Delta To Become The Only U.S. Airline Flying Nonstop Between LAX and Manila

In a major development for transpacific aviation, Delta Air Lines has officially announced its first-ever nonstop service connecting the U.S. mainland directly to the Philippines. Launching in spring 2027, the highly anticipated route between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) establishes Delta as the only U.S. carrier to offer a direct link between these two major global hubs.

Whether you are visiting family, traveling for business, or eager to explore the world-class beaches of Boracay and Palawan, this historic route completely changes the landscape for points and miles collectors. Here is everything you need to know about Delta’s newest Pacific crown jewel.

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Flight Schedule and Frequency

The new transpacific link is slated to take flight on March 28, 2027. To align with seasonal demand, Delta is deploying a phased rollout strategy for the roughly 7,300-mile journey:

• Inaugural Phase (March 28 – June 6, 2027): The flight will operate three times per week, allowing the airline to smoothly integrate the long-haul route into its network.


• Daily Phase (Starting June 7, 2027): Just in time for the peak summer travel season, the route will upgrade to a daily schedule in both directions.

For travelers planning ahead, reservations are expected to load directly into the system on July 19, 2026, meaning you can lock in your itinerary nearly a year in advance.

The Aircraft: Flagship Comfort on the Airbus A350-900

A ultra-long-haul flight of nearly 16 hours requires a premier passenger experience, and Delta is delivering by deploying its flagship Airbus A350-900 on the route. The widebody aircraft will feature Delta's standard four-class layout, catering to every style of traveler:

• Delta One Suites: Premium flyers can enjoy maximum privacy with fully closing doors, luxury lie-flat bedding, and personalized culinary menus.


• Delta Premium Select: A dedicated premium economy cabin boasting wider seats, deeper recline, and upgraded footrests.


• Delta Comfort+: Extra legroom and dedicated overhead bin space to ensure a cozy journey.


• Main Cabin: Standard economy seating paired with Delta's industry-leading seatback entertainment and free, fast Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members.

A Massive Win for the Filipino-American Community

Southern California is home to one of the largest Filipino communities outside of the Philippines, making this route an incredibly logical step for Delta’s premier West Coast hub. Historically, travelers on this route have either flown Philippine Airlines or endured lengthy layovers at connecting hubs like Tokyo, Seoul, or Taipei.

By eliminating the connection entirely, Delta is saving travelers hours of transit time. Furthermore, travelers originating elsewhere in the U.S. can take advantage of Delta's massive domestic footprint at LAX, booking single-itinerary, one-stop connections through Terminal 3 straight to Manila.

Strategic Power: The Korean Air Joint Venture

Interestingly, this isn't Delta's first time touching down in Manila. The airline previously operated tag flights to the capital from Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon, though those fifth-freedom routes were retired during the pandemic.

This new direct flight doesn't replace Delta's partners; instead, it strengthens its highly successful joint venture with Korean Air. Travelers now have the ultimate flexibility: they can book a seamless nonstop with Delta out of LAX or choose an itinerary connecting through Seoul Incheon on Korean Air, providing unmatched flexibility across the Pacific.

The Bottom Line

Delta's expansion to Manila proves that the carrier is deeply committed to capitalizing on massive Asia-Pacific travel demand. For SkyMiles members and international globetrotters alike, having a premium, points-friendly, and nonstop U.S.-carrier option to the Philippines is an extraordinary milestone. Keep your calendars marked for the July 2026 booking launch, and get ready to experience Manila like never before.

Delta Air Lines Unveils 10 New Nonstop Long-Haul Routes

Delta Air Lines is making the world a little smaller—and a lot more reachable—in 2026. Setting the stage for its largest-ever international expansion, the Atlanta-based carrier has announced a massive wave of new nonstop long-haul flights. From sun-drenched Mediterranean islands to futuristic Middle Eastern capitals and bustling Asian hubs, Delta’s newest routes are designed for travelers who want to skip the layover and get straight to the destination.

Here is a closer look at 10 of the most exciting new long-haul routes taking flight this year.

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The Mediterranean Expansion

Delta is heavily targeting European summer leisure travel, moving beyond traditional hub cities to offer direct access to historic coastlines and hidden gems directly from the East Coast.

• New York (JFK) to Olbia, Sardinia (OLB): Launching in May 2026, [Delta Air Lines](https://news.delta.com/category/routes-destinations) is flying the first-ever nonstop service from the U.S. to Sardinia's stunning Costa Smeralda.


• New York (JFK) to Malta (MLA): Starting in June, a new thrice-weekly flight will bring travelers straight to the UNESCO-listed streets of Valletta.


• New York (JFK) to Porto, Portugal (OPO): Daily flights kick off in May, catering to travelers chasing world-class wine and riverside charm.


• Boston (BOS) to Nice, France (NCE): New Englanders can skip the hub-hopping and fly directly to the French Riviera three times a week starting in May.


• Boston (BOS) to Madrid, Spain (MAD): Daily service launches in May utilizing the state-of-the-art Airbus A330-900neo.

Connecting the West Coast to the World

Delta is also strengthening its Pacific gateways with long-awaited connections and returning favorites.

• Seattle (SEA) to Rome, Italy (FCO): Launching in May, this route finally connects the Pacific Northwest directly to the Eternal City.


• Seattle (SEA) to Barcelona, Spain (BCN): Starting in May, three weekly flights will link Seattle to the Catalan capital.


• Los Angeles (LAX) to Hong Kong (HKG): After a long hiatus, Delta is returning to Hong Kong with daily service launching in June, re-establishing a crucial transpacific link.

Breaking New Ground

• Atlanta (ATL) to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (RUH): In one of its boldest moves, Delta is launching its first-ever nonstop flight to Saudi Arabia in October 2026. Flown on an Airbus A350-900, it makes Delta the only U.S. carrier to offer direct service between the two nations.


• Salt Lake City (SLC) to Lima, Peru (LIM): Connecting two of the world's great outdoor adventure regions, this pioneering route opens up direct access to South America from Delta's Mountain West hub.

The Bottom Line for Travelers

With more widebody aircraft equipped with premium cabin options rolling out across these routes, Delta is focusing on both reach and comfort. Whether you are chasing the summer sun in the Mediterranean or heading across the Pacific for business, booking early is highly recommended—especially for exclusive leisure routes like Sardinia and Malta, where demand is expected to be incredibly high.

These new additions prove that the appetite for long-haul international travel is only growing, and the industry is rapidly evolving to bring the farthest corners of the map a little closer to home.

