What is meal and beverage service like on long flights (e.g., cross-country) now in covid times?

Contact the airlines; it is different for different airlines. Also length of flight.

You can buy food after you go through TSA, not cheap.

Masks are not required on flights any more unfortunately although some people will still wear them. If you are in Business class or perhaps economy plus (on United) you should get a meal. Otherwise you can bring food and you can bring it through TSA, just no drinks.

I flew to Cal in March when there were still mask requirements and they told you to keep your masks up at all times and lower them only for “sips or bites.”

But these things do change a lot so it is best to check with your airline.

Many carriers no longer have free meals, but they have a good selection of food for sale. The typically accept credit cards only for payment.

On both my trips in June, masks were optional. We wore ours, except during meals. I have a sippy bottle for drinks that fits under the mask.

“If you take off masks to eat, what is even the point of having them on otherwise?”

The air on an airborne passenger plane gets replaced every three minutes or so – at least that’s what ‘they’ are telling us. So what I did while there were still mask mandates is to wait until most people around me were done eating (remasked). Then I would eat, presumably in fresh outside air? Who knows – but I did not get sick. Some people also get protein drinks (bought in Duty Free) to chug in place of meals. Your chance or getting ill are reduced drastically with a shorter time of exposure.

Getting food through TSA is usually easy enough. I once walked through with a half-eaten pizza. They won’t let you take anything liquid, and you can’t usually bring produce, milk, or dairy through customs on the other side – but taking sandwiches or snacks on a plane is just fine.

As people have said above, masks are optional on domestic flights.

My husband flew two months ago, two separate round trip flights. On Southwest less than ten passengers had masks on and the flight attendant on both flights said during the pre-flight announcement that they were happy to see everyone’s faces. On American Airlines all flight attendants had masks on and about 70% of the passengers, and during the pre-flight announcement the flight attendant said to please respect passengers who choose to wear a mask. All flights were fairly large Jets, 727 and 737’s.

You can bring food through security as long as it’s not a lot liquid. You will have to buy beverages on the gate side. You can buy a meal or snack to go gate side also. Meal service on the plane varies by carrier, you might want to call the airline you choose to see if there is meal service. All flights will likely give you a snack and beverages, but the snack might be a very small bag of pretzels or cookies.

Tip: it might be more relaxing to get to the airport early, eat a meal at the airport, and bring some sort of small snack on board. Then you don’t worry about traffic getting to the airport or how much time it takes to get through security. If you run late you can always buy food to-go at the airport to take on the flight.

The last two long flights we took they offered snacks and small lunches in boxes for $10—$15. They did not enforce masks but we wore them anyway (except while eating or drinking).

BTW, I picked up Covid at the wedding we went to and started developing symptoms while on the plane back. It was good for the other passengers that I caught most of my virus-laden droplets in my mask. My wife did not catch it despite sitting next to me.