“If you’re going to pay a first-class fare, you should have food on that flight,” Sorensen said. “Do away with the charade -- put in wider seats and call it premium economy.”
Food History
American’s decision further distances the industry from a history of free food that began in the 1920s, when trips were so slow that passengers had to eat. The last U.S. carrier serving free meals for economy travelers was Continental Airlines, which began charging for food for coach fliers on most domestic and Canadian flights in 2010 ahead of its merger with United.
Full meals will remain in place in American’s first-class cabins for flights longer than 2 hours, 45 minutes. An appetizer will be added to meals on flights of 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours, while passengers on longer routes also will get a dessert and pre- arrival snack, the airline said. Meal-service hours are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
American categorizes flights of less than 2 hours as being as far as 699 miles (1,125 kilometers). The 2-hour, 45-minute threshold for full meals would typically cover trips of 1,000 to 1,298 miles, according to the airline.
Delta, United
Delta offers snacks such as cookies or pretzels to first- class travelers on flights of as far as 250 miles and “heartier” snacks on trips of 251 to 899 miles, according to its website. During certain hours, a full meal is provided on flights of 900 to 1,499 miles and a full meal plus snacks on flights of more than 1,500 miles.
United provides packaged cookies or pretzels on flights of less than 220 miles, or 1 hour or less; and breakfast scones or snacks and fresh fruit on flights of 1 to 2 1/2 hours, the carrier said on its website. It provides meals on trips longer than 700 miles between Chicago and Boston, Newark and New York’s LaGuardia and between Denver and Houston and Los Angeles.
On flights of 900 to 2,299 miles, or 2 1/2 to 5 hours, United serves a meal during “traditional meal times” on most flights or a snack between those times, and offers a full meal with a snack on flights longer than 2,300 miles or 5 hours.