Delta Redefines Premium Travel: The Rise Of "Basic" First And Business Class Fares

Delta Air Lines has officially shaken up the premium travel market by launching an unbundled, lower-cost fare tier for its most luxurious cabins. Following the expansion of its "Basic" tier to Delta Comfort+ last year, Delta is now bringing the "Basic Economy treatment" to the very front of the aircraft.

Starting now, flyers will see Delta First Basic, Delta Premium Select Basic, and Basic Business (the entry-level fare for the top-tier Delta One cabin) alongside traditional "Classic" and "Extra" fares in select markets.

The core concept is straightforward: you get the exact same seat, meals, and inflight service, but you forfeit the flexible booking perks, mileage earnings, and airport lounge access that traditionally come with a premium ticket.

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The New Lineup: What’s Flying When?

• Delta First Basic: Available and flying now on select domestic and Latin American routes.


• Delta Premium Select Basic: Available for purchase now, with flights officially launching in September for domestic and select long-haul international markets.


• Basic Business (Delta One Basic): Available for purchase now, with flights taking off in September across domestic and select long-haul international corridors.

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Premium Seat, Leaner Ticket: The Trade-offs

For leisure travelers looking to treat themselves to a lie-flat bed or a wider first-class seat without paying full price, these fares present a compelling option. However, the cost savings come with strict limitations:

Feature / Benefit	Classic & Extra Fares	New Basic Premium Tiers
Onboard Experience	Full meal service, premium seating, premium amenities	Identical to Classic/Extra
Seat Assignment	Selected at the time of booking	Assigned after check-in
Changes & Cancellations	Fee-free flexibility (depending on tier)	Allowed only for a fee (issued as eCredit)
Mileage Earning	Full SkyMiles accrual (5x to 7x per dollar spent)	Significantly reduced (e.g., 2x per dollar on Basic Business)
Upgrades	Eligible for complimentary or paid upgrades	No upgrades permitted
Baggage Allowance	Standard premium allotment (e.g., 2 free bags)	Reduced allowance (typically 1 fewer bag than Classic)

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Lounge Access: The Biggest Divide

The most significant change applies to the ultra-premium Basic Business fare in the Delta One cabin. Historically, a business-class ticket was an automatic golden ticket into the airport lounge. With Basic Business, that luxury is being unbundled.

The Lounge Grace Period: To ease travelers into this new era, Delta is allowing Basic Business passengers to retain access to Delta One Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs for travel dates through January 18, 2027.

After January 18, 2027, a Basic Business ticket will no longer grant automatic lounge entry. Passengers will either need to step up to a Classic/Extra fare, or use separate qualifying credentials, such as premium credit cards or elite Delta 360 status, to get through the lounge doors.

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Is It Worth It?

Delta is betting that the market can be divided into two distinct types of luxury buyers:

1. The Corporate & Frequent Flyer: Travelers who rely on free ticket changes, maximum SkyMiles accumulation, and seamless lounge access will stick to Classic and Extra fares.


2. The Comfort-First Leisure Traveler: Travelers who simply want a good night's sleep on a transatlantic flight, don't care where they sit, and have firm vacation dates will find incredible value in saving hundreds of dollars per ticket.

By unbundling the front of the plane, Delta is making its most aspirational products accessible to a broader audience—proving that you can enjoy a 180-degree lie-flat seat and a chef-curated meal, even if you are on a budget.

Delta, JetZero Partner To Design The Future Of Air Travel By Advancing First-Of-Its-Kind, 50% More Fuel-Efficient Aircraft For Domestic And International Routes

Delta Air Lines is partnering with JetZero on a revolutionary, more sustainable aircraft that looks and feels like nothing flying today’s commercial skies.

Delta Air Lines is partnering with JetZero on a revolutionary, more sustainable aircraft that looks and feels like nothing flying today’s commercial skies. The California-based start-up’s vastly more fuel efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) design is at the center of the collaboration and is one facet of Delta’s ongoing journey to advance industry innovation, drive down cost through increased fuel-savings, elevate the customer experience and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

On the heels of the airline celebrating 100 years of flight, the partnership underscores Delta’s commitment to shape what the future of flight looks like for centuries to come. Delta’s formal partnership with JetZero comes after the start-up received a grant from the U.S. Air Force in 2023 to help facilitate building a full-scale demonstrator for first flight in 2027. Delta will play a crucial role in the development by providing the operational expertise to help make this technology viable.

“Working with JetZero to realize an entirely new airframe and experience for customers and employees is bold and important work to advance the airline industry’s fuel saving initiatives and innovation goals,” said Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “While Delta is focused on doing what we can today to address our carbon footprint, it’s critical we also work with a variety of partners to advance revolutionary technologies, like JetZero’s blended-wing-body aircraft, to solve for a significant portion of future aviation emissions.”

As the newest member of Delta’s Sustainable Skies Lab, JetZero has the direct support of the global carrier’s world-class talent and access to its industry-leading operations. That includes the right maintenan, ce and operational footprints to prove out and accelerate the commercialization of the BWB airframe technology – which is expected to be up to 50% more fuel efficient than the tube-and-wing designs1 customers experience today. The partnership with JetZero marks Delta’s fourth “revolutionary fleet” partnership outlined in its Sustainability Roadmap launched in 2023: a groundbreaking, transparent roadmap by which Delta aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The leading global airline will also help design an interior experience of the future to ensure a best-in-class customer and employee experience. The uniquely shaped airframe, that differs from today’s tube-and-wing shape, offers endless possibilities. With Delta at the helm of designing the interiors, customers can expect changes that enhance their experience, including dedicated overhead bin space for each passenger, accessible seats and lavatories, and fewer rows.

“JetZero is working to change the world by bringing to market an aircraft that aims to fly this decade and make immediate and marked progress toward reducing airline energy costs, and the associated emissions,” said Tom O’Leary, JetZero cofounder and CEO. “The ability to realize such significant efficiency gains in the near future meaningfully impacts the industry’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and will serve as the foundation on which other technologies and efficiencies can be realized. Delta was one of the first carriers to partner with us, supporting us behind the scenes since 2023, and we look forward to their continued support of our program through their deep knowledge and expertise.”

Rendering courtesy of JetZero

ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE BLENDED WING BODY

The revolutionary BWB aircraft, first tested and demonstrated in the 1990s by NASA and Stanford University to be safe and efficient, will also be capable of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) when it goes into service, since it will use today’s engine propulsion systems.

Aircraft manufacturers have made incredible advancements to increase overall commercial aircraft fuel efficiency since passenger jets were first introduced. In fact, fleet fuel efficiency is estimated to be 80% better than 50 years ago. At the same time, Delta has continued making fleet modifications – like adding winglets and lightweight landing gear to further the effort. In fact, Delta’s cross-divisional Carbon Council saved a cumulative 40+ million gallons of fuel in 20242 due to operational efficiencies, fleet modifications, and reduced weight on board. But the industry agrees that more is needed, and quickly.

