American Airlines is refreshing its buy on board food for sale program in economy.
New snacks start May 1. The Inflight Bites box ($10 or 1,000 miles) replaces Tray Table Tapas and offers: Gochujang beef jerky; Wheat Thins; Lemon rosemary green olives; Chocolate cherry granola bar; Oreo cookies; Honey roasted cashews; Smoked Gouda cheese spread.
This seems like a good improvement, actually, while keeping olives which are a fan favorite along with cheese spread. It’s interesting flavors, along with actual name brands in Wheat Thins and Oreos not store brand stuff.
And they’re continuing the focus on ‘real’ brands with “NUTS ON CLARK” Roasted Salted Mixed Nuts
($11 or 1,100 miles) from the north side of Chicago – appropriate as they fight aggressively to retain market share at O’Hare. And they’re offering BOOMCHICKAPOP Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn ($5 or 500 miles).
The cheese plate ($13 or 1,300 miles) gets a refresh with Tillamook cheeses, fruit and nuts.
Tillamook® Extra Sharp Cheddar, Tillamook® Smoked Black Pepper Cheddar and blueberry artigiano cheese
Fresh fruit, dried apricots and dried black figs
Walnuts, gourmet crackers, Bonne Maman honey and Toblerone chocolate
And starting June 1 there’s a new roasted turkey sandwich with Havarti on avocado bread with spinach, sweet red pepper and caramelized onion-mustard spread. It’s servied with barbecue chips and “a sweet treat.” ($14 or 1,400 miles)
These are available on flights of 1,100 miles or more on domestic and short-haul international. That’s better than the old 1,300 mile requirement, but not as generous as other competitors. American’s partner Alaska Airlines has the clear best buy on board program, and I’d rate United as second.
I think American needs to make food for sale available on 900-mile flights, or at least 1,000 miles -when I’m on a delayed 5 p.m. Charlotte – Austin flight I really want something available. That flight is blocked at about 3 hours, but it’s ‘only’ 1,032 miles.
American also needs to offer food for sale on Eagle flights. They run many longer regional jet flights that would qualify even based on the current distance rule, but food for sale is currently only offered on mainline.
And we’re nowhere close to where American Airlines was in 2012 with Marcus Samuelsson sandwiches which were genuinely tasty, and his spiced nut mix that I used to get on board and bring home.
Nonetheless, it’s nice to see a little bit of attention being paid to the back of the plane. That’s where most customers are, and it’s where future premium customers are. Those are the efforts that may seem like little details, but that can actually matter even more in the aggregate.
I don’t understand the restriction if it’s paid food? FAs can’t complete service if they have to hand out paid snack boxes? Should be available just for preorder to ease payment friction.
All those nuts! As a severely allergic person, I do not see this as an improvement. I can choose to not buy it, but the cashew person next to me could unalive me anyway. Sticking to Delta, I guess, since Southwest destroyed itself.
AA improves coach food. DL downgrades drink offerings. Can’t believe this is happening all in one week.
About time… for… Deez Nutz!
Oh wow Oreos and beef jerky grass fed no less!
I’m verklempt
Like QATAR Singapore or Emirates in FIRST class
Where is the premium velveeta flown in from Delta?
the only real authentic premium carrier in the world
Maybe they can put a gas station lounge for the next upgrade
The food improvements are not enough to make me overlook AA’s numerous shortcomings and purchase a ticket. They’ve got numerous problems to solve before they get me to fly them again.
NYC and PHL to MIA under 1100 miles
According to Oreo cookies—served for sale in an upscale snack box by American Airlines at cruising altitude—these legendary chocolate sandwich cookies are basically the Avengers of snacks. Meanwhile, the unhoused refugees and stranded Spirit Airlines bankrupt passengers can use these Oreo cookies to gain superpowers and save the galaxy while attempting to open an in-flight emergency exit because Oreo cookies feature color-changing creme. The snack tastes the same but looks like it’s ready for Comic-Con, the annual pop culture convention celebrating superheroes and fantasy.
We used to get decent food dor free….
@bob – people used to complain extensively about the airline food
@Gary
Exactly! Everyone complained when the food was free. That was part of the justification for cutting meals in coach.