On Monday my American Eagle flight took a delay for catering after doors close. A crewmember announced to our 3 hour 22 minute flight was delayed “to cater first class.” The glares from coach were palpable.
Once we were up at cruising altitude the flight attendant working first class came around offering meals. She said “vegetarian or protein?” That’s an appetizing description! Then, once you selected, she told us which box to take ourselves off our tray with each kind on it piled 3 high.
Here is what we were delayed for:
In Jerry Maguire, Renee Zellweger declares in the film, “first class used to be a better seat, now it’s a better life.” Ironically since that film came back it’s been downhill for the domestic product.
Early in the pandemic first class cutbacks made a certain sense because people weren’t traveling, fares were low, and there was little revenue premium to earn off of a quality product.
Now that demand is back and first class is selling, airlines see little reason to offer quality because they can generate revenue without doing so (and it would take a lot to reclaim the sort of reputation that filters into the popular imagination such that people would regularly pay even more).
It is a little bit like British Prime Minister William Gladstone, who said something to the effect of ‘if the people are silent, you say they must be contented. If the people are violent, you say we must not yield to disorder. Either way, the people get nothing.’
Yet there was enough of a revolt by customers and embarrassment among crew after meal cutbacks closer to US Airways standard at American after the former’s management took over that 11 months later marginally better meals were introduced.
There are limits in the short term to what American Airlines can do with its catering on regional jets lacking ovens. But surely they can do better than these boxes of broken dreams.
Little did those passengers in back know that the catering delay wasn’t something to be envious of at all.
I was recently on an AE flight LGA-LIT and the FC box was actually perfect for us. Cheese plate with cured meat, crackers, grapes, and a milk bar cookie. For a 3 hr flight it was much better than the snack basket. The flight back in FC they didn’t cater and had the snack basket but at 815 AM it was perfectly fine. The guy across from me was not happy though. I was glad I got a chicken biscuit not counting on anything substantial for the early flight.
“The glares from coach were palpable.”
Go on.
People with elite ff status should be punished with high taxes. Airline lounges should be required to have 10% of guests be homeless people.
Ideas for the 2024 election
It was a really bad decision for the FA to make such an announcement. Why not simply say that they were awaiting catering? Even if the passengers in coach only got a soda and a snack they would have felt better about the situation that way. The FA must have graduated from the Meyer Lansky School of Public Relations.
Gary, I am flying first-class on American Airlines this afternoon and feel your pain. My first GSP to DFW segment is 2 hours 33 minutes, then DFW to DFW is 2 hours 46 minutes.
When crewmembers announced that your American Airlines flight operated by American Eagle was delayed for departure because there was a mandate to cater fresh first-class meals individually nestled in a brown cardboard box, this is part of the new American Airlines subtle advertising strategy. Proclaiming to captive coach customers that flights will not depart until all first-class customers have the privilege and benefit of receiving a brown cardboard food box delivered to their seat by a uniformed crew member implies that first-class service customers are highly valued clients. Furthermore, American Airlines will hold the flight to help guarantee that every first-class customer has the option to get a brown cardboard box stuffed with carbohydrates. The message is clear. When flying in coach, “it sucks to be you today, but enjoy your complimentary Biscoff cookie.” If you are a coach customer, consider upgrading to American Airlines’ first-class service on your next flight to enjoy a succulent meal packed in a brown cardboard box.
Fortunately, the GSP airport Escape Lounge, an American Express Centurion Studio partner, has yummy food and cookies.
DFW to DTW
Will they really earn a revenue premium with better catering on a regional jet?
@Derek,
You are channeling Alison!
That doesn’t look bad. I’ve seen way worse on mainline or even UA/DL
Lol first class domestic is mostly full of sad OPM flyers doing their corporate boss man’s bidding.
Hardly higher class.
@Christian is spot on. The FA was the problem, and by way of actions, apparently happy to be so. You should have focused your article there instead of trying to soft apologize for the FA trying to foster class warfare. That would be Thought Leader stuff.
I only fly first as im a very big person – on every survey I get from AA/United/Delta etc I request they offer a paid food option. I’d gladly pay $50-$150+/flight/leg/whatever for domestic first to come anywhere close to international biz class meal + wine standards.