This U.S. Air Force’s grant, coupled with support from partners such as Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites, and ongoing coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, further validates for major aviation stakeholders that the BWB design is a solution within reach. Delta has informally partnered with JetZero since 2021 on how to best commercialize the aircraft as part of the start-up's grant application.

JetZero’s BWB aircraft are expected to include a slate of revolutionary benefits for consumers and for environmental sustainability including:

The BWB is up to 50% more fuel efficient than conventional tube-and-wing airframes on the market due to the design, which creates less drag, provides more lifting surface area, provides even load and lift distribution, and overall is markedly lighter in weight.

Capacity to carry more than 250 customers – which is similar to existing widebody aircraft – to provide the level of capacity and range needed to meet growing travel demand.

Less noise. With engines mounted on top of the aircraft, BWB aircraft are expected to be significantly quieter than existing aircraft.

The potential to fit into existing airport infrastructure and offer faster turn-around times – areas Delta is exploring and advising on.

Utilizing SAF to further decrease lifecycle carbon emissions.

Delta believes in connecting people to a more sustainable future of travel. The global airline’s ongoing work to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 while delivering a more sustainable future of travel focuses on what we fly, how we fly and the fuel we use. While we’re making changes that are within our control today, like reducing fuel consumption across our operations, Delta is also working on long-term solutions like advancing sustainable aviation fuel to fully decarbonize its operations and the industry.

Delta’s New Seat Concept Lets Passengers Fly In Their Own Wheelchair

Travelling isn’t easy for passengers with reduced mobility. Getting on and off the plane requires care and additional time. Purpose-designed equipment can also be required to safely lift the passenger from a wheelchair into their airline seat. But a new concept by Delta Flight Products aims to change all that.

Designed in collaboration with AirForAll, the new ‘PRM Suite’ concept would allow wheelchair users to remain in their own chairs. The thinking is simple: travellers with disabilities can already do this on buses and trains, so why not on planes as well?

Until now, the design of aircraft cabins has made that impossible. But the PRM Suite concept would accommodate this on US domestic flights. Work is already underway to achieve this for passengers in both First and Economy Class.

Many in our community require highly supportive and specialised wheelchair seating designed to their specific needs. An airline seat, and even the harnesses available to use in an airline seat, do not provide enough support to allow these people living with a disability to travel. It’s not a matter of choosing not to travel; they simply can’t.

It has been encouraging to see Delta Air Lines trialling various ways to make this possible. Aircraft design needs to take into account the incredible variation in wheelchair size and functionality, like tilt-in-space chairs. It is a massive challenge, and my concern is that those with the highest needs will still not be accommodated with the designs I’ve seen to date.

– Julie Jones, Editor, Travel Without Limits

While there’s still work to be done, Delta’s new seat concepts were getting quite some attention at the recent Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Germany. I stopped by to have a look for myself.

Up close with Delta’s new accessible-friendly seat concept

The idea behind the design is simple. Much like on buses and trains, designated aircraft seats could fold up to create space for a wheelchair. The passenger can then be positioned in the space normally occupied by a fixed seat. The wheelchair’s own seatbelt keeps the passenger safely in the chair, and the chair itself can then be secured in place.

For the airline, converting a seat to accommodate a wheelchair would take 90 seconds at most. Seat cushions are easily removed, the seat base folds up and locks into place, and voila. I’m told that the concept would be limited to the front row in each cabin, specifically at the bulkhead, to accommodate the extra forward space required by a wheelchair.

For safety reasons, wheelchairs are expected to meet certain requirements—to be outlined in full at a later date. For instance, I’m told that only powered chairs would be accepted, not manual wheelchairs. The images below show manual wheelchairs only for a demonstration of Delta’s concept.

It’s certainly an interesting concept by Delta. If adopted, ‘PRM mode’ would be something of a hidden feature. When that functionality isn’t needed, the seat reflects the airline’s standard configuration and appearance. The difference will be almost indistinguishable to travellers without a disability. I only notice that the PRM-capable seat is marginally wider than the seat next to it when I try both in quick succession.

Perhaps rather than airlines racing to be the first to send passengers into space we could set a goal of being the first to comfortably transport travellers with a disability across the globe.

My hope for the future is that everyone that wants to travel by plane, with or without disability, will have the ability to do so.

– Julie Jones, Editor, Travel Without Limits

The next steps

Right now, Delta’s new seating concepts don’t yet have certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Those approvals can take 2-3 years – so you won’t see this on a plane in 2024 or 2025.

Delta Flight Products is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, but that’s no guarantee the parent carrier will adopt the seat. It’s fair to say, though, that Delta wouldn’t be investing time and money into this if it weren’t at least considering adopting its own creation onto its fleet.

These concept seats are part of a broader collection of improvements currently on the table at Delta Flight Products. Delta is also working on a new aircraft restroom design that can better accommodate wheelchair users and travellers with hidden disabilities. This includes features to help passengers move out of and back into their wheelchairs inside the restroom.

Artificial intelligence also has a role to play on board. I’m told that automated closed captioning of any inflight announcements is also on the table, with those captions able to appear on the mirror of that accessible restroom. (Potentially, captions of announcements could also appear on inflight entertainment screens.) Delta is also working on a storage device that can more reliably transport manual wheelchairs in the hold, significantly reducing the chance of a chair being damaged in transit.

It’s still early days, and there’s a lot of work to do. But it’s great to see Delta taking the initiative to make travel more accessible. Delta Flight Products also routinely offers its services and licences its creations to other airlines, so it’s possible that the idea may one day become commonplace in aircraft cabins around the world.

https://www.pointhacks.com.au/

Delta Air Lines Ending Checked Baggage Guarantee Program

Delta appears to be eliminating its checked baggage delivery guarantee (“Bags on Time”).

Customers could claim 2,500 miles whenever their bags failed to show up on the carousel within 20 minutes of arrival on a domestic flight. You could request the miles on your phone while standing at baggage claim, and in my experience claims were approved instantly.

When asked about an upcoming elimination of the checked baggage guarantee, a Delta Air Lines spokesperson wouldn’t deny it and only offered, “We have not made any announcement about a change to our program.” (I said in response, “well, if you’d made an announcement I wouldn’t be asking!”)

The person who shared this with me attributed it to the high cost of the program driven by awareness in viral TikTok videos and increasing ‘gaming’ of compensation.

However awareness always seemed high at baggage claim when Delta literally advertised it there:

In July 2009 Alaska Airlines introduced a Baggage Service Guarantee, offering miles or a discount on a future flight if bags took more than 25 minutes to arrive. A year later they reduced that to 20 minutes. (Oddly, Alaska’s website claims that their baggage guarantee was introduced in 2010, but that is not accurate.)

