American Airlines has improved the food in its lounges, but still lags the offerings of Delta and United. “Me too, but less than” is a conscious strategy to “never spend a dollar more than we need to” in the words of their CEO.
On the one hand, I wish the food were better. On the other hand, the lack of good food is one reason that the lounges aren’t as crowded (except in some hubs like Charlotte, where club space is woefully undersized relative to the operation).
However, American takes other precautions to save money in its lounges, too. They want to make sure that customers eat less, or at least take less, in order to control food costs. And they do this with very small plates.
These plates are so small that it’s almost impossible not to make a mess. They don’t hold much food, and they don’t do a great job of holding it in. If you pick up food using tongs and place it in the plates, some items like salad invariably fall onto the ground.
Like Maslow’s hammer, food served in the Admirals Clubs doesn’t get paired with appropriate plates. They get the same plates (nails). A reader passes along,
[American Airlines Admirals Club in Charlotte] is now serving full size brats. But the plates aren’t any bigger and they don’t fit. This is the only size plate available in the club.
Awkward! At the most basic level, the purpose of a plate is:
- to hold food off a surface (table, lap, ground) and keep it from spilling or dropping while you’re eating.
- to keeps food grouped together instead of spreading everywhere. It lets you move food easily from the buffet area to your seat
- to create a barrier between food and dirty or unsanitary surfaces
- to provide a flat, often decorative space to arrange food attractively.
That’s the theory anyway! I suppose if the lack of proper plates for Admirals Club food is a stopper, you could always just limit yourself to the Snack Tower of Sadness.
Or, American could take seriously the idea of their premium pivot and invest in dishware, not just food.
Pics of food on social media mean nothing when they’re unaccompanied by a pic of the photographer so that we can silently judge the picture taker based on his/her girth.
The small plates are a long term strategy to help people’s butts fit better in seats.
Fundamental question of the purpose of airline lounge food: is it a snack or is it an *additional* full meal? At least the hobbits got in their steps after “second breakfast” by simply walking to Mordor. Methinks the small plate protesters, on the other hand, will take the moving sidewalk to gate C15.
Keep eating Gary… ofc all that matters is how.juch food you can shove down your throat.
Here is a simple solution to assist American Airlines ConciergeKey and Executive Platinum AAdvantage members in accommodating a gourmet tube steak to reside on a small plate. First, retrieve a complimentary plastic knife from the area near the complimentary plastic forks. Now, cut the tube steak in half. Then, enjoy your American Airlines tube steak with the knowledge that you have received great value for renewing your annual Admirals Club membership.
Oof. That brat looks about as appetizing as CLT is generally. At least they got them rockin’ chairs!
First if you drop food pick it up! You do not live in a barn and Mommie does not fly with your.
Second , if you need a big plate then join Weight Watchers and learn about portion control.
Third, it is a snack, not a meal. If you want a-la-cart meal then go to a Restaurant, or go to the Flagship Dinning Restaurant.
Fourth A Brat goes on a bun not on plate! Do not be a Snob.
Serving Cheese with the Winer
I read your articles a couple times a week. This was pure gold. I smiled. I laughed. I almost cried.
This was pure art, Gary. My all time favorite commentary you’ve had. Solid gold. Never change.
If I was in the CLT club, I’d grab a seat by the entrance to the bathrooms and see who goes in with that wurst….and then as they walk out, ask them if they are staying at the hotel in the next story and tell them, no soap in the hotel. Wash your hands now LOL