta (Reply 37):
I believe Midwest Express did away with the free meals when they changed names and branding, which would have been early 2003.

I flew Midwest in August/September of 04...DFW-MKE-CMH r/t...we still got hot meals on the 717 for free...but in 2006, LGA-MKE-DFW, it was BOB.

Quoting ckfred (Reply 38):
In the wake of 9/11, which was in a mild recession, business travel declined, a lot. To get business travel to resume, the legacy carriers ditched the Saturday stayover. But, to make the new fare model work, a lot of the "frills" that were expected of legacy carriers had to go away, including talking to a reservation agent for free, checked bags, free meals, and so on.

Not entirely accurate regarding baggage fees...those were drummed up due to the oil shock in 2007-2008.

Quoting liftsifter (Reply 40):
Wholeheartedly agree! BOS-ORD in F the meal was a salad with UA, ORD-BOS in F the meal was a very delicious Braised Beef over Rice with a nice glass of red wine. It was a worlds apart, not to mention the crew were just happy

I'm assuming your return flight was on AA or another airline other than UA?

N1120A · Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:07 am

Quoting ckfred (Reply 38):
To get business travel to resume, the legacy carriers ditched the Saturday stayover. But, to make the new fare model work, a lot of the "frills" that were expected of legacy carriers had to go away, including talking to a reservation agent for free, checked bags, free meals, and so on.

No, not really. JetBlue was the big disruption in the market, wish their caps on walk up fares. You could walk up to the counter and buy a JFK-LGB for $299 OW, while Delta was charging over $1000 OW. WN had been doing that for years in short-haul markets, which the legacies matched, but it hadn't happened before in medium-long haul markets. Then they entered a lot of medium and long haul business markets.

CO777DAL · Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:09 am

Here are some of Continental Airlines free meals in domestic coach.

Continental Airlines Food Service Lunch Burrito Free in Domestic Coach 737-500 Boeing
http://youtu.be/hV8tuzXHPPk?list=PLBC3CAB68EB190AB4

Continental Airlines Food Service Dinner Turkey Dog Free in Domestic Coach 737-500 Boeing
http://youtu.be/HDV6LSSw63c?list=PLBC3CAB68EB190AB4

HD Remember This? Free Breakfast Continental Airlines 757-300 Coach Food Service United
http://youtu.be/DLOjUDIn3SA?list=PLBC3CAB68EB190AB4

HD Continental Airlines Food Service Dinner Burger Free in Coach Caribbean 737-800 Boeing United
http://youtu.be/kVgBmR-eQRo?list=PLBC3CAB68EB190AB4

HD Continental Airlines 777 Food Service EWR-HKG Free Mid-Flight Refreshment International Coach
This shows what the cheeseburger looked like when it was free in domestic coach. It was the mid flight snack on the flight from EWR-HKG
http://youtu.be/AOvSWScwjks?list=PLBC3CAB68EB190AB4

ual777newpaint · Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:26 am

I distinctly remember being served a disgusting roast beef sandwich and a Philadelphia snack bar on United ORD-PHX in June 2001. Prior to that I remember my parents ordering me McDonald's meals served on United flights. Those were the days!

eaglepower83 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 3:08 pm

Quoting ckfred (Reply 38):
I remember in the mid 90s, AA used to serve a lunch in a plastic box that looked like a wicker basket. Some were blue. Some were white.

I remember those!
Our first flight ever as a family in 1998. ORD to BOS on an MD80 when I was 15yrs old.
We had those plastic baskets with hot cheese or sausage calzones, apple and cookie.
They were pretty much "high school cafeteria" grade, but still edible, and very novel for us kids back then.

Quoting DTW.SCE" class="quote" target="_blank">PSU.DTW.SCE (Reply 48):
I remember getting those awful "hot" meals on CO in Y on DTW-IAH flights in 2006. It was legitimate garbage. Disgusting low-grade/low quality cheeseburgers or pizza.

I bought one of those burgers a few yrs ago combing back to ORD from LAX.
The meat was pretty awful, but they provided enough condiments to dress it up at least.
It would've been fine for a free airline burger.....but paying for it? I was starving, no real choice.....but still annoying.
Not to mention it was my first experience with an exCO staff.........surliest group of ladies I've flown with in a long time.

ckfred · Wed Feb 25, 2015 3:56 pm

When AA started to roll out the Bistro Bag, and DL rolled out the Delta Deli, political pundit William F. Buckley, Jr. had a column about the sorry state of Y meals on shorter flights.

He had, and I don't remember his words, an awful sandwich in a bag flying between LGA and ORD. I'm guessing it was AA, because UA was serving small meals in cardboard boxes at the time.

Buckley suggested that the airline that could serve a decent sandwich (something akin to what you would get in New York at the Carnegie Deli, Katz's Deli, or Junior's at Grand Central) and a cup of TCBY frozen yogurt could take traffic away from other carriers.

Back in the 1990s, that might have worked, because airline seats weren't the commodities that they are today. Clearly, no one is going to pick one airline over another, because the "Buy On Board" sandwich is from the Carnegie Deli in New York or Manny's in Chicago. Considering that many airports offer a decent variety of food, either to eat at the airport or take on board, no one is going to pay several dollars more than what a good deli sandwich costs in Midtown or the Loop.

compensateme · Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:31 pm

NW overhauled its domestic coach meal service around 1999. Traditional meals ended except to select West Coast/Hawaii markets (e.g. no food DTW-LAS, but catering on the shorter MSP-SEA). Snack service was expanded to every single morning departure and some less afternoon/evening ones. Snacks were typically granola bars for breakfast or Walker's Shortbread cookies afterword. NW attributed this to consumer preferences & the lack of kitchen space for its growing network. Remaining meal service ended in 2005.

tommy767 · Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:36 pm

Quoting ckfred (Reply 58):

Quoting EaglePower83 (Reply 57):
I remember those!
Our first flight ever as a family in 1998. ORD to BOS on an MD80 when I was 15yrs old.

Believe it or not, they had this going back even further. I remember flying PBI-RDU-LGA in November 1993 with AA and getting same basket type setup.

Quoting ckfred (Reply 58):

When AA started to roll out the Bistro Bag, and DL rolled out the Delta Deli, political pundit William F. Buckley, Jr. had a column about the sorry state of Y meals on shorter flights.

I remember this on EWR-ATL-EWR in August 2001. They were NOT good. However, ATL- Grand Cayman served hot cheeseburger in Y on the same leg.

Quoting DTW.SCE" class="quote" target="_blank">PSU.DTW.SCE (Reply 48):
I remember getting those awful "hot" meals on CO in Y on DTW-IAH flights in 2006. It was legitimate garbage. Disgusting low-grade/low quality cheeseburgers or pizza.

Same garbage CO served on TRANSCONS in 1996! I remember getting the same cheeseburger on EWR-SAN back then if you can believe it.

When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

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RE: When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

RE: When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

RE: When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

RE: When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

RE: When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

RE: When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

RE: When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

RE: When Did US Carriers End Domestic Free Meals In Y?

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