Delta, which competes directly with Alaska in Seattle, followed Alaska with its delivery commitment. Anecdotally passengers tell me they’ve been able to claim Delta’s guarantee more frequently than pre-pandemic. And Delta made it far easier to claim than Alaska – you actually have to go to Alaska’s baggage office within 2 hours of arrival to claim their miles or future discount. So the expected move may be a function of both Delta not being good enough at baggage delivery, and making compensation claims too easy to file.

Southwest (which includes checked bags with its fares), United, JetBlue and American do not offer any checked baggage delivery guarantees – which is unfortunate as bag fees rise. It would be nice to expect a performance standard at a cost that can now be as high as $45 for first checked bag.

Source: https://viewfromthewing.com/author/viewfromthewing/

Delta To Tweak Unpopular Changes In Its Frequent-Flyer Program

Delta Air Lines is rethinking changes it already announced to its loyalty program, with the airline’s CEO saying it went too far trying to address a surge in the ranks of elite frequent flyers.

Delta said two weeks ago that starting in early 2025 it would base elite status purely on spending, instead of also counting flights, and limit airport club access for holders of Delta credit cards.

“No question we probably went too far in doing that,” CEO Ed Bastian told the Atlanta Rotary Club. “I think we moved too fast, and we are looking at it now.

Bastian promised “modifications” that the airline will announce “sometime over the next few weeks.” He didn’t give details.

Delta Will No Longer Allow Customers Who Book Basic Economy Tickets To Use Airport Lounges And Other Restrictions.

Delta Air Lines is changing how customers can gain entry into its Sky Club and earn elite frequent flyer status with the Atlanta-based airline in 2025.

Instead of the current unlimited visits, starting Feb. 1, 2025, American Express Platinum and Platinum Business cardholders will get six visits a year, unless they spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business cardholders will get 10 Sky Club visits a year unless they spend a minimum of $75,000 in a year on their card.

Delta’s SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express cards will no longer get club access unless the customer buys a club membership or if they have elite status with Delta that allows them to pick a club membership as a perk.

A yearly membership for Delta’s lounges is $695.

Some restrictions will start as soon as January 1, 2024, with the airline announcing that customers who book a basic economy ticket will no longer be allowed in Delta’s lounges, regardless if they carry a Platinum Card or any other premium credit card.

The news comes as the airline struggled to handle overcrowding at popular lounges at Delta’s major hubs like JFK Airport or Atlanta.

Along with the lounge cutbacks, Delta is also making it increasingly more difficult for its customers to qualify for status on its SkyMiles program.

Passengers will no longer earn status based on the number of miles they fly with Delta but instead will earn status based exclusively on the amount of money they spend with the airline.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express card members earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every $10 spent on the card, while Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Card Members earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent.

The new status requirements are:

Silver Medallion – 6,000 MQDs

Gold Medallion – 12,000 MQDs

Platinum Medallion – 18,000 MQDs

Diamond Medallion – 35,000 MQDs

By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox Business

Airlines Are Adding New Routes And Making A Bold Bet On Continued Strong Demand For Travel

Building on strong bookings this summer, American Airlines said Thursday it will add three new European destinations next summer and revive another international route that it last flew in 2019.

The announcement comes one day after Delta Air Lines said it will expand service to China later this year.

The news from two of the biggest U.S. carriers underscores the airline industry’s confidence that its strong recovery from the pandemic will continue and that planes will remain packed.

American said that next summer it will add flights to Copenhagen, Naples and Nice, France — all new destinations for the airline — from Philadelphia. It plans to resume flights between Chicago and Venice that were dropped four years ago.

The Fort Worth-based airline said it will also extend seasonal summer service on some transatlantic routes longer than in previous summers. Delta is doing something similar this year.

Atlanta-based Delta announced on Wednesday that it expand China service with 10 flights per week to Shanghai from Seattle and Detroit. International travel to and from China has been slower to recover than just about any other region due to COVID-19 restrictions.

AP

Free Wi-Fi Coming To Many Delta US Flights In February

Delta Air Lines will provide free Wi-Fi service on most of its U.S. flights starting in February, CEO Ed Bastian announced Thursday at the CES technology trade show.

Bastian said by the end of the year, the airline will outfit more than 700 planes with high-speed, satellite-based broadband service from T-Mobile. It plans to expand free Wi-Fi to international and Delta Connection flights by the end of 2024. The service will use equipment from Viasat, a U.S.-based satellite broadband provider.

“It’s always struck me that when we fly, we fly to connect,” Bastian told The Associated Press in an interview. “But when we’re in the sky, we disconnect.”
Many airlines are upgrading internet access on their planes so passengers can stay connected or stream entertainment on their electronic devices, but they usually have to pay for it. New York-based JetBlue Airways already provides free Wi-Fi service to passengers, but Delta’s announcement puts it ahead of its largest rivals: American, United and Southwest.
“People want to be connected, and the fact that airlines can’t connect in the sky is something that I felt we had to figure out,” Bastian said, noting that the rollout of the $1 billion project was accelerated by the pandemic-triggered shutdowns in 2020, when most of the airline’s planes were grounded.
Customers will need an account in Delta’s SkyMiles frequent-flyer program, which is free to join, to use the Wi-Fi service. There is no limit on the number of devices passengers can connect to the inflight Wi-Fi. More than 500 planes will have the free service as of Feb. 1.
Delta’s announcement at CES comes on the heels of Southwest Airlines canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas and leaving holiday travelers stranded around the U.S.
The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest’s ancient crew-scheduling technology failed.
Bastian declined to comment on his rival’s issues but said Delta for “many years” has invested in its scheduling technology.

“And we are continuing to improve the ability for crews to connect efficiently with the airplane,” he said.

By RIO YAMAT and DAVID KOENIG

Major US Airlines To Require Passengers To Wear Face Masks, Taking JetBlue's Lead

(AP) — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines said Thursday they will soon require passengers to cover their faces during flights, following the lead of JetBlue Airways.

The move comes as airlines big and small contemplate how to comply with social-distancing recommendations in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Most flights are nearly empty these days — air travel is down 95% from a year ago, and the average domestic flight has 17 passengers, according to industry figures.

But recently passengers have posted photos on social media of crowded planes with many passengers who weren’t covering their faces despite the recommendation by federal health officials to wear a mask when in public to prevent spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

In some cases, airlines created the crowds by canceling other flights and packing passengers onto fewer planes.

During a three-hour layover at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Vince Warburton noticed a crowd gathering in the gate area before his American Airlines flight to Los Angeles.