Even better is sitting on the plane 3 hours waiting for thunderstorm to end so you can take off, while watching the FA suck down her soda. She never offered FC even a stinking bottle of water.
If airlines are trying to get into the food business and become like restaurants we are all in deep trouble.
Class warfare? Calm down. It wasn’t like people were flying a private jet. Glare at the mirror if you want to look down on someone.
@Ken A You do realize there’s a GSP-DTW nonstop on Delta that will get you there in about an hour, right? One must ask why you might put yourself through that misery..?
AA international flight over 10 hours. I requeseted dairy free due to allergies. My vegetarian daughter checked the lacot-ovo vegetarian. We both were served indelible curry smooth for main meal. For breakfast I was told they don’t have a dairy free meal. The woman across the aisle asked for her gluten-free meal, which they also said they didn’t have.
Thank God for Kind Bars, not
much else can be packed 15 hours ahead of time….I’m sorry if anyone near us has peanut allergies.
Whatever. No says Cater to 1st Class. Catering is for everyone. Everyone drinks liquids and eats snacks. Methinks the author engaged in some hyperbole here. Also…the extra services are for those who qualify for them. So glaring looks from the unqualified is tough tit ty . Deal with it and suck it up.
Because I prefer edible food, I eat at airport lounges before takeoff and skip the meal on board. Tomorrow I will have breakfast at Casa del Ron in GUA. Yesterday I ate at VIP Lounge Hanaq in LIM. Meals on TPAC/TATL flights are important to me, but I skip meals on flights under 5 hours.
I flew twice, LAX to Philly, nonstop on AA in coach in June. No food. One way got us a single cookie. The other flights nothing. No advertising of the paid meals other than the seat back. I kept thinking they would come back. Disappointing.
Why do you consistently single out AA?? Other airlines are guilty of these same things! Your one-sided reporting is disrespectful to the thousands of dedicated AA pilots and flight attendants. Disgraceful!!
If you were in your seat you could not have seen anyone glaring from behind you. Drama…
People who think 1st/business class food has ever been good are the same people who think Vegas buffets are luxurious (they’re not). I’ve been flying 1st/business since for decades, both domestically and internationally, and airplane food has always been airplane food. I’d rather eat a protein bar.
Oh please, there are 1,000,099 problems in this world and this aint one of them.
This makes the viewpoint that was dismissed in the “Your Flight to Mexico Wasn’t an Allegory for Wealth Inequality” seem downright… understandable.
Meanwhile nobody is paying attention to the man behind the Real curtain, pax are too busy Assuming divisive things about each other instead.
I have flown charter flights hundreds of times. The food, such as steak, is usually bloody, the salad wilted and the dessert dried out. Even the players would rather have a Chik-fil-a sandwich. The extra money for the food is wasted.
Kind of like clogging the aisles with food carts for those of us in coach not willing to pay extortion rates for a meal (if you can call it that) on domestic flights. Park the carts and let us go to the lavatory if we want to. All downside and no upside to us. That also goes for the carts the safety officers use to sell stuff to make money on the side.
@Cr-
Is the claim that you cannot see coach when sitting in F? I’m very confused
Didn’t quite get the Jerry mag quote quite right but nice reference.
I invite your readers to watch the 1951 movie called “Three Guys Named Mike” where Jane Wyman plays a newly trained American Airlines stewardess (which is what they were called in 1951). After the plane takes off and she realizes SHE forgot to load the meals on board, the pilot berates her and turns the plane around to go back and get the meals, telling her “the passengers have to be fed.” Hilarious. How did we get to where we are today?
Pathetic Article Defending First Class Cry Babies. Shame on you and your Obvious Priveliged Whining. Airlines are Cash Whores like you. I am So Very Happy You had a Bad Flight. I Hope All of Your Flights are Bad Forever!
First class cost 3x as economy. So sure when you pay that much you should get your worth so if everyone has to wait so be it. That’s on American. You get what you pay for.
If you feel like it’s not worth it, stop flying or flying the company. Why do Americans always think that everyone is supposed cater to them individually?
