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.
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 even sell is a fruit and cheese plate ($11), roasted almonds ($8) and cool ranch doritos ($5).
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.
Since discounts and free buy on board food is literally a benefit of their credit cards, you’d think these would actually be available.
Prior to the pandemic they actually sold food on 700 mile flights. They 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.
Yet American has even ended second drink runs on longer domestic flights.
Fortunately, aviation watchdog JonNYC says that after they roll out the ability to spend miles for buy onboard items, they’re actually going to revamp the buy onboard offerings. Finally!
someone else adds:
"miles first (in a couple of weeks) then CC on file in the reservation like UAL. Not timeline on 2nd part.Revamp of entire Buy on board program to follow."
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) March 7, 2025
The airline’s service still isn’t nearly as extensive as it was before the pandemic (and even then it wasn’t as extensive as Delta). Cost-cutting has killed any sense of premium at the airline. And that’s contributed to their revenue disadvantage.
Though discussions around premium usually center on premium cabins, most passengers fly coach. There isn’t as much margin to play with in economy, but attention to detail and thoughtful investment goes a long way towards making the experience feel more personal and human.
Decent buy on board options would make American’s coach product much more attractive. You don’t always have time to stop in the terminal for food when running between flights. Having food on offer helps make you feel taken care of. The flight no longer has the sense of a post-apocalyptic society where shortages prevail, into one where there’s abundance – even if you don’t buy, you don’t have to worry about getting hungry and having nowhere to turn.
It will change for exactly 5 minutes until the next time Isom and his cronies set off a fire alarm to once again cut costs, whereupon it will revert to a similar nasty collection of inedible junk. The cycle is never-ending and very predictable.
Some short sighted manager probably looks at the buy on board revenue today and feels it’s not worth it. Truth is if they beefed up the options, the inventory and the number of participating flights they could turn it into a revenue generating opportunity.
Callback to Gary’s other recent post: Forget anti-trust enforcement, just let AA and B6 partner/merge, but the sole condition is that AA has to adopt Mint food quality and offerings—at least premium passengers would finally get a decent meal/snack on-board AA. Bah!
This last paragraph describes AA best!
The flight no longer has the sense of a post-apocalyptic society where shortages prevail, into one where there’s abundance – even if you don’t buy, you don’t have to worry about getting hungry and having nowhere to turn.
Gary Leff writes, “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.
Since discounts and free buy on board food is literally a benefit of their credit cards, you’d think these would actually be available.”
American Airlines C-suite management realized they could boost profits by misleading passengers regarding their free food benefits with the AA premium credit card. After receiving sufficient credit card sign-ups, AA management restricted the availability of the food entitlement by imposing a mileage threshold for eligible flights while offering crappier selections. When cardholders voiced their complaints about no food, American Airlines took the ingenious tactic of serving food products without plastic cutlery. AA management wants to discourage passengers from ordering complimentary food. What could be next? American Airlines may introduce complimentary beverages without paper cups. During the single beverage service on your transcontinental flight, you might find your adult beverage poured directly into your cupped hands. AA would allow you to slurp your beverage from your hands because a no-cup policy would significantly reduce waste while reducing your carbon footprint.
“So you’re stuck taking big bites out of these cheese chunks.”
“Oh, the humanity!”
Empower yourself! While you might not be able to pick up something for every flight, keeping packs of nuts and crackers will see you through until the next food drought.
Good to see Leff advocating for more single-use plastics.
@Dom @Mike P Talk about missing the point. Ok if you like it better how about serving the cheese in bite sized pieces. Fundamentally the availability of edible food is lacking.
While I’m not a frequent flyer, I usually fly only once or twice per year, I used to prefer AA. But their insistence on nickel and diming you to death turned me off… Especially when their prices didn’t reflect the paying for “extras”
@Johnny — Maybe you’re new here, and if so, welcome, but if you’ve been around, even for just a little time, you’d know by now that ‘Mike P’ usually misses the point, on here. He’s one of those ‘libertarian’ types that prefers anarchy and chaos over ‘nice things’ in a functioning society. Prove me wrong. Look at his comments in most other posts. He’s usually ‘off,’ for sure.
“@Mike P Talk about missing the point.”
I agree, Johnny, it’s clear you did.
The fruit & cheese option is about the only decent food on any of the flights I have recently taken. Seems strange that it is mostly offered as a pre-buy in First Class. The rest of first class food is terrible. However, the “for purchase” economy choices at least sound better.
Unfortunately they usually won’t let First Class buy them. BYO works great, although then you really get taken paying for First Class.
The fruit and cheese plate, whether it is served up front on from the aft galley cart, is suspect at best and you’re pushing your gastrointestinal luck consuming it
Here’s my rationale why.