“People were laughing at the fact that (gate agents) were encouraging us to social-distance while boarding the plane, and there were so many people in line,” said the 32-year-old video engineer, who was commuting to a job.

The laughter didn’t last long.

“When we got on the plane, we were all sitting right next to each other,” said Warburton, who was flying on a discount ticket and was assigned a middle seat in a full row. ”People were very uneasy. I was very uncomfortable.”

Airline executives say they know that customers must feel safe before they’ll venture from sheltering at home to getting on a plane, and they have taken some steps.

This week, JetBlue became the first U.S. airline to announce it will require passengers to wear face coverings during flights, starting next week.

“Wearing a face covering isn’t about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting those around you,” said JetBlue President Joanna Geraghty. “This is the new flying etiquette.

Earlier Thursday, Frontier Airlines said that it would begin requiring masks May 8. Delta and United announced they would make masks mandatory starting Monday.

Until now, those airlines said they were encouraging passengers to wear masks, and several required their own flight attendants to wear them.

Just hours before American Airlines announced it will require passengers to cover up, airline CEO Doug Parker said he wanted to see how the rule worked at JetBlue, and expressed reservations about enforcing a mandatory policy.

“We want to be careful about putting our team in the position of being police on that,” Parker told The Associated Press. “What we’re hoping instead is that virtually all customers will choose for their own protection and out of respect for others on the airplane to wear a mask in flight.”

The Association of Flight Attendants, which says 300 of its members have contracted COVID-19, and some Democrats in Congress are pushing the Trump administration to require that passengers wear masks.

Air travel is “a major vector for COVID-19,” said Sens. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said he pressed the head of the Federal Aviation Administration to require face coverings for all passengers and crew, and to require airlines to take “

In a statement, the FAA said Administrator Stephen Dickson expects airlines to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has recommended that everyone wear face coverings when in public.

Beyond masks, several airlines say they are blocking some or all middle seats to create social distancing. That is possible now on most flights but will become more difficult when passengers begin returning in bigger numbers — airlines would forfeit revenue if they block seats then. It is also more difficult on smaller regional jets; passengers might be seated near each other to balance the plane’s load.

Princess Johnson, a bus driver in Chicago, said she felt claustrophobic on a recent flight to Indianapolis because the few passengers had to sit in one section of the plane.

“If somebody sneezed, we all would have been sick,” said Johnson, who added that she was one of only a few passengers wearing a mask.

Mike Ritchie said just about everybody on his American Airlines flight home from Orlando, Florida, wore a mask.

“Good flight. Not so many people,” he said. “The flight attendants made sure everybody was spaced well, and I would fly again if I had to.”

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said this week that his airline is considering filling flights no more than two-thirds full so that middle seats can always be empty. He said steps like those might be necessary to make passengers feel safe, but he was clear he views them as temporary steps.

“I don’t accept that forever more people are going to stay six feet apart and wear masks for the rest of our lives,” Kelly said.

Almost every airline says it is stepping up cleaning of planes, sometimes including the use of misting machines to spray anti-viral chemicals inside the cabin. They are also trying to persuade passengers that air inside the cabin is safe to breathe.

Cabin air on most jetliners is a mix of fresh air from the outside and recirculated air that is passed through high-efficiency or HEPA filters designed to trap most airborne particles.

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By DAVID KOENIG

Teresa Crawford in Chicago contributed to this report.

Airline Quality: Who Ranks Number One? –The Latest

By Peter Greenberg

The latest results are in on airline quality. For the 29th year, researchers at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University studied data collected by the U.S. Department of Transportation that looked at on-time arrivals, mishandled baggage, bumping passengers and consumer complaints.

And the winner is Delta Air Lines, followed by JetBlue, Southwest and Alaska Airlines. Frontier came in last, and second to last place was American Airlines. But the really good news is that overall, airlines bumped fewer passengers last year.

Why?

The airlines are paying more passengers to give up their seats before they board flights. And the airlines also have mishandled fewer bags. What’s one reason for that? It’s basic math.

The airlines are actually carrying fewer bags because so many more passengers don’t want to pay the airlines to check them in.

Delta Changes The Way Fliers Board Planes

By Jordan Valinsky, CNN Business

New York (CNN Business)A new boarding process is coming to Delta Air Lines.

Beginning on January 23, 2019, the airline will ditch zone boarding in favor of a new -- and more complex -- process based on ticket type and color.

Despite the expansion in number of groups from six to eight, Delta said the new format hopes to "encourage fewer customers to line up in the gate area" and ultimately speed up boarding.

The Atlanta-based carrier will still begin boarding with passengers that need extra time, followed by premium passengers sitting in its Delta One suites (applicable on select domestic and all international flights) and then its new Premium Select cabin on some international flights or First Class on domestic flights.

After that, it gets complicated: The airline used to board the Sky Priority zone -- passengers sitting in Comfort+ and Gold and Platinum Medallion members -- together.

Moving forward, that group will split into two, with Comfort+ passengers boarding first followed by Sky Priority, meaning high-spending members of its frequent flier program will have to wait a little bit longer.

Following that, Delta will board economy passengers by announcing Main Cabin 1 though 3, instead of Zone 1 though 4.

Fliers that purchase Delta's cheapest tickets will board last in a new group: Zone 4 will now be called Basic Economy. Delta credit card holders and Silver Medallion members will board with Main Cabin 1.

Each section will have different colors displayed when they purchase their ticket on Delta's website and on airport screens to help.

"This latest enhancement further refines how Delta's process works and is designed to better link the Delta product they purchased to differentiated experiences throughout their journey," said Tim Mapes, Delta's chief marketing officer, in a statement.

Delta (DAL) joins United (UAL) and American (AAL), which both recently revamped their boarding processes. The goal is to minimize delays and load planes quicker.

The Best US Airlines For In-Flight Wi-Fi In 2018

Whether it’s for business or simply because of a debatably unhealthy obsession, many of us struggle going more than a few minutes without Internet access. This can be particularly troublesome when traveling. When we’re heading home for the holidays, going on a business trip, or taking off on a summer vacation, we need to know which airlines do the most to keep us online while in the air.

Through painstaking research and expert data analysis, HighSpeedInternet.com put together a report of their exclusive rankings of the in-flight Wi-Fi offerings of domestic airlines.

Top Domestic Airline Wi-Fi Services Overall

JetBlue offers the best overall in-flight Wi-Fi for personal travel. The biggest reason JetBlue tops the rankings is because when it’s available, it comes at no extra cost. JetBlue is the only airline in America that offers free in-flight Wi-Fi.

