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 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.