No such thing as a free meal? It's back - on some airlines

New York

IT had seemed extinct. Airlines stopped offering it on domestic flights more than a decade ago, along with amenities that once made air travel an adventure rather than an endurance test, but it has reappeared in recent months - a free meal in coach.

Continuing their emergence from hard economic times, some airlines have begun adding complimentary breakfast, lunch or dinner on some of their flights in the United States.

Dara Khosrowshahi, who until recently was chief executive of the online travel agent Expedia and is now chief executive of the ride-sharing company Uber, said: "Customers look at flight price and schedule. Airlines want to get beyond that, so they are mer…