I flew Dallas – New York JFK on American Airlines this week in coach. I kept checking buy up options to first class for my flight, but wasn’t going to pay over $400 extra for the flight.
In the end, I wound up fourth on the upgrade list despite having more than double-qualified for Executive Platinum some time ago. However I wound up with an exit row aisle and an empty middle seat beside me which is a real score.
In theory, I should receive a free alcoholic beverage and a free snack item as an Executive Platinum AAdvantage member.
However, very few American Airlines flights offer food for sale. That’s ironic, since the first full service airline to move to selling food instead of complimentary meals in coach was America West, and their management took over American. But the cutbacks in the back cabin are legion. They even stopped doing a second drink service on domestic flights over 1,500 miles.
The current guidance is that food for sale is only available on “select flights” that are “over 1,300 miles” and not to expect there to be anything left by the time a flight attendant reaches your aisle because “limited quantities are available.” All they offer is a fruit and cheese plate ($11), roasted almonds ($8) and cool ranch doritos ($5).
Since discounts and free buy on board food is literally a benefit of their credit cards, you’d think these would actually be available. 25% rebates come as a statement credit when paying with eligible cards, and the Barclays Aviator Silver comes with up to $25 back per day for inflight food and beverage. I am never able to use this benefit. It probably would have been a good CFPB complaint under a prior administration.
Prior to the pandemic they actually sold food on 700 mile flights. They even used to have pre-order meal purchases in coach. Delta, United and Alaska offer food for sale on shorter flights than American. Alaska legitimately offers panang curry chicken, Korean barbecue beef, a salad and burger options. United’s buy on board is really robust as well. There’s really no excuse for American’s offerings here.
Back to my Dallas – New York flight. Flight attendants hid the cheese trays, saving them for Executive Platinums in coach so I actually scored one. Devon May would never approve! Some customers in the rows prior to mine might have spent money on the snack, and they wouldn’t have had to give the tray away for free as a loyalty benefit.
The thing that struck me most about the cheese plate – aside from how sad it was – is that is consists of big chunks of cheese, crackers, grapes and a chocolate. But there is no plastic knife to slice the cheese. So you’re stuck taking big bites out of these cheese chunks. It is… awkward.
I suppose it checks a box of ‘having’ buy on board. And since employees got the message, repeated over and over, to ‘never spend a dollar they don’t have to’ the catering team knows better than to spring for a plastic knife.
Shouldn’t you also have been entitled to a free alcoholic drink (or drinks) given you were in a Main Cabin Extra seat, regardless of your elite status? Was such a drink offered to you or people around you? I’m mainly asking because I find AA to inconsistently offer this benefit to Main Cabin Extra.
Wow. Now I’ve seen it all. Gary Leff, a class hero, sits ‘in the back’ with us peasants! *slow clap*
To the haters, would you like some cheese with your ‘whine’?
I’ve been eating those cheese plates for years and never once considered a knife necessary.
To each his own I guess.
“It probably would have been a good CFPB complaint under a prior administration.” Ouch! Spicy!
Naw, naw.. Hope you made it to where you were going, Gary, and if it is NYC, sorry for the dreary weather this week (Monday was and Friday is supposed to be ‘sunny,’ but Tuesday-Thursday, have been just awful). Safe travels!
@Anthony, both statements are true: What Gary said: “In theory, I should receive a free alcoholic beverage and a free snack item as an Executive Platinum AAdvantage member”, and what you said: “Shouldn’t you also have been entitled to a free alcoholic drink (or drinks) given you were in a Main Cabin Extra seat, regardless of your elite status” ? The difference, obviously, is in the extra-cost food item. I’m always in MCE on American, and have never had an issue on the beverage (for what it’s worth, I never ask, I simply order the beverage).
@Anthony, look at the picture. Not only was he given a complimentary drink, he got a double. But putting it context of ” in theory ” he draws in readers . Which is his job, the truthfulness not being the main objective. I do believe the “guidelines,” for alcohol is 1 bottle at a time. He got 2. He’s already being given special treatment.
The food situation in coach is pretty dismal. But AA management believes the back of the plane is Frontier territory and there appears no desire to change. In part because they want like flyers like Gary (and me) to pony up money to sit up front. Give you a decent sandwich you’re more likely to take an exit row seat and not pay the $300 plus. And hope like hell for an empty middle seat next to you.
“I wanna bite into a big hunk of cheese, just bite into it like it’s an apple.” – George Costanza
They used to have bleu cheese back in the day. Also cheese is much better melted. Why can the FAs put cheese on the crackers and then into the oven for a few minutes ?
@D3Kingg — Would you like them to ‘wipe’ for you as well?
Gary, you always come across as an entitled bore. You are insufferable and insignificant. Perhaps it is time for you to buy a ride on NetJets.
These cheese boxes usually come with utensils and a napkin. Guess catering forgot to add one into your box? Just got one with a “thank you for being EP” last week on my CLT-PHX flight. The cheese sucks but the rest of the food in the box is somewhat good. Paired well with my complimentary headache in a bottle of red wine. 1st world problems though. Would love to see them bring back more options to buy in economy.
Ignore the haters Gary. It’s a clear issue.
You’re worried about a cheap plastic knife! You do realize that hundreds of thousands of young men and women have died over in Ukraine and innocent children in Israel and in Gaza, this is beyond comprehension! Only an uncouth rat mouth could come up with this as criticism for an airline, your a sad human
Leff Logic: “… but wasn’t going to pay over $400 extra for the flight.
In the end, I wound up fourth on the upgrade list despite having more than double-qualified for Executive Platinum some time ago..”
So, you’ve more than double qualified for EP on spend/loyalty points this year but the $400+ was a bridge too far?
To each is own, it’s your money. I find the irony laughable.
For a premium, elevated, and Earth-forward dining experience in the air, please consider Delta.
LMAO idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know this is totally a first-world problem, but I have been EP for about two years now and not once have I been offered any free snacks nor even been acknowledged as an EP. In the past the F/A”s would thank you for your business and offer you something. Yes, it may seem petty, but this is customer service 101. You should ALWAYS take care of your best customers no matter what line of business you’re in. AA fails in even the most basic aspects of service (and I used to work there).