LUFTHANSA charged me $170 for 3 lbs over weight and $65 for seat selection. Food was nasty. And guess what Lufthansa lost my dollar now. Their loss. Their price is their price and their service is their service. I just won’t use it anymore problem solved
Oh Muffin,
I’m sure that a few well deserved hours at the spa after that ordeal made it all better.
1 Women I. Sub-Saharan Africa spend 25% of their time walking to collect water to survive.
2. 23% percent of children receive free meals at school so that they get at least 2 meals a day.
3. Jerry McGuire was a coming of age story in which Jerry realized that the elitist group he was in was one he no longer wanted. (Guess you missed the point).
The horrific indignation you suffered only lives in you psyche. This is the essence of a first world problem, and no one wants to hear about your problems so suck it up buttercup and learn some humility, read Nickled and Dimed, and go volunteer at a food bank. Then you may see what true struggle looks like.
Sorry, 23% of kids.
I have been flying AA 3 times per month round trip FC for the past 18 months. The problem here is not the dedicated Flight Attendants or The Pilots ! The real problem is the catering director for AA! The meal selection has not changed in 18 months! It is the same meals flight after flight inbound and outbound! But you’re absolutely right we choose to fly AA, because their flight schedules are more convenient! United Airlines just expanded their flight schedules out of DFW! I have three upcoming schedule flights on AA. After that I will look at the UA and DL service out of DFW up to the Northeast! At that point I will decide which airline I am going to continue to be a loyal member too!!! But let’s keep the eye on the ball the subject is the meal service not anything else! And let’s keep our eye on the ball, the problem here is the director of catering for AA not anyone else!!! You can keep your comments to yourself regarding my posting because I really don’t want to hear it !!!
So nice of leftists to volunteer other people’s property for their pet projects. Oh, wait, that’s what leftism is. Enjoy the circus. You voted for it.
You guys actually try to eat the meals they serve on domestic airlines?
Shudder
Please stop whining and enjoy the flight ✈️
In June I flew BNA-LAX on mainline AA in First (4+hrs) and the food service was only the snack basket. AA sent me a survey and I completed it to comment on the lack of food service (and to complain about the lack of utility of SWU upgradable capacity at time of booking). I got a phone call to ask more questions from AA. I appreciated it and I felt it addressed this specific topic.
The ppl in First are basic professionals – doctors, lawyers, insurance brokers blah blah blah. They aren’t rich. They pay the highest taxes to fund subsidies for everyone else. If they stop working they end up in the gutter because they’re trading their time for money just like the other plebes. (Don’t go after the actual rich tho. I plan on making it there soon enough. See you at the private airport.)
Personally, when I get on a flight, I paid to go from one point to another. Nothing more. The days of people dressing nice, and being civil to one another are over, and ticket prices are everything in the driving factor, so whether your well off, or not, air transportation being so routine now, I really don’t care what some “Karen” says or does on social media, I want the plane to take me where I paid to go, on time, and Safely !
First off US Carrier’s have no Idea what Service or First class is on a domestic route, they are a waste of time. I only fly US Carrier’s when im domestic and ONLY THEN. I’m American and live in Philippines and have over 800 flights. Forign Carrier’s are true airlines and are amazing. 785 flights and over 800,000 miles flown. My new favorite is Starlux Airlines
So, you wrote this article to inform others that you were in first class and got catering on a short flight… And the catering wasn’t even good? While coach probably got pretzels and soda…
This seems out of touch and more infuriating than the delay itself.
While I agree the way the delay was handled was pitiful, those Eagle first class boxes are a tasty treat and sometimes enjoy them more then hot meals on some other airlines first class (hello DL and UA). The crew member needs to be either re-trained or fired, what he/she did was wrong and not professional.
Everyone could be walking or taking a boat.
@Mikayla – you must be new here. I don’t need to write an article to inform people I was in first class on an American Eagle regional jet service to Dulles.
Now, I’ve lounged around in the Etihad A380 Residence.
And here, flying private (with Mommy Points, now at The Points Guy).