Along with being the most affordable, JetBlue’s in-flight Wi-Fi is also among the fastest; it’s tied with Delta and Virgin America at 15 Mbps. Southwest grabbed the second spot with a great balance of affordability and availability. It offers in-flight Wi-Fi on 90% of its ASM and charges just $8 per day.

Read the full article here.

Extensive Hunter College Survey Provides Travelers With Best In-Flight Food Choices And Health Rankings, Delta And Virgin America With The Healthiest Choices.

Survey provides travelers with the best in-flight food choices, 

including health ratings to make healthier choices 35,000 feet in the air

Delta and Virgin America Receive Top Rating

Knowing what are the ”best” and “worst” choices is a valuable tool for any traveler, so Dr. Charles Platkin, the director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center and editor of DietDetective.com., once again studied the best “Calorie Bargains” and "Calorie Rip-offs" at 35,000 feet.

Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center and DietDetective.com have released the 2017-18 Airline Food Study, rating foods for twelve (12) airlines. The study assigned a “Health Score” (5 stars = highest rated, 0 star = lowest rated) based on criteria including healthy nutrients and calorie levels of meals, snack boxes and individual snacks, level of transparency (display of nutrient information & ingredients), improvement and maintenance of healthy offerings, menu innovation and cooperation in providing nutritional information. The survey includes health ratings, average calories per airline, comments, best bets, food offerings, costs, and nutrition information (e.g., calories, and exercise equivalents). See the full study at http://www.dietdetective.com/ airline-food-investigation/

“This year Delta and Virgin America share the top spot as the airlines with the ‘healthiest’ food choices in the sky. with Air Canada and JetBlue tied for second,”  says Charles Platkin, PhD, JD, MPH,  the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center and editor of DietDetective.com.

The average number of calories per menu choice was 360 in 2012; in 2013 it was 388; in 2014 it was 397; in 2015 it was 400; in 2016 it was 392; and this year it's 405 calories, a 13 calorie increase over last year. However, calories are not everything; the survey also looks at the nutrients in the foods when they are provided (they are requested each year), as well as innovations moving towards healthy, tasty, inexpensive, sustainable foods.

Here are the major airline food headlines:

• Delta is the clear leader among the major carriers and is tied with Virgin America this year as the healthiest airline.
• Alaska Air purchased Virgin America, and the goal is to maintain the status-quo when it comes to food in all categories until next year.
• American and Delta have once again started offering complimentary meals in economy class on domestic flights, something we haven't seen in more than 15 years.
• Airlines are eliminating those oversized packages of snack foods and offering individual smaller packages or eliminating individual snacks altogether.
• Some airlines are going back to serving individual complimentary snacks, but they’re not very healthy. How about an apple or an orange, or maybe a Clementine or a Halo (mandarin orange).
• The "Shame on You" award goes to Hawaiian, United Airlines and American. Hawiian just does not respond while United’s food and beverage department seems put-out by the process, and it shows in their responses to queries. American Airlines is not much better, with a media rep who also seems annoyed by the process.   
• Note to all airlines: It is not difficult to get nutritional information for all foods. Every airline uses detailed recipes; all they have to do is put the ingredients into a free online food calculator (such as supertracker.usda.gov), and in a few minutes they could have complete nutritional information.  
• Read  the press release from the FDA commissioner:  “One important step is ensuring consumers have access to reliable and actionable information about the foods they eat so that they can make more informed choices about their diets and health for themselves and their families.” Menu labeling is coming in May 2018.

Below are the surveyed airlines' "Health Scores" (Health Score: 5 stars = highest rating, 0 stars = lowest). For full survey results including full listings of the snack/on-board food offerings, comments, ratings, cost, calories, exercise equivalents, and tips go to http://www.DietDetective.com

Summary of Health Ratings (5 Stars is highest): Delta 4 stars, Virgin America 4 stars, Air Canada 3.75  stars, JetBlue 3.75 stars, Alaska Air 3.5 stars, United Airlines 2.75 stars, American 2.5 stars, Frontier Air 2.25  stars,  Southwest Airlines 2 stars, Allegiant Air 1.75 stars, Spirit Airlines 1.75 stars, Hawaiian Airlines 1 star

Delta Air Lines (www.delta.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Excellent

Health Score:  4 stars

Average Calories Overall (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) =  480

Average Snack Box Calories = 560

Average Meal Calories = 559

Average Individual Snack Calories = 164

Comments:  Delta is doing an incredible job focusing on improving its food, transparency and communication.  It is the clear leader among the big carriers . While calories are surely not everything, it’s always nice to see a decrease; the overall calories are down from 527 to 480. Meals are down from 628 to 559. Delta has also eliminated many of its individual paid snacks; however, the free offerings (other than the almonds), while relatively low in calories, are still not the great choices.   Delta continues its commitment to improving its food in terms of health and consciousness.  Its menu continues to focus on “transparency into ingredient and allergen information for customers,” and its focus on transparency includes providing a key on the menu for snack items that are Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Kosher, and Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian.  Also, the Tapas box is the U.S. airline industry’s only non-GMO snack box. Delta continues to work with Luvo, which has a very strong commitment to healthy eating. All the calorie information for the Luvo items are listed on Delta’s menu (and online); I’m just not sure why the airline doesn’t put all nutritional information for all its food on the website and pocket cards.  Why not list ingredients, as well as fats, proteins, carbohydrates and sugar.

Best Bets: For a snack, the almonds are the best choice--even over the Kind bar or the lower-calorie pretzels.  The vegan, GMO-free Tapas Snack Box is a good healthy choice if you share or make it a meal (it’s too high in calories as a snack).  Within the box the best bests are the Super Seed Crackers, Snapea Crisps, dark chocolate, almonds, hummus, and quinoa with pepper dip. You can pass on the rest.

For morning travel, choose the continental breakfast (fruit and yogurt) at 345 calories, but save the Kind bar for a snack later in the day.  For Lunch/Dinner, choose the Sesame Noodle Salad or the Greek Meze Plate.  You can skip the caramel-filled chocolate to save calories.   

Virgin America (www.virginamerica.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Excellent

Health Score: 4 stars  

Average Calories Overall (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 340

Average Snack Box Calories = 358

Average Meal Calories =  406

Average Individual Snack Calories = 276

Comments: The airline has been purchased Alaska Air, and eventually the Virgin name will disappear. The good news is that Alaska Air is committed to adopting the healthy food options (and transparency) of Virgin America.   Additionally, Alaska will more than likely reduce the sizes of the individual snacks. Virgin is still the only airline that provides nutritional information (not just calories) for all items. We applaud that transparency and hope Alaska continues to do so. There are not many menu changes (obviously because of the transition). The individual snacks are still unhealthy. There are nine snack options,which should include healthier options.

