KEY POINTS:
The free biscuit - one of the great traditions of flying on Air New Zealand's main domestic routes - is on the way out.
The national carrier has decided to axe the free chocolate chip cookie in favour of charging for a range of costly inflight snacks.
From Monday, passengers must pay or go hungry on all 737 aircraft, which fly main routes between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and Dunedin.
Tea, coffee and water will still be free.
But travellers will have to buy food from a "purchase service".
Air New Zealand said a "gourmet sandwich" would be $6, a Mediterranean pesto pasta salad $7, and a tube of Pringle chips $3.
It says it is introducing the service because of "customer demand".
Sandwiches, salads, yoghurt, fruit salad and slices from top-end Wellington catering company Wishbone will be on sale, as well as "quick snacks" of chips, chocolate bars and crackers.
There will also be alcohol, soft drinks and orange juice available, although the alcohol will be limited to beer and wine.
The airline said the food and drink service on domestic aircraft other than the main-route 737s would stay the same - free tea, coffee or water, and a cellophane-wrapped biscuit.
But on at least one secondary route this week, the only drinks offered were water and fruit juice, and a flight attendant said Air New Zealand had axed the coffee and tea.
Boiled sweets offered as aircraft descend will remain free.
A Boeing 737 flight attendant said the food supplied by Wishbone would have to be flown from Wellington to connect with flights from other centres.
"It will be expensive," she said.
"We've been told that to make a profit, we have to sell six items for every one that has to be thrown away."
Air New Zealand said it had tested the pay service on recent late-afternoon and evening 737 flights.
Food and drink services on international flights would not change.
- with Alan Young
