Free movies, TV coming to Delta’s transcontinental flights

Free movies and TV in economy class and free beer, wine and spirits in what the carrier calls Economy Comfort are among new services and amenities coming to Delta Air Lines flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The airline also plans to expand its entertainment library to offer up to 100 movie selections.

“We’ve been making an investment in our transcontinental service, phasing in full flat-bed seats [in BusinessElite class] and larger Economy Comfort sections,” spokeswoman Leslie Scott said Monday.

Scott noted some changes phased in this year take a page from what’s offered to customers on the airline’s international flights.

And some will be added because customers have asked for them. Case in point: Selling larger (375 milliliter) bottles of wine in economy class, which begins in March. In the summer, Delta also will begin serving Starbucks coffee to all transcontinental customers.

As part of the changes:

--Economy fliers won’t have to spend $6 on in-flight entertainment (though they will have to bring their own headsets to avoid all charges).

--Starting in April, Economy Comfort passengers will receive free beer, wine, spirits and “premium snacks” (something more than pretzels and peanuts but so far undefined), and will be able to access newly released movies and HBO programs this summer.

--BusinessElite passengers can add sparkling wine to their long haul along with “express meals,” which are single-plate service for those who don’t want to be interrupted during the flight.

Something still missing? The airline’s Ideas in Flight program collects feedback from passengers about what things they would like to have on board. (Passengers may access it for free in-flight; it’s also on the company’s Facebook page.)

For example, a passenger suggested a white noise channel as part of the in-flight entertainment, and that’s being tested now, Scott said.

Delta flies seven daily flights between Los Angeles International Airport and JFK.

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