– The food is sprayed with a preservative to prevent natural browning and maintain its “fresh appearance”.
– The wide bodies, A321’s and some A319’s have chillers in the galley to keep food cold. The 737’s and A320’s do not. The carts are usually packed with dry ice, but not all the time, in an attempt to keep food chilled. If you’re going to eat it, better hope the catering truck shows up at your plane to ensure “freshness”.
-Buy on board fresh food, not sold or taken by the crew for themselves is offered for sale , is thrown away after each flight. There’s a lot of waste involved that airlines, particularly AA, see as not worth the cost involved with offering it.
You’re better off keeping protein bars, snack bars, hydration packets, etc. in your carryon bag to satiate you on the flight when you’re in a pinch.
Lastly, for an elevated/excitement filled premium flight experience, please fly Delta.
Yes, they don’t they will be flying in an airplane and realize as they gas up there damn car there’s snacks to buy right THERE! I’ve never seen TSA arrest anyone for bring their own gd Pringles! How ignorant are people! You can’t pack anything to eat in your gd pockets! No wonder this country is down the drain! People cant realize they are flying on a plane and have the foresight to pack something to eat on an hour and a half flight! God forbid all theses skinny America’s go without a meal!
I’m really bummed by what has happened to our airlines. That’s disgraceful. Since they look at us like cattle why not a feed bag.
This is Americans new VIP elite going for great again
Its the enormous effort on behalf of corporate with their enhanced “starve and dehydrate” program
I miss Western Airlines . . . The Only Way to Fly.
It’s fairly easy to split the cheese with your hands. Just sayin
@Chaz D – I am not a baboon.
“I am not a baboon.”
That’s an opening that one could drive a truck through.
Jeux sans frontières
Atten Ken A., speaking of pouring a beverage in your cupped hands. Enjoy this classic scene.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEiBmSqhBya/
I miss being able to preorder a sandwich. If you’re on a tight layover, it’s nice to be able to at least pay for something on the plane. Arriving at your destination starving is not a good experience. Getting an upgrade to FC with a meal is great. At least give the traveller a way to purchase food in the main cabin. It makes a big difference. Being hangry is no fun after a long flight. Especially late at night. Many places aren’t even open at the airport when you land late.
Those cheese plates have saved me multiple times because the FAs can grab one from economy of the food is inedible. There is no knife but who is that precious that you can’t just rip the cheese yourself using your fingers. It is the definition of finger foods.
I eat cheese with my fingers.
There is actually a set of wooden knife, fork and napkin actually very nice packaged in a closed paper warp. You probably missed it your effort to rant about the airline.
This is one of my favorite options because it is a bit more eco friendly.
I’m sorry, but over the past 15 years of flying AA (unfortunately) since I’m in DFW, their overall in-flight service has went from bad to overall SHITTY!!!!!!!! Been a EP for years, but last year and this, I decided to move my loyalty to a more customer focused airline!!!
In short, American Airlines SUCKs!!!!!!!! Ty the extent I’ll pay more to fly another airline to avoid them!!!!
If the presence of food on a two to three hour flight is necessary, why not buy your food before you get on the plane? Oh, I get it, another freebie that your entitled to. And get what you want. Stop with the unrelenting kvetching!
The roasted almonds are quite good and fulling and last a lot longer than any flights where I’ve received them complimentary.
@jns
“Jeux sans frontières”. Very, very few will get the the reference, but that made me smile.
Kissing baboons in the jungle
Wow, some parts of the world kids are starving to death and you’re bitching about a knife! I’m so glad I retired, because now I can say you people are idiots!!!!!!!!!!
@Mikey B, a favorite song of mine from a long time ago. Glad to know that at least one person knows the lyrics.
That should be one other person.
I have close to 1.5 million miles with them (admittedly most from US Airways days). I was never particularly fond of AA’s food offerings but I was unpleasantly surprised this weekend to discover NO food was available in coach on our transcontinental flight. Nada. I sure wish I has status on another airline!
I have close to 1.5 million miles with them (admittedly most from US Airways days). I was never particularly fond of AA’s food offerings but I was unpleasantly surprised this weekend to discover NO food was available in coach on our transcontinental flight. Nada. I sure wish I had status on another airline!
The few flights I take on AA I always bring a big bag of salted peanuts. TJs have great deals on 1 lb bags.
Since we have to supply our own entertainment always bring spare headphones.
Really miss the days when airlines actually wanted you and welcomed your on board, now just keep moving, take your seat and do not bother me.
A few more coast to coasts and all done.
First things first. Stop resetting ( aka Stealing ) customer’s excess Loyalty Points Every March when new Loyalty points counter begins. Carry forward earned excess Loyalty points (for which customer has spend Hard Cash $$$) and count them into the next year’s Loyalty points earnings.
Thats basic Honesty.