Best Bets: Avoid the individual snacks if you can. Even the nuts, which are the best choice, are high in calories if you consume the entire package. Always choose a real meal if you can. Even if it's slightly higher in calories; it will keep you full longer.

For breakfast, try the Udi's Granola with Yogurt and Fruit, which is a bit high in sugar but overall low in calories at 330. The best snack box is the Protein Meal with hummus, nuts and tuna; the others are a bit high in calories and are not really worth it. For kids, skip the Jet Set Kid Pack if you can, and go for the half peanut butter and jam sandwich. In general, almost all the meals (as long as they’re eaten as meals and not snacks) are good choices. The Quinoa Wrap at 420 calories is high in protein for a vegetarian meal, which will help keep you full longer. The Protein Plate is also a good choice, as is the Farro Salad with roasted chicken – powerful from a health perspective. Again, these are meals that will fill you up and help you avoid the junk. The good news is that none of the food goes overboard in terms of calories, so you really can't go too far wrong.

Air Canada (www.aircanada.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very Helpful

Health Score: 3.75 Stars

Average Calories Overall (Meals and Individual Snacks) = 320

Average Meal Calories = 377

Average Individual Snack Calories = 267

Comments: The airline keeps nutrients high and calorie counts low for meals. Also, it’s nice that they offer meals but no snack boxes. People tend to eat the entire snack box, which is typically high in calories and low on nutrients.  The airline has ended its relationship with the food company, Luvo, and replaced them with a company called Freshii. The individual snacks are not great and still need work because there are very few healthy choices. Also, Air Canada should be transparent, putting nutritional information and ingredients on the menu. Why not?

Best Bets: For breakfast, the Greek yogurt is still a good option – and will probably fill you up. The Avocado Smash Box with fresh guacamole, hard-boiled egg, green apple slices, and multigrain muesli bread sounds amazing and also offers 23g of filling protein to keep you energized. Honestly, that is the kind of food every airline should be offering. Skip the egg sandwich.  The Chicken Soup is a low-calorie choice for a snack that will fill you up, but be wary of the 950mg of sodium if you have high blood pressure. The Celery & Carrots with Ranch Dip (if you use no more than half the dip) is an OK choice. While the hummus and the guacamole options sound healthy, the pretzels and Tostitos offer little nutritional value, and you’d be better off having a meal if meals are available.

If meals are available, the newly added Pangoa Bowl and the Fiesta Wrap are high-nutrient, low-calorie choices. The California Roll is another light offering that’s low in fat and calories. It would also make a great snack! The Thai Chicken Wrap is also a high protein, lower calorie option, but very high in sodium.

JetBlue Airways (www.jetblue.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Somewhat Helpful

Health Score: 3.75 stars

Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 337

Average Snack Box Calories = 357

Average Meal Calories = 483

Average Individual Snack Calories = 142

Comments: The individual snacks are still low in calories as well as nutritional value. The airline continues to post nutritional information for its snack boxes and meals on its website. They don’t post nutritional information for the individual snacks, but it is on the packaging.  In terms of free snacks, which JetBlue is famous for, how about offering something healthy--there is NOT a single healthy choice in the group.  However, the airline is clearly thinking about this on the snack box level--just look at the new AmpUp box with olives, hummus, Mary’s Gone Crackers (they’re great crackers) and a That’s It fruit bar--those are the types of snacks JetBlue should be offering for free. It would change the face of the airline. JetBlue should note that people are very serious about what they eat and are extremely conscious of choosing healthier, organic, non-GMO, nutritious foods.  Finally, the airline should offer actual meals on more flights.

Best Bets: Still not too much in the way of healthy individual snacks. So keep in mind, the individual snacks are free, and the JetBlue team is generally friendly and will not say no to requests for extra portions. As for the Eat Up boxes, the Pick Me Up box is lowest in calories but not necessarily the most nutritious. The AmpUp box features hummus, Mary’s Gone Crackers and almonds, and while it’s high in calories, it’s loaded with good nutrition (e.g. fiber and protein). Have it as a meal though, not as a snack, and skip the chocolate crispy squares to reduce low-nutrient calories. If you’re on a flight that offers the Eat Up Café, the Yogurt and Granola (you might want to limit the honey), the Kale & Quinoa Salad and the Spicy Soba & Korean-Style Chicken (unless you’re sodium sensitive) are all good choices. Skip the Grilled Chicken and Brie Sandwich, which is very high in calories and low on nutrition.

Alaska Airlines (www.alaskaair.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Extremely Helpful

Health Score: 3.5 stars  

Average Calories Overall (Meals and Snack Boxes and Individual snacks) =  479.6

Average Snack Box Calories =  479

Average Meal Calories =  516.5

Average Individual Snack Calories = 315

Comments: The good news is that Alaska Airlines has purchased Virgin America (named the healthiest airline over the last few years), and has vowed to take on some of VA’s healthy approach to food.  That said, Alaska has always been committed to food, just not the healthiest.  The airline’s spokesperson was incredibly helpful and pointed out that the they will increase transparency on the combined airline and add many of VA’s healthy food choices  

Best Bets: Among the snack boxes, the Mediterranean Tapas hasn't changed much from last year and is still the healthiest choice. It has olives, hummus, almonds, dried fruit and even a dark chocolate bar. But keep in mind that 510 calories is a bit high for a "snack" (or even a meal), so it would be best if you either shared the box or had it as a meal replacement. For kids, the snack box may be tempting, but it's always better for children (and adults) to eat a real meal. FYI, the beef jerky is low in calories but very high in sodium. As far as breakfast goes, you can pick the Ham & Sweet Potato Frittata but skip the corn muffin. The breakfast offerings are a bit heavy and rich (as are all the meals). If you opt for the fruit and cheese plate, skip the crackers and half the cheese.  There aren’t too many dinner choices, but the Roast Turkey with Veggie Hash is a high-protein, low-calorie choice, although also high in sodium .

United Airlines (www.united.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Somewhat Helpful

Health Score: 2.75 stars

Average Calories Overall (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 416

Average Meal Calories = 484

Average Snack Box Calories = 492

Average Individual Snack Calories = 311

Comments:  United, the 4th largest airline in the U.S., needs to change the way it thinks about its food offerings.  They have very little food transparency on the website, meaning that nutritional information is not available, and the ingredients are listed but you have to dig a bit to find them (and take a peek here--they’re not very “clean”). The individual snack choices are generally not healthy, the snack boxes could be much more food/healthy thoughtful, and the meals are average to OK.  Also, the food and beverage group as well as the media reps for the airline seem bothered and put off  by our inquiries.

