A small airline Biscoff cookie has split the internet.
Earlier this month, news broke that Delta Air Lines would end free snack service for economy travelers on all flights under 350 miles starting on May 19. Those flights previously had “Express Service,” a scaled-down complimentary snack and drink offering.
Cirium data shows the change applies to about 90 routes, most of which are on Delta’s regional subsidiaries. Think hops like New York to Boston, San Francisco to Los Angeles, and Atlanta to dozens of smaller cities across the Southeast. Delta First is not affected, but economy flyers will need to bring their own SunChips or sodas — air travel comforts that many are accustomed to.
A Delta spokesperson told Business Insider the affected routes are all under an hour, and that the shake-up actually means 14% more daily flights will now get full snack and beverage service.
That includes a wider drink selection — including beer, wine, and liquor — and four snack options, instead of the more limited express lineup, which included the Biscoff and usually pretzels or chips. The Biscoff will still be available on full-service flights.
Reduced or no snack service on shorter routes is the norm for major airlines, as it saves money on weight and inventory and doesn’t strain flight attendants’ already limited time. It’s not even completely new for Delta — the airline’s previous cutoff was under 250 miles, or about 750 daily flights.
But raising that to 350 miles means around 500 more daily flights under that threshold will now go snackless, or about 9% of its total operations. Delta now has the strictest snack cutoff among the Big 3 US airlines — American’s is 250 miles, and United’s is 300.
Although Delta has said the change is positive for most customers, reactions on social media, including X and Reddit, have been mixed.
In response to the news, one X user equated the loss of snacks to flying low cost: “Spirit’s body is not even cold and they’re already trying to replace them!”
Another said: “Translation: Delta will operate like a discount airline while charging you full-service prices.”
A Senate candidate from Maine, Graham Platner, said on X that the move comes after Delta CEO Ed Bastian brought home a huge compensation package in 2024: “Delta can afford to pay their CEO $27 million,” he said. “But a complimentary water bottle is where they draw the line.”
Not everyone is upset, though.
An analyst from the Florida Commerce Department, Kyle Lamb, said on X that flight attendants are already pressed for time on short flights. Others pointed out that the new threshold only adds 10-20 minutes of snackless flight time.
Travel analyst Mike Arnot told Business Insider that airlines constantly measure customer satisfaction, and there are more pressing concerns among flyers.
“For most airlines, the biggest driver of customer satisfaction is whether the flight arrived on time,” he said. “Everything else falls by the wayside in comparison.”
He added the weight savings could actually result in a better performing airline: “Perhaps lower fares, or more destinations to small cities that live and die by air service.”
I see both sides. But, as someone who has experienced Delta’s express service dozens of times, I don’t think it’s a huge deal. I can throw a granola bar in my purse and get coffee on the way to my gate (Dunkin’ is better than airplane coffee anyway).
Plus, I can imagine that those who frequently take flights just under the 350-mile cutoff — Cirium shows Chicago Midway to Minneapolis is exactly 349 miles, for example — are happy to get more options.
And there are dozens more routes now that will get the full service — effectively moving Delta’s better onboard service onto more flights.
But I also see how others perceive it as Delta devaluing the economy experience in favor of its higher-paying premium customers.
Delta has been laser-focused on premium post-COVID as demand for more in-flight comforts soars, including new luxe cabins and fancy airport lounges — but it has simultaneously added restrictions on certain economy tickets, like taking away lounge access and reducing their SkyMiles value.
American and United are similarly all in on premium, and Arnot warned that other airlines may make similar adjustments to their short-haul snack service.
For me, I’ll miss the Biscoff, but I think most people will probably stop noticing pretty quickly. I can manage another 15 minutes in the air without a pick-me-up.
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