Out of touch? This site makes absolutely no attempt to position itself ‘in touch’ with the median U.S. resident. We focus on frequent flyer programs and travel from a consumer standpoint, often aspirational travel. By definition this will not focus on the struggles and everyday experiences of the masses. No apologies for that!
Every city has a sandwich shop bring your own. It’s transportation not a flying restaurant. Any flight under 4 hours should be good for a nap. I wear noise cancelling headphones to block out the whining. First class is nothing unless it’s transatlantic. These are same people I see strap hanging on the subway. Be happy you reach your destination safely.
so basically you’re saying that having coach feel less than due to their flight being delayed for something they won’t get. You’re upset because the meal didn’t make you feel better than coach enough and you needed a higher class meal to do so. interesting take. Perhaps next time they can serve up a plate of gratitude to heal your soul so you feel better about yourself without the need for others to feel more envious.
Let’s recap…
Regional flight, (was the delay for catering 1st Class even longer than the expected flight time?)
Does anyone really believe they cannot eat a better meal at even a modest Cafe/Bistro/Restaurant/even Tavern at their destination than the best airline food available (which I’m fairly certain the flight wasn’t equipped to produce at any rate)
Of course the airlines are serving you an inferior product… why wouldn’t they… because no matter what transpires… you’re still willing to pay for it.
@Ken makes a solid point. To the dungeons for all y’all trying to blame the Flight Attendant for stirring class warfare. They are mere humanoids trying to make a salary. For shameeee.
As for @Gary – I’m totally new here and love your use of “mommy points” and “…boxes of broken dreams..” . Ahhh, too much
A very poorly written article!
I remwmber when economy class travelers use to get a meal in Ling flights. Now flights lasting up to 9 hours get a cookie, which bad, and a drink. For what it costs to fly now is disgusting. Air travel has become a nightmare instead of a pleasant experience.
Do you ever go into Ruth’s Chris and ask “What time will we be getting into Los Angeles?”
LOL This is so unserious….like girl if you don’t put your Bose headphones back on and shut the heck up XD
I’m confused. You looked back at people in coach for their response after the announcement?
Did you get served food before takeoff or at altitude?
Something more modern, with a premium feel? Not sure why plated meals have not returned to eagle flights. Plenty of time for them to return.
Anyone else think this guy sounds like a pretentious prick?
Interesting, those are almost the same cardboard boxes that the USAF used for inflight boxed lunches in the 1980s. Fairly basic sandwich on sliced white bread, small bag of chips/pretzels, piece of fruit ( whole apple/whole pear), juice/milk carton. I believe that they used plastic Ziploc baggies, or waxed paper for food wrapping/protection.
IF I remember my youth reading correctly, back in the early days of the AA/UA DC-1/2/3 operations passengers were fortunate to get cardboard boxed cold 2 piece bone in fried chicken snacks/meals and hot coffee. So AA at least is keeping close to it’s heritage.
Then fly someone else.
You get what you pay for, usually.
If airline tickets had gone up in price at the same rate as other services, the average ticket would be over 2k.
You don’t have to fly coach if you don’t want to. You could drive.
I just flew Bangkok Air on a 50 minute flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui in Economy. They served a hot lunch with water or juice before and coffee or tea after in that time that was actually good. US airlines could learn something.
Please note that American Eagle is not American Airlines. It’s a regional carrier contracting with AA. Things are different there.
I recently flew Turkish Airlines from Venice to Istanbul seated in economy. I was impressed that during the hour flight we were given complimentary 6 inch cold cut sandwich, chips, and a beverage. It’s laughable what we are given here in the US.
@Shadowberr – not quite right, Envoy Air, Piedmont and PSA are entirely owned by American Airlines Group. American Airlines contracts with Republic and Air Wisconsin to operate flights for them to standards that they set.
“Yet there was enough of a revolt by customers and embarrassment among crew after meal cutbacks closer to US Airways standard at American after the former’s management took over that 11 months later marginally better meals were introduced.”
I have no idea what you’re trying to say with this non-sensical sentence-as-a-paragraph.
That being said, this is another example of what we’ve seen across all service industries. Sweeping cutbacks in service in the name of “COVID.” Now that record profits have resumed, the companies feel no need to bring the service standard back to pre-COVID days. Such a shame.
