Complimentary warm chocolate chip cookies – a legacy of now-departed Midwest Airlines – will vanish from Frontier Airlines’ flights by the end of the month.

Once a contributor to Midwest’s boast of providing “the best care in the air,” the cookies crumbled in the face of economic reality, Frontier officials said.

“We’ve been in an ongoing review of our catering program and are looking to make some new and exciting changes in the coming months,” said Frontier spokeswoman Lindsey Carpenter .

“During that review, it was determined that the cookie did not align with either the perception or the financial reality of a low-cost carrier,” Carpenter added. “We were the only domestic low-cost carrier offering a free perishable snack.”

Frontier senior vice president Daniel Shurz said in a memo to employees that doing away with the free cookies “is another step in our continued effort to make Frontier a sustainably profitable airline.”

Further cost reductions have been pledged by Frontier’s new chief executive, David Siegel , in an effort to transform Frontier into an ultra-low-cost carrier.

Instead, Frontier will offer free Pepperidge Farms Goldfish crackers and Barnum’s animal crackers for Ascent, Summit, Classic and Classic Plus customers.

Unaccompanied minors also will get the complimentary crackers, but not passengers flying in economy class – which also is part of Siegel’s plan to reward those who pay more for their tickets. The crackers also will be available for purchase for $1 .

Midwest, which was based in Milwaukee, and Frontier were purchased within a few months of each other in 2009 by Republic Airways Holdings. Frontier began serving the cookies in 2010 after Republic decided to unite Midwest and Frontier under the Frontier name.

Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com