Best Bets: Among the individual snacks, the hummus is the best choice, and it would be a good idea to avoid the other choices. Get the Tapas snack box, which is high in calories but has many healthy foods, including almonds, olives, hummus and bruschetta; just toss out the cheese spread. You should also share it unless you’re eating it as a meal. Skip the Classic and Select snack boxes. For breakfast, the Chobani Greek Yogurt and Fresh Fruit is OK, but it has a lot of sugar and a not-very-clean ingredients list (i.e., granola).  For Lunch/Dinner, the Mezze Sampler is your best bet and should keep you full. Another choice would be the. Mediterranean Chicken Wrap, although it has a bit too much cheese.  

American Airlines (www.aa.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Below Average

Health Score:  2.5 stars

Average Calories Overall (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 446

Average Meal Calories =  495

Average Snack Box Calories = 526

Average Individual Snack Calories = 192

Comments: In addition to its complimentary snacks, American began providing complimentary main cabin meals as of March 2017.  Nothing very healthy, and I find the following comment not surprising considering that Delta is it’s competition: “Providing complimentary meals in the Main Cabin is yet another step we’re taking to enhance our service in this competitive market.”

The airline is still not publishing any food or nutritional information on its website--absolutely nothing.  This is  a strange move leading to even less food transparency and providing travelers with  no ability at all to plan their meal.  The only good news is that the airline has discontinued all it's unhealthy for-sale individual snacks. Fresh and Light Meals are a step in a better direction, but for a major US airline, American is very far behind when it comes to food.  The airline’s leadership needs to get in touch and start offering healthier, cleaner foods.  

Best Bets: The hummus box is the best bet among snacks for purchase.  If you opt to purchase a lunch, on flights of three hours or more the Chicken Arugula  Wrap seems to be the best option--go light on the dressing. The Turkey and Chutney Sandwich is also an OK choice. If you opt to purchase breakfast, the Egg and Turkey Bacon Sandwich is OK as long as you go light on the honey mustard dressing. If you're on a flight with complimentary breakfast, pick the Snack Box with yogurt and granola, which is just acceptable healthwise, and steer clear of the fruit and cheese plate. For complimentary lunch/dinner there really are no great options; the Fruit and Cheese Plate is the lowest in calories but not well rounded enough for a meal. The Vegetarian Wrap might be OK if you skip the brownie.

Frontier Airlines (www.flyfrontier.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very Helpful

Health Score: 2.25 stars

Average Calories Overall (Individual Snacks and Snack Boxes) = 372

Average Individual Snack Calories = 386

Average Snack Box Calories = 300

Comments: Frontier’s communications team had historically been uncooperative. This year the information was shared promptly, but very little has changed on the airline’s menu.

Best Bet: As with last year, the trail mix could be the healthiest option, but travelers would be best off bringing their own food.

Southwest Airlines (www.southwest.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very Helpful

Health Score: 2 stars

Average Calories = 125

Comments: Not much variety and not much in terms of nutritional value.  However, they are always helpful, and that’s nice.  I just wish they would add some healthy snacks or at least test a few.  This is one of the larger carriers in the US, so it would be great for Southwest to set an example and show that healthy food can sell if it is tasty and curated with consciousness.

Best Bet: The peanuts are the best, even though the pretzels are lower in calories.

Allegiant Air (www.allegiantair.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very Helpful

Health Score:  1.75 stars

Average Calories Overall (Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 402

Average Individual Snack Calories = 474

Average Snack Box Calories = 307

Comments: The media department’s response was excellent this year and helped to clarify some of last year’s estimates, but a few more healthy food items would be welcome on the menu. I bet they would sell.  

Best Bets:  Among individual snacks, the nuts might work if you share them with at least one other person. The hummus snack pack is a good choice, but the snack boxes are not great in terms of health (and not just calorie-wise).  Avoid the Deli Snack Pack, and the Wingz Kids Snack Pack is not a healthy choice.

Spirit Airlines (www.spirit.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Helpful

Health Score: 1.75 stars

Average Calories Overall (Individual Snacks and Snack Boxes) = 316

Average Individual Snack Calories =342.5

Average Snack Box Calories = 316

Comments: The airline’s previous media spokesperson had been unresponsive but is no longer with the airline.  Good news.  Spirit, which is all about the bottomline, should see some grander opportunity in selling healthy food (e.g., better margins, increased revenue, improved customer satisfaction, etc…).  Also, the airline is not keeping up with the major

carriers, who have learned that large size snacks are not the best option for travellers.

Best Bet: The hummus and pita chips are one of just a few changes Spirit has made to its menu, and at 330 calories are probably the best choice for a satisfying snack. The cup of noodle soup at 290 calories may also feel like a real meal, but it is very high in sodium, so it is not the best bet for anyone who is sodium-sensitive or has high blood pressure. The cheese tray at 130 calories is a much better choice than the Cafe Snack Box.  

Hawaiian Airlines (www.hawaiianairlines.com)

Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Terrible / Unresponsive  

Health Score: 1 star   

Average Calories Overall (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 568

Average Meal Calories = 971  

Average Individual Snack Calories = 460

Average Snack Box Calories = 342

Comments: The airline does not respond to requests for food information. All the nutritional information was estimated by Diet Detective nutritionists.  Hawaiian Airlines’ food is high in calories and the menu doesn't offer much choice either in terms of health or in the way of food system consciousness (caring about sustainability, organic growing, no GMOs, etc…).  This could be a real disappointment if you are on a long flight and have not planned in advance. Plus, when free food is put down in front of you, you have a tendency to eat it. All of it. That could be a lot of unhealthy food.

Best Bets:  Among the snacks, choose the Hummus & Pita Chips. It’s really the best choice, and better than any of the individual snacks, which are very high in calories. You might think the Salted Macadamia Nuts would be a good choice, and they do have healthy properties, but only if you split them with 5 other people or have them over the course of a few weeks.  The two oatmeal options are lower in calories but likely high in sugar, while the beef and cheese sticks (the lowest calorie individual snack option) are high in saturated fat and sodium.

Also, keep in mind, you will probably get a very high calorie, unhealthy free meal on your flight, so go light on those snacks. Don’t be fooled by the Gluten Free Box; while many of the individual items are OK healthwise (such as the hummus and roasted chickpea snacks), it’s still high in calories and out-of-touch with current food trends.

For the complimentary meals, try to go light on the breads, treats and dressings. Your best bet calorie-wise, if it's available, is the Penne Pasta Bolognese Sauce and green salad, but skip the shortbread cookie. In the end, it would be best to eat before you board the plane; otherwise you might wind up feeling lethargic and cranky after one of these calorie-heavy meals.  Just say no, and bring your own food.