I get on a plane because it’s the fastest way to get from A to B. If I think I’ll want something to eat, I’ll bring it on the plane with me. I can’t think of anything less important in this process than the food they’re serving on the plane. Literally who cares?? And if you do, get help…
The comments are killing me like is this guy serious what are you expecting on a 3 hour flight? Steak and potatoes??
Boo hoo you didn’t look ke your airplane food. Fly another airline. Coach were lucky if they got a free soft drink and small cookie
When ever i fly, i always try to fly first class, its worth the slightly less hassle.
This guy doesn’t know how to write. Some of the sentences make no contextual sense and lack punctuation. I had to re read some of the paragraphs 3 times, and, one of them I still don’t understand.
Bangkok Air is the best, had a similar experience pre-Covid on a flight from Phuket to BKK.
Interesting… Those of you who are calling this guy am elitist (and other more colorful words), YOU pay for a first class ticket and then get a less than first class experience and see how YOU feel about that purchase.
That looks delish compared to the slop I received on a UA transcon last weekend. I would actually pay extra for that meal.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Jerry my dude. You are such a cringey yuppie. If I was ever a flight attendant serving you I would be sure to ‘accidentally’ spill hot coffee on you and blame it on turbulence
Jeez Louise what’s with these commenters? Judging by the “this guy” comments, I imagine this got posted somewhere with a “mainstream” audience.
For the uninformed – flying in domestic first is like choosing a nice restaurant over the local diner. You pay more, and you have higher expectations. You’d complain, too, if you went to Giuseppe’s Italian Bistro and were served McDonald’s. If you’d wanted McDonald’s, you would’ve gone to McDonald’s (and paid way less for it).
Lol, no one is trying to argue that you fly for the food. But airlines promote and sell a premium product that is justified by representations of a premium experience. When that experience isn’t delivered, a person paying 3-5x economy ticket prices had every right to complain.
It’s not about the food. It’s about a failure to provide on the experience sold. Go check out all the slick marketing these carriers put out about the first class product. American says: “We’re elevating your dining experience as the official airline partner of the James Beard Foundation, a premier culinary organization. Our menus feature dishes designed by a portfolio of elite chefs respected in their craft.”
People are so friggin spoiled. Pack your own lunch or eat before you board…
Pack a lunch? Yeah sure buddy. Then have TSA force you to toss it before boarding. It’s not the 90s. You’re not even allowed to bring a bottle of water on flights.
I considered paying extra to fly 1st class. I was told I would get extra legroom and extra helpings of the same food. Nothing different. I think it was about $100 per person. I decided against it.
The author should have ended this piece at the end of the first paragraph.
Based on what they served they should have taken off right away
No one would miss that S#it
The author really needs to learn how to write. The first two sentences are largely unintelligible. The rest is about Grade 6 standard English. Shocking stuff.
I was an FA on North Central, & Republic Airlines. From Milwaukee to Chicago, we served beverages & a warm meal. The flight was less than an hour, yet we got it done & I was glad to serve such a nice meal in coach.
People that were complaining about the first class don’t realize that the first class tickets are subsidizing their low economy class tickets.
A lot of people haven’t flown back in the seventies and eighties when you got a decent meal in domestic too. Trust me things were a lot better then for first and economy classes.
Along time ago a French Queen once supposably said “Let them eat cake”. Nothing new for the rable I guess.
I fly round trip to the middle east every 5 weeks. I have been doing this for 17 years and I’ve seen plenty of changes with airlines that are considered “American”, not AA. It all started to go downhill after they required you to spend a certain amount of money on the flight to move up in status with their point tier system. When I fly from the US to Europe or directly to the middle east I ALWAYS get a hot meal, in fact I always get two hot meals. I also get a minimum of one free check bag because that’s minimum on an international flight. In the US it’s just a bus ride in the sky. That’s reality, buy some snacks, a soda and make the best of it. As far as first class goes, it’s not much better than coad and I refuse to pay to upgrade. I’d rather use the money for my next flight. It’s simply not